Application Guide
How to Apply for Sustainable Development Officer
at DESA - UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs
🏢 About DESA - UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs
DESA is the UN's central hub for sustainable development policy, directly supporting the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and SDGs. Working here means contributing to global policy at the highest level, with a unique focus on bridging economic, social, and environmental dimensions through data-driven analysis and international cooperation. The remote nature allows for global impact while offering flexibility rarely found in UN roles.
About This Role
This Sustainable Development Officer role focuses on the intersection of institutional development, public administration, and digital/AI transformation within sustainable development frameworks. You'll be developing databases, drafting policy inputs, and facilitating expert discussions that directly inform UN recommendations to member states on how to modernize governance for the SDGs. The impact lies in shaping how governments worldwide integrate technology with sustainable development policies.
💡 A Day in the Life
A typical day might involve analyzing data for a sustainable development database update, drafting sections of a concept note on AI for climate action, and co-facilitating a virtual workshop with international experts on digital governance. You'll collaborate remotely with DESA colleagues across time zones, reviewing policy documents while ensuring your work aligns with UN processes and SDG targets.
🚀 Application Tools
🎯 Who DESA - UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs Is Looking For
- Holds an advanced degree in a field that bridges policy and technology (e.g., public policy with a data science minor, or computer science with governance focus), specifically matching the interdisciplinary list in requirements.
- Has 5+ years of hands-on experience managing projects that combine sustainable development policy analysis with digital transformation components, not just general program management.
- Demonstrates proven ability to produce technical papers and analytical studies for an international, policy-focused audience (e.g., for UN agencies, governments, or major NGOs).
- Possesses practical skills in developing databases or qualitative information systems related to sustainable development indicators or digital governance metrics.
📝 Tips for Applying to DESA - UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs
Explicitly map your 5+ years of experience to both 'project/programme management' AND 'policy-oriented work in sustainable development' as stated in the requirements, using UN-style terminology like 'assigned programmes/projects'.
Highlight any remote work experience collaborating across time zones, as this is a fully remote UN position requiring discipline and communication skills for virtual expert meetings.
Tailor your resume to include keywords from the job description: 'institutions, public administration, digital transformation, AI transformation, databases, technical papers, concept notes, expert group meetings'.
Provide concrete examples of developing 'sustainable development and digital transformation databases' or similar data tools in your previous roles, specifying technologies or methodologies used.
If you have UN experience, emphasize familiarity with DESA's outputs (like World Public Sector Reports or SDG progress reports); if not, highlight transferable experience with intergovernmental or multilateral organizations.
✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter
['Your interdisciplinary background: Explain how your specific degree and experience bridge sustainable development policy with digital/AI transformation, addressing both core responsibility areas.', 'Concrete policy impact: Describe a past project where you developed databases or drafted inputs that influenced sustainable development or digital governance policies, quantifying outcomes if possible.', "DESA alignment: Demonstrate knowledge of DESA's current work, such as its role in UN Digital Cooperation or specific sustainable development initiatives you'd contribute to.", 'Remote collaboration readiness: Briefly mention your experience with virtual facilitation of workshops or expert meetings, crucial for this remote role servicing global stakeholders.']
Generate Cover Letter →🔍 Research Before Applying
To stand out, make sure you've researched:
- → DESA's recent flagship reports, especially the World Public Sector Report and Sustainable Development Goals Reports, to understand their analytical frameworks.
- → The UN's Digital Cooperation initiatives and DESA's role in them, such as the UN Secretary-General's Roadmap for Digital Cooperation.
- → DESA's Division for Public Institutions and Digital Government (DPIDG) workstreams, as this role likely aligns with their mandate on institutions and digital transformation.
- → Current UN discussions on AI governance (e.g., UN AI Advisory Body) and how they link to sustainable development, as this is a key emerging area for the role.
💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics
Based on this role, you may be asked about:
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Submitting a generic application that doesn't explicitly connect your experience to both sustainable development policy AND digital/AI transformation aspects of the role.
- Focusing only on technical digital skills without demonstrating policy analysis experience or understanding of public administration/institutional development contexts.
- Failing to show awareness of DESA's multilateral, intergovernmental nature by using private-sector jargon or not acknowledging the UN's consensus-building processes.
📅 Application Timeline
This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.
Typical hiring timeline:
Application Review
1-2 weeks
Initial Screening
Phone call or written assessment
Interviews
1-2 rounds, usually virtual
Offer
Congratulations!
Ready to Apply?
Good luck with your application to DESA - UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs!