Internship - Policy - UNESCO/OECD - Paris

The Commonwealth Government of Australia; Paris; On-site; EUR 10,000 - 12,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Transport reimbursements

Job summary

The Commonwealth Government of Australia, at the Australian Embassy in Paris, is offering full-time policy internships with the OECD and UNESCO delegations for 3-5 months. Positions may run February–June 2027 or September–December 2027. Summer internships are not offered.

Interns will assist policy teams with research, briefing notes, council preparations, and public diplomacy activities. Strong English is essential; basic French is an advantage.

Qualifications

• Strong English oral and written communication skills.
• Basic French will be an advantage.
• Excellent organisational and team skills.
• Ability to take initiative and set priorities.
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills.

Responsibilities

• Conduct research and analysis to support Australia’s engagement with the OECD.
• Assist with coordination of Ministers and high-level visitors to the OECD.
• Help draft briefing points and other written material.
• Support preparations for OECD meetings and related reporting.

Skills

English proficiency

Basic French

Research skills

Analytical thinking

Organizational skills

Initiative

Job description

Internship - Policy - UNESCO/OECD - Paris

Application Deadline: 19 November 2026

Department: OECD

Employment Type: Internship

Location: Australian Embassy, Paris

Compensation: Stipend of 1000€ Monthly (before tax) - plus 50% public transport fees.

Description

About the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

The role of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) is to advance the interests of Australia and Australians internationally. This involves strengthening Australia’s security, enhancing Australia’s prosperity, delivering an effective and high-quality overseas aid program, and helping Australian travellers and Australians overseas.

The department provides foreign, trade and development policy advice to the Australian Government. DFAT also works with other Australian government agencies to drive coordination of Australia’s pursuit of global, regional, and bilateral interests.

About the Position

The Australian Embassy to France is looking for full-time interns for a period of 3-5 months to be part of its policy teams within the permanent delegations to OECD and UNESCO. Internship periods may occur between February and June 2027 or between September and December 2027. Summer internships will not be offered.

Permanent Delegation to the OECD

The Permanent Delegation manages Australia’s relationship with and representation at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The OECD is an international organisation which collects data, shares best practice and develops standards to improve the economic and social well-being of people around the world. Australia is active in a wide range of OECD activities and the OECD's analysis plays an influential role in policy debates in Australia. The intern will help advance Australia’s interests with the OECD, its Members and other stakeholders in coordination with other Australian Government agencies based in the Paris Delegation and in Canberra. Under the mentorship of the First Secretary, the intern will:

• Assist the team in conducting research and analysis on topics as directed to support Australia’s engagement at the OECD;
• Participate in coordinating arrangements for Ministers and other high-level visitors to the OECD;
• Help draft briefing points and other written material;
• Support preparations for Council and other OECD meetings;
• Assist with the representation and advocacy of Australia’s positions in meetings and reporting on meeting outcomes; and
• Other duties as required.

Permanent Delegation to UNESCO

The Permanent Delegation to UNESCO manages Australia’s relationship with the United Nations Education, Science and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). UNESCO is a specialised agency of the United Nations with the aim of promoting peace and security through international cooperation in education, arts, sciences and culture. The delegation is responsible for representing Australia’s interests across these sectors of UNESCO’s work. The intern will:

• Assist the team in conducting research and analysis on topics as directed to support Australia’s engagement at UNESCO;
• Participate in coordinating arrangements for Ministers and other high-level visitors to UNESCO;
• Help draft briefing points and other written material;
• Support preparations for Executive Board and other UNESCO meetings;
• Assist with the representation and advocacy of Australia’s positions in meetings and reporting on meeting outcomes;
• Contribute to strategic communications and public diplomacy functions of the delegation, including social media and events; and
• Other duties as required.

Skills, Knowledge & Expertise

Recruitment Selection criteria

Interns should meet the following criteria:

• For the OECD mission, an understanding of Australia’s economic, political, social and cultural interests in a foreign affairs and international development context and an understanding of the OECD’s role in advancing these interests. The spring intern must be available May and June.
• For the UNESCO mission an interest in international relations, multilateral cooperation and UNESCO’s areas of work. Knowledge of UNESCO would be an asset. The Spring intern must be available in April, and the autumn intern must be available in October.

For both missions:

• Strong English oral and written communication skills. Basic French will be an advantage;
• Excellent organisational and team skills;
• Ability to take initiative and set priorities;
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills and an interest in policy research;
• Judgement, flexibility, collegiality and responsiveness.

Conditions and eligibility

• Stipend of 1000€ Monthly (before tax) - plus 50% public transport fees.
• Given the nature of work representing Australia in a multilateral setting, applicants must be Australian citizens.
• Students must provide a valid internship agreement (convention de stage) in accordance with French law for the whole duration of the internship.
  • This requires the intern to be enrolled in a tertiary course of study during the internship (some schools may agree to sign an agreement for a limited period after graduation).
• Students applying from outside France: The embassy is unable to assist you in obtaining a residence permit/visa, so you must be in possession of a valid personal document allowing you to undertake an internship and covering the entire period of the internship.