Sustainable Development Intern

About the role

The Sustainable Development Intern will support the Alternative Development Programme in Vientiane, Laos, assisting the implementation of activities that promote sustainable livelihoods and reduce reliance on illicit crop cultivation. This unpaid, six‑month internship works five days a week on‑site under the supervision of the Programme Lead.

Key responsibilities

• Collect, consolidate and perform basic analysis of data on livelihoods, agriculture, gender inclusion, environmental sustainability and community development.
• Draft and edit programme documents such as activity reports, briefing notes, presentations and donor reporting inputs.
• Prepare communication materials including success stories, newsletters, summaries and outreach content.
• Coordinate and communicate with national counterparts, local authorities and community‑based organisations.
• Monitor programme progress, document lessons learned, good practices and implementation challenges.
• Provide administrative support including document preparation, filing, record‑keeping, scheduling and internal coordination.
• Undertake any other tasks required to support programme objectives.

Required profile

• High school diploma plus enrollment in or completion of a bachelor’s, master’s or Ph.D. programme (final year of bachelor or any graduate level).
• Strong interest in United Nations work and commitment to its Charter.
• Ability to work effectively with people from diverse cultural backgrounds.
• Preferred fields of study: Environmental Science, Forestry, Agroforestry, Sustainable Agriculture, International Development, Law, Political Science, International Relations, Economics or related disciplines.

Required skills

• Proficiency with standard software applications (e.g., Microsoft Office).
• Basic data collection and analysis skills.

What we offer

• Unpaid internship lasting six months.
• Full‑time, on‑site work in Vientiane, Lao PDR.
• Opportunity to gain experience in sustainable development and alternative development programmes within the United Nations system.