UN Women Internship Programme 2026: Eligibility, Benefits and Application Guide

Overview

The UN Women Internship Programme 2026 offers eligible students and recent graduates practical experience in international development, women’s empowerment, gender equality, and United Nations programme delivery. Placements take place across headquarters, regional offices, and country offices based on organizational needs and available assignments. Interns work alongside experienced professionals to build analytical, coordination, communication, and research skills through duties that span strategic partnerships, advocacy, communications, policy, evaluation, human resources, programme planning, research, data, finance, and information technology.

Who can apply

Applicants must meet eligibility criteria established by UN Women. Candidates generally need to be enrolled in a master's, post-master's, or doctoral degree programme, enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree such as a bachelor's degree, recently graduated and able to start the internship within two years of graduation, or meeting other qualifying conditions specified for an eligible national service or postgraduate professional traineeship programme. Relevant fields of study vary by assignment. Language requirements also depend on the placement, with some roles requiring English, others requiring a different language for country-specific positions, and additional United Nations languages serving as an advantage when specified in the vacancy announcement.

What you get

Interns gain exposure to how international organizations design, implement, coordinate, and evaluate initiatives supporting women's rights and gender equality. Interns who do not receive financial support from another source, such as an institution or university, may receive a stipend to partially subsidize basic living expenses, though a stipend is not guaranteed for every placement and no universal amount is specified. Travel, accommodation, visa fees, insurance, and other living costs remain the responsibility of the intern or a sponsoring institution.

Requirements

Applicants should possess useful skills including research, writing, analysis, organization, communication, teamwork, and computer literacy. Depending on the assignment, knowledge of gender issues, programme coordination, data management, policy analysis, or stakeholder engagement can be beneficial. Selected candidates may be required to provide proof of graduation or enrolment, health insurance, identification, and visa documentation where applicable.

How to apply

Interested candidates must search for available internships on the UN Women careers platform, identify a vacancy matching their interests and academic background, and read the full description regarding duration, location, language, and eligibility. Applicants must complete every required section of the online application with accurate details on education, skills, experience, and languages, and submit all requested documents before the vacancy deadline.

Key dates

The programme spans internship durations generally lasting between two and six months, depending on organizational needs, the assignment, and the academic requirements of the intern. Recent graduates must be able to commence the internship within two years of graduation.