The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) is accepting applications for the Project Associate – Industrial Future’s Talent Initiative (IFTI). This early-career programme is initially based at UNIDO Headquarters in Vienna, Austria. Importantly, the application deadline is 15-May-2026, 11:59 PM (Vienna, Austria time).
Through this opportunity, selected Project Associates will support programme activities, project design, monitoring, research, and knowledge management in assigned technical or corporate units. In addition, the programme is described as a 24-month professional pathway for young professionals from eligible UNIDO Member States.
Key Details:
Application Deadline: 15-May-2026, 11:59 PM (Vienna, Austria time)
Eligible Countries: Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Grenada, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Iraq, Jordan, Kiribati, Lesotho, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Micronesia (Federated States of), Mongolia, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Niger, Oman, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Qatar, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Seychelles, Somalia, South Sudan, Suriname, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu
Internship Location: Vienna, Austria
Duration: 1 year with the possibility of extension for an additional 1 year; IFTI is described as a 24-month early-career professional programme.
Compensation: approximately EUR 4,000 gross per month
Host Organization: United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)
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About the Internship
UNIDO’s Industrial Future’s Talent Initiative (IFTI) targets young professionals at an early career stage. The programme combines practical work exposure with learning opportunities in a diverse and multicultural environment.
Project Associates will work within assigned units and contribute to technical or corporate programme delivery. They will also gain exposure to industrial and economic developments, project design and management, and structured support systems such as mentoring and buddy arrangements.
Responsibilities
- Compile background information on economic, industrial, environmental, and social factors relevant to assigned sectors, countries, or programme areas.
- Prepare flow charts, schedules, graphs, and tables, and coordinate the collection and verification of documents and data.
- Assemble and edit basic data for planning and negotiation, and check project documents for clarity, consistency, and completeness.
- Describe progress of ongoing projects and investigate designated project activities.
- Discuss findings with the supervisor and analyze project rationale, context, design, management, and problem resolution options.
- Maintain institutional memory and documentation systems for project and programme history.
- Assist in monitoring exercises related to project execution and retrieve information on project status, outputs, outcomes, KPIs, risks, and milestones from the SAP Portfolio and Project Management module.
- Draft reports, briefing notes, presentations, and other written outputs.
- Contribute to research activities and other ad-hoc assignments as required.
- Support the organization of briefings, study tours, missions, mentoring activities, and learning events.
- Contribute to programme components including exposure to technical and industrial developments, project design and management, on-the-job training, and mentoring and buddy systems.
Eligibility Requirements
- Applicants must be between 23 and 28 years of age at the time of application.
- A minimum of a first-level university degree (Bachelor’s or equivalent) is required.
- At least two years of relevant professional work experience is required.
- Demonstrated interest in sustainable economic and industrial development is required.
- Nationality of one of the listed UNIDO Member States is required.
- Fluency in written and spoken English is required.
Skills Preferred: Experience working in or with developing countries, particularly in the Global South; experience in project design, monitoring, or research aligned with UNIDO’s mandate; familiarity with multicultural work environments; interest in sustainable industrial development; experience supporting early-career talent programmes, youth development initiatives, or diversity and inclusion efforts; fluency and/or working knowledge of another official UN language is desirable.
How to Apply
Interested applicants should complete their application through the UNIDO careers portal. Before applying, review the official page carefully for full role details, conditions, and submission instructions.
Selected candidates can expect approximately EUR 4,000 gross per month, plus applicable allowances. Benefits also include economy-class air travel to and from the duty station, a 50% medical insurance subsidy, mentor assignment, buddy support, and on-the-job learning opportunities.
👉 Visit the official internship page for details
