Objectives of the Programme

The inclusive UNFPA Internship Programme offers outstanding students the opportunity to acquire direct exposure to UNFPA operations. It is designed to complement development-oriented studies with practical experience in various aspects of UNFPA work.

Applicants should have expressed interest in the field of development; ability to adapt to new environments and work with individuals from different cultural backgrounds. Interns work as part of agile teams that support and hold each other accountable. In addition, they will have supervisory support from an assigned UNFPA staff member. The background of the interns is matched with the needs of the organization.

Qualifying for an Internship

Candidates for the internship programme are selected competitively from the Internship Roster by teams looking to integrate an intern into their work. The profiles of the interns are matched with the needs of the organization.

Applicants to the UNFPA internship programme must at the time of application meet one of the following requirements:

(a) Be enrolled in a postgraduate degree programme (such as a master’s programme, or higher);

(b) Be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree programme (such as bachelor’s degree or equivalent);

(c) 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;

(d) Be enrolled in a postgraduate professional traineeship programme and undertake the internship as part of this programme.

Students must have written and spoken proficiency in English; fluency in another UN language is an asset.

Financial Aspects

Interns do not receive a salary or any other form of remuneration from UNFPA. The costs associated with an intern's participation in the programme must be assumed either by the nominating institution, which may provide the required financial assistance to its students, or by the students themselves, who will have to meet living expenses as well as make their own arrangements for accommodation, travel and other requirements. However, they receive a stipend to help cover basic daily expenses related to the internship, if not financially supported by any institution or programme, such as a university, government, foundation, or scholarship programme. The amount of the stipend varies according to the duty station. In addition, applicants must have medical insurance for the duration of the internship. Proof of insurance will need to be submitted before the internship begins. UNFPA does not provide medical insurance for interns.