The United Nations is offering an exciting opportunity for young professionals and university graduates to gain first-hand exposure to global development work through its wide array of internship openings across various departments in Nairobi. These internships aim to build a talent pipeline of skilled, motivated, and diverse individuals ready to support the UN’s mission of fostering peace, sustainability, and inclusive development around the world.
The internship programmes are tailored to provide a practical learning environment where interns can apply academic knowledge to real-world projects in administration, advocacy, engineering, environmental affairs, public information, urban development, and more. This is an opportunity for aspiring professionals to build a solid foundation for a career in international development while contributing meaningfully to the work of the United Nations.
Open Internship Positions:
Intern – New Urban Agenda Support
Job ID: 255757
Duty Station: Nairobi
Department/Office: United Nations Human Settlements Programme
Deadline: April 17, 2025
Job Description:
The intern will support the New Urban Agenda (NUA) activities within UN-Habitat, assisting with policy coordination and sustainable urban development planning. Duties will include:
- Assisting in the collection, review, and analysis of urban development policy documents aligned with the NUA and SDGs.
- Contributing to the drafting of reports, briefing notes, and summaries for internal and external use.
- Supporting the organization of workshops, webinars, and high-level meetings related to the NUA.
- Engaging with stakeholder networks, including cities, civil society, and academia to promote NUA implementation.
- Supporting data analysis and visualization efforts related to urban indicators.
Interior Design Intern
Job ID: 252624
Duty Station: Nairobi
Department/Office: United Nations Office at Nairobi
Deadline: April 8, 2025
Job Description:
The intern will be placed in the Facilities Management and Engineering Section and will focus on interior architectural and design aspects of various renovation and construction projects. Responsibilities include:
- Developing conceptual design layouts and 3D renderings using relevant design software.
- Assisting in the preparation of architectural plans, schedules, and material specifications.
- Conducting research on sustainable and modern interior design standards for institutional settings.
- Participating in project review meetings, site inspections, and quality assurance processes.
- Assisting in the development of office space optimization strategies.
Human Resource Intern
Job ID: 256062
Duty Station: Nairobi
Department/Office: United Nations Human Settlements Programme
Deadline: April 15, 2025
Job Description:
The intern will provide administrative and operational support to the Human Resources team, particularly in the area of staff engagement and talent acquisition. Main responsibilities include:
- Assisting in the drafting and posting of job openings, reviewing applications, and screening candidate profiles.
- Supporting onboarding and orientation processes for new staff and interns.
- Helping to update HR databases, intranet pages, and organizational charts.
- Participating in staff welfare initiatives and HR events.
- Supporting records management and maintaining personnel files in digital and physical formats.
Team Assistant – Protocol
Job ID: 255790
Duty Station: Nairobi
Department/Office: United Nations Office at Nairobi
Deadline: April 9, 2025
Job Description:
The Protocol Team Assistant will work under the Division of Administrative Services to assist in handling protocol and diplomatic services. Responsibilities include:
- Supporting arrangements for official visits, VIP protocol, and event coordination.
- Preparing and processing visa, ID, and customs documentation for UN staff and visitors.
- Liaising with diplomatic missions and host government offices.
- Assisting in compiling protocol reports and updating databases.
- Coordinating transport and logistics for visiting delegations.
Programme Support Intern
Job ID: 255332
Duty Station: Nairobi
Department/Office: United Nations Environment Programme
Deadline: April 8, 2025
Job Description:
The intern will support programme management teams in the implementation and reporting of environment-related initiatives. Tasks include:
- Assisting in drafting programme documents, progress reports, and donor communications.
- Supporting monitoring and evaluation activities including data entry and analysis.
- Coordinating logistics for workshops, conferences, and capacity-building events.
- Researching environmental trends and policies for project development.
- Assisting in procurement and administrative follow-up for programme activities.
Intern – Advocacy and Campaign
Job ID: 255434
Duty Station: Nairobi
Department/Office: United Nations Human Settlements Programme
Deadline: April 7, 2025
Job Description:
This position supports UN-Habitat’s global advocacy and awareness campaigns on sustainable urban development. Responsibilities include:
- Supporting social media content creation, storytelling, and messaging strategies.
- Assisting in the organization of international observance days and campaign launches.
- Helping develop visual materials such as posters, infographics, and promotional content.
- Tracking campaign performance metrics and preparing internal impact reports.
- Assisting with youth engagement initiatives and online advocacy forums.
Intern – Public Information
Job ID: 255369
Duty Station: Nairobi
Department/Office: United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction
Deadline: April 6, 2025
Job Description:
The intern will work under the Strategic Communications Unit to support the dissemination of disaster risk reduction information. Duties include:
- Writing articles, newsletters, and blog posts for dissemination on UNDRR platforms.
- Assisting with graphic design and layout of public awareness materials.
- Monitoring and reporting on media coverage of disaster risk-related topics.
- Supporting video editing and podcast production tasks.
- Coordinating the translation and publication of communication materials.
G20 Energy Transition Working Group Support – Intern
Job ID: 255350
Duty Station: Nairobi
Department/Office: United Nations Environment Programme
Deadline: April 4, 2025
Job Description:
The intern will support UNEP’s engagement with the G20 Energy Transition Working Group. Core duties include:
- Conducting research on renewable energy policy trends, climate finance, and green transition technologies.
- Drafting analytical briefs, position papers, and meeting summaries.
- Supporting coordination and logistics for G20-related engagements, consultations, and side events.
- Assisting in stakeholder mapping and liaison efforts with key partners.
- Supporting data compilation and visualization related to global energy transition initiatives.
Knowledge Management and Communications Intern
Job ID: 253083
Duty Station: Nairobi
Department/Office: United Nations Environment Programme
Deadline: April 16, 2025
Job Description:
This position supports internal and external communication, documentation, and learning activities for UNEP projects. The intern will:
- Assist in updating and maintaining knowledge-sharing platforms and digital libraries.
- Support the documentation of best practices, case studies, and lessons learned.
- Design and disseminate newsletters, presentations, and communication products.
- Help organize webinars and knowledge-sharing sessions with global partners.
- Assist with social media planning and digital content development.
The United Nations internships in Nairobi offer exceptional learning and professional development opportunities for students and recent graduates seeking exposure to global governance and sustainable development efforts. Each position is uniquely designed to help participants contribute directly to the UN’s objectives while acquiring valuable field experience in an international environment.
These roles are suited for individuals who are self-motivated, proactive, and committed to making a positive impact in their chosen fields. The internships are unpaid and typically require a full-time commitment for a duration of 3 to 6 months.
Applicants are advised to apply only to positions that match their academic background and career goals and to submit applications before the stated deadlines.
