The UN Women Internship Programme offers students and recent graduates the opportunity to gain practical experience within the United Nations system while contributing to work focused on gender equality and women’s empowerment.
About the UN Women Internship Programme
Internships are available across areas including research and data, policy, communications, advocacy, strategic partnerships, programme planning, evaluation, human resources, finance and ICT.
Interns may support the design, implementation and evaluation of UN Women projects while gaining experience working in an international environment. Assignments can have a country, regional, sectoral or thematic focus.
Who Can Apply?
The programme is open to applicants from different nationalities and academic backgrounds.
You may be eligible if you:
- Are currently enrolled in a master’s, post-master’s or doctoral programme
- Are in the final year of a first university degree, such as a bachelor’s degree
- Recently graduated and can begin the internship within two years of graduation
- Are enrolled in a national service programme in which the internship can form part
- Are enrolled in a professional traineeship programme that forms part of a postgraduate degree
Applicants should also demonstrate UN Women’s core values of professionalism, respect for diversity and integrity.
Internship Duration
UN Women internships generally last between two and six months.
Assignments are generally full-time and can be offered throughout the year, depending on the availability of suitable assignments and the capacity of the relevant UN Women office.
What Will Interns Do?
The exact responsibilities depend on the internship assignment.
Possible areas include:
Research and Data
Interns may contribute to research activities, data collection and analysis, evidence generation and knowledge products.
Policy and Advocacy
Interns can gain exposure to policy development, advocacy initiatives and work supporting gender equality and women’s empowerment.
Communications
Assignments may involve communications, campaigns, content development and public engagement.
Programme Support
Interns may support the planning, implementation and evaluation of UN Women programmes and projects.
Strategic Partnerships
Some assignments provide exposure to partnership development and collaboration with governments, organizations and other stakeholders.
Is the UN Women Internship Paid?
UN Women states that interns are not financially remunerated by UN Women.
However, interns may receive a stipend to help cover basic daily expenses, such as meals and transportation at the duty station, when they are not financially supported by another institution or programme.
Travel, insurance, accommodation and other living expenses must be covered by the intern or a sponsoring institution.
Therefore, this opportunity should not be advertised as a fully funded internship based on the information provided.
How to Apply
Applicants should search for active internship vacancies through the UN Women Careers platform.
The application process requires candidates to complete all sections of the online application, including education and employment history.
An important point is that simply uploading a CV or P11 form does not replace completing the required fields in the online application. An incomplete application may be disqualified.
The Word version of the UN Women P11 form is no longer required.
Documents Required After Selection
Candidates who are contacted and selected by the hiring office will need to provide documents including:
- Two letters of recommendation
- Proof of health insurance
- Proof of university enrolment or graduation
- Scanned passport
- Visa, where applicable
- Signed internship offer and agreement
What Makes This Opportunity Valuable?
A UN Women internship can provide practical exposure to the work of an international organization and allow participants to develop professional experience in areas such as research, gender policy, international development, communications, programme management and data.
It can be particularly valuable for students interested in careers within the United Nations, NGOs, international development organizations, public policy and gender-focused institutions.
Important Things to Know Before Applying
Internship duration: 2–6 months
Work arrangement: Generally full-time
Eligibility: Students, final-year undergraduate students, and eligible recent graduates
Age limit: No specific age limit is stated in the information provided
Nationality: Applicants from all backgrounds and nationalities are welcome
Financial support: No guaranteed remuneration; a stipend may be available under certain circumstances
Application: Online through UN Women Careers
P11: No longer required as a Word document
Travel and accommodation: Applicant or sponsoring institution’s responsibility
Final Thoughts
The UN Women Internship Programme 2026–2027 provides an opportunity for students and recent graduates to gain international experience across research, policy, communications, advocacy, partnerships, programme planning, data and other professional areas.
Because internships are offered according to the availability of meaningful assignments, applicants should regularly check the UN Women Careers portal for current openings rather than assuming that every area is available at all times.
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