UNFPA Internship Job 2026: Global Internship Opportunities

Overview

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has opened its Global Internship Roster for 2026, which feeds internship placements in UNFPA offices and functions around the world. The areas of work include international development, programme support, research, communications and partnerships. Interns are selected competitively from the roster, matched to organizational needs and supervised by UNFPA staff.

Interns can become familiar with UNFPA policies, working procedures, coordination mechanisms and its development mandate, which centers on ending preventable maternal deaths, ending unmet need for family planning, ending gender-based violence and harmful practices, and responding to demographic change through evidence and rights-based policies. Duration and location vary by assignment. Some internships can be done remotely where the hiring unit offers it or the supervisor approves it, while others require in-person work at a duty station.

Who can apply

Applicants must meet one of several education conditions. They may be enrolled in a first university degree programme and have completed at least one full academic year, or be enrolled in a postgraduate programme such as a master's or higher. Recent graduates can apply if the internship starts within one year of graduation, and participants in an eligible postgraduate professional traineeship programme may qualify when the internship is part of it.

Requirements

Candidates need written and spoken proficiency in at least one UNFPA working language, English or French, and fluency in the official language of the relevant UNFPA office. They should show an interest in development, the ability to adapt to new environments and the ability to work well with people from different cultures. Medical insurance for the internship period is required, and UNFPA does not provide it.

What you get

UNFPA internships carry no salary. Interns who receive no financial support from an external institution such as a university, government or scholarship programme may be eligible for a stipend toward living expenses. It is normally paid in local currency at the end of each month and depends on the agreed place of work.

How to apply

Candidates review the Global Internship Roster and individual internship announcements. UNFPA states that it charges no application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or recruitment fees.

Key dates

The roster closes on 31 December 2026 at 23:59 New York time.