Intern - Data Science

Work LocationIn-person Expected duration3-6 months Duties and ResponsibilitiesThe Office of the Special Adviser on Africa (OSAA) was officially established in March 2003 and became operational in May 2003, with the mandate to enhance international support for Africa's development and security through its advocacy and analytical work; assist the Secretary-General in improving coherence and coordination of the UN System support to Africa; facilitate inter-governmental deliberations on Africa at the global level, in particular relating to the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD); and establish a monitoring mechanism to review commitments made towards Africa’s development. In line with its mandate and core functions, OSAA initiates and coordinates the critical work of the United Nations on the interrelated issues of peace, security and development in Africa. The Intern - Data Science will work in the Policy Innovation Unit of the OSAA. Duties and Responsibilities Codebase Review & Development • Refactor and modularize the existing Python and Streamlit codebase to improve performance, reusability, and scalability. • Implement version control and documentation practices using GitHub. Data Infrastructure Alignment • Structure and align datasets in accordance with OSAA’s backend infrastructure requirements. • Support the setup of structured ingestion pipelines for raw data and metadata harmonization. Data Collection & Diplomacy • Identify, verify, and collect datasets from primary and authoritative sources, including government websites, institutional portals, and international organizations. • Support OSAA’s data diplomacy efforts by helping coordinate data requests and correspondence with external data holders and national institutions. Dashboard Integration Support • Prepare the dashboard for full deployment within OSAA’s internal systems, including optimizing Altair and Markdown outputs. • Customize layout and styling using CSS and ensure accessibility and responsiveness. Collaboration & Documentation • Contribute to internal documentation of workflows, design choices, and data schema. • Support collaboration with IT and policy teams to align technical outputs with analytical needs. Qualifications/special skillsApplicants must meet one of the following requirements: (a) be enrolled in, or have 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 degree or equivalent). Applicants to the UN Internship Programme are not required to have professional work. experience. However, a field of study that is closely related to the type of internship that you are applying for is required 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. LanguagesEnglish and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Fluency in spoken and written English is required for the internship. Knowledge of an additional official UN language is an advantage. Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish are the official languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Additional InformationNot available. Intern Specific textInterns 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 FeeTHE 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.