UNDP Paid Internships 2026 for Students and Graduates – Launch Your Global Development Career
The UNDP Paid Internship Program offers students and recent graduates hands-on experience in global development, poverty eradication, and sustainable growth across around 170 countries. Interns receive a monthly stipend and work alongside experienced professionals at UNDP headquarters, regional hubs, or country offices.
Overview
The UNDP Internship Program is designed for students and recent graduates seeking practical knowledge in international development. Operating across approximately 170 countries, the program addresses critical global challenges such as eradicating poverty, reducing inequalities, and promoting sustainable growth. Interns gain direct exposure to United Nations programs and work under the mentorship of qualified supervisors. Activities typically include conducting research, drafting documents, organizing conferences, managing information, and publishing best practices.
Benefits
- Receive a monthly stipend to help cover costs associated with the internship, with amounts varying by duty station.
- Potential opportunities for future placement within UNDP or the broader UN system.
- Possible financial support from nominating institutions or governments.
Eligibility
- Open to applicants from all over the world.
- Candidates must be enrolled in a graduate program, hold a second university degree, or be in the final academic year of a first university degree.
- Must be at least 18 years of age at the time of application.
- Required fluency in at least one of UNDP’s three working languages (English, French, or Spanish), with knowledge of Arabic, Portuguese, Russian, or another Eastern European language considered an advantage.
- Must demonstrate relevance to UNDP programs and the ability to work with people from diverse language, national, and cultural backgrounds.
How to Apply
Candidates must submit their applications exclusively through the UNDP website. To apply:
- Visit the official UNDP job section.
- Search for 'intern' in the search bar and select an area of interest.
- Review the specific guidelines and exclusive deadline for each individual internship posting.
- Register and submit a separate application for each program if applying to more than one position.
Deadline
The application deadline varies according to each individual internship program.