Internship

Internships offer a small group of outstanding students and recent graduates from diverse academic backgrounds exposure to development issues and a first-hand experience with the day-to-day working environment of UNDP.

Internships can take place in a UNDP country office/ regional center or at the organization's Headquarters in New York. Flexible working arrangement may also apply. Assignments vary greatly in terms of content. Every attempt is made to match the interests of the intern with the needs of the organization.

Internship assignments vary in length according to the availability and academic requirements of the intern, as well as the needs of UNDP. Assignments are available on a part-time and full-time basis throughout the year. Assignments normally last a minimum of six weeks and a maximum of six months.

Qualifications:

Interns are selected on a competitive basis. Interns need to respect the principles of the United Nations Charter and the UNDP Statement of Purpose. The following minimum qualifications are required: 

• Be enrolled in a postgraduate degree programme (such as a master’s programme, or higher);
• Be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree programme (such as bachelor’s degree or equivalent);
• Have recently graduated with a university degree (as defined in (a) and (b) above) and, if selected, must start the internship within one-year of graduation;
• Be enrolled in a postgraduate professional traineeship program and undertake the internship as part of this program.

Respect for the principles of the United Nations Charter and the UNDP Statement of Purpose.

Applicants cannot be a child or sibling of a current UNDP staff member.

Other information

Where an intern is not financially supported by any institution or programme, such as a university, government, foundation or scholarship programme, a stipend intended to help cover basic daily expenses related to the internship, such as meals and transportation at the duty station, will be paid by UNDP. Costs and arrangements for travel, visas, passports, accommodation and living expenses are the responsibility of the intern or the institution which may be providing financial assistance.

Interns will accrue leave at the rate of 1 ½ days per month.

Interns are responsible for securing adequate medical insurance for the duration of their internship with UNDP and must provide a medical certificate of good health prior to starting the internship.

Further career opportunities

The purpose of internships is not to lead to further employment with UNDP but, as mentioned, to complement an intern's studies. However, a number of interns, having completed their studies and met the necessary requirements, have gone on to further assignments with the UNDP or elsewhere in the United Nations system.

Who to contact

Selection for the internships is fully decentralized within UNDP. All internships for UNDP in Europe and Central Asia are advertised here.