Intrernship: Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice

Position description

Job Opening ID: 271874
Job Network : –
Job Family : Drug Control and Crime Prevention
Category and Level : Internship, I-1
Duty Station : VIENNA
Department/Office : United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime
Date Posted : Feb 6, 2026
Deadline : Feb 19, 2026

Work Location: Remote

Expected duration: 3-6 months

Duties and Responsibilities

The United Nations Convention against Corruption (hereinafter UNCAC or the Convention) is the most comprehensive, international legally-binding instrument to prevent and fight corruption. It contains innovative provisions in the areas of prevention; criminalization and law enforcement; international cooperation; and asset recovery.

The Convention places a premium on the provision of technical assistance to support developing States’ efforts to ratify and implement it. Such assistance relates to the establishment of domestic normative and institutional frameworks consistent with the requirements of the Convention and the adoption of measures to enable States to cooperate internationally with a view to recovering proceeds of corruption.

At present, the Convention has been signed by 140 States and ratified by 189 States parties and the European Union.

The Conference of the States Parties to the Convention (CoSP) UNCAC at its third session, held in November 2009, adopted landmark Resolution 3/1, containing the terms of reference of the Mechanism for the Review of Implementation of the Convention. This peer review process aims to further enhance the potential of UNCAC, by providing the means for countries to assess how they are doing in the implementation, identify potential gaps and develop action plans to strengthen the implementation of UNCAC domestically.

UNODC, as the secretariat to the Review Mechanism, plays a crucial role by coordinating the reviews, supporting relevant activities conducted in the context of individual country reviews, preparing the initial country reports, analyzing and summarizing the outcome of the reviews.

UNODC is the guardian of UNCAC and acts as the secretariat to the CoSP and its subsidiary bodies. The internship is located in the UNODC Corruption and Economic Crime Branch (CEB). During the assignment, the intern will gain experience in legal research and functioning of mechanisms to gather information on and review implementation of international treaties; functioning of intergovernmental bodies; structure and functioning of CEB and its interaction with Member States and the UN.

The intern shall undertake the following duties which may include, but are not limited to:

• Assist in conducting legal research into States’ efforts for implementing UNCAC; selecting relevant material; analysing information and presenting findings for internal review
• Conduct additional thematic research in areas relevant to the implementation of the Convention using multiple sources; selecting relevant material; analysing information and presenting findings for internal review
• Assist in the review of relevant legal documents, papers or other materials; identify important issues, similarities and inconsistencies
• Collecting and managing data from various research projects
• Draft correspondence to States parties as required
• Perform other duties as assigned.

With UNCAC as a basis, CEB has developed a number of thematic workstreams which the successful candidate may be exposed to depending on the interest and qualifications of the intern. Thus, opportunities will include, but are not limited to:

• Learning how to draft and carry out legal analysis in line with the UN Convention against Corruption;
• Be exposed to the programme management cycle of the UNODC Global Programme against Corruption;
• Following and supporting the servicing of inter-governmental bodies; and,
• Enhancing their understanding of the thematic areas of CEB, such as corruption and taxation, judicial integrity, whistle-blower protection, the gender dimensions of corruption, youth empowerment and anti-corruption education.

The internship is UNPAID and full-time. Interns work five days per week (40 hours) under the supervision of a staff member in the Branch to which they are assigned. Ideally, the internship should last between 3 and 6 months.

Qualifications

Recognised 1st level degree is an asset.

Applicants must meet one of the following requirements:

• (a) be enrolled in, or have recently completed, a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher);
• (b) be enrolled in, or have completed, the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum bachelor’s level or equivalent).

(OFFICIAL WRITTEN PROOF FROM THE UNIVERSITY SUPPORTING ONE OF THE ABOVE POSSIBILITIES MUST BE ATTACHED TO THE INSPIRA APPLICATION).

Additional requirements include:

• Be computer literate in standard software applications. Experience in data analytics or related area is an asset;
• Have a demonstrated keen interest in the work of the United Nations and have a personal commitment to the ideals of the Charter; and
• Have a demonstrated ability to successfully interact with individuals of different cultural backgrounds and beliefs, which include willingness to try and understand and be tolerant of differing opinions and views.

No working experience is required to apply for the United Nations Internship Programme. However, a field of study that is closely related to the type of internship that you are applying for is required. Please explain how you meet this requirement.

Applicants must be a student in the final year of the first university degree (bachelor or equivalent), Master’s or Ph.D. Programme or equivalent, or have completed a Bachelor’s, Master’s or PH.D. Programme.

Do you meet any of the above criteria? If yes, please indicate which one and attach proof to the application. Please note that you will have to provide an official certificate at a later stage.

Do you have any particular area of interest that you would like to explore during your internship, such as legal or analysis, one of the thematic anti-corruption workstreams listed above (such as corruption and taxation, judicial integrity, whistle-blower protection, the gender dimensions of corruption, youth empowerment and anti-corruption education) or programme management and data analytics? If yes, please explain which and why?

Have you completed a United Nations internship before? If yes, please indicate the United Nations entity as well as concrete dates.

No working experience is required to apply for the United Nations Internship Programme. However, a field of study that is closely related to the type of internship that you are applying for is required. Please explain how you meet this requirement.

Applicants must be a student in the final year of the first university degree (bachelor or equivalent), Master’s or Ph.D. Programme or equivalent, or have completed a Bachelor’s, Master’s or PH.D. Programme.

Do you meet any of the above criteria? If yes, please indicate which one and attach proof to the application. Please note that you will have to provide an official certificate at a later stage.

Do you have any particular area of interest that you would like to explore during your internship, such as legal analysis, one of the thematic anti-corruption workstreams listed above or programme management and data analytics? If yes, please explain which and why?

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position(s) advertised, fluency in English is required. Knowledge or fluency of another official United Nations language is an advantage and highly desirable.

Additional Information

For more information on the Corruption and Economic Crime Branch, please visit the following website: http://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/corruption/index.html?ref=menuside

For more information on UNODC, please visit: www.unodc.org

Intern Specific text

Interns are not financially remunerated by the United Nations. Costs and arrangements for travel, visas, accommodation and living expenses are the responsibility of interns or their sponsoring institutions.

Interns who are not citizens or permanent residents of the country where the internship is undertaken, may be required to obtain the appropriate visa and work/employment authorization. Successful candidates should discuss their specific visa requirements before accepting the internship offer.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.

Application instructions

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