Local Internship Opportunity: Pretoria, South Africa

 

Local Internship Opportunity, South Africa Country Office: 

• Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights and HIV, Gender and Adolescent and Youth (2 Interns)
• Operations and Administration (1 Intern)

How you can make a difference:

UNFPA is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person's potential is fulfilled. UNFPA’s strategic plan (2026-2029) reaffirms the relevance of its current strategic direction and focuses on four transformative results: accelerating progress on meeting the unmet need for family planning; accelerating progress on ending preventable maternal deaths; accelerating progress on ending gender-based violence and harmful practices; and adapting to demographic change through evidence and rights-based policies. These results capture our strategic commitments on accelerating progress towards realizing the ICPD and SDGs in the Decade of Action leading up to 2030. In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff, who embody these international norms and standards, and who will defend them courageously and with full conviction.

UNFPA is seeking candidates that transform, inspire and deliver high impact and sustained results; we need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them and who commit to deliver excellence in programme results.

Job Purpose:

UNFPA is seeking the services of three appropriately qualified interns to support Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights and HIV, Gender and Adolescent and Youth programmes as well as the Operations portfolios. The interns will be responsible for supporting UNFPA’s Programme planning, coordination to streamline processes and improve administrative efficiencies within the respective programme and operations units UNFPA is seeking a candidate that transforms, inspires and delivers high impact and sustained results. We need interns who are exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them and who commit to deliver excellence in programme results.

You would be responsible for:

Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights and HIV, Gender and Adolescent and Youth (2 Interns)

• Provide support in planning and coordination of inter-agency forums, stakeholder meetings, forums, NCF, etc.
• Assist with compiling background documentation for programme summaries, briefing notes, talking points, concept documents and other communication materials as necessary
• Support integration of content and platforms for internal communications, in collaboration with other colleagues from both regional and country levels.
•  Assist in coordination of SRHR and HIV, Gender and Adolescents and youth work plans, including capacity building workshops, training, and logistics arrangements for participation in various forums as directed by programme officers.
•  Monitoring and support of SRHR and HIV, Gender and Adolescents and youth activity implementation.
•  Assist with compiling background documentation for programme summaries, briefing notes, talking points, concept documents and other communication materials as necessary
• Support integration of content and platforms for internal communications, in collaboration with other colleagues from both regional and country levels.
• Support other activities in line with the portfolio the Intern will be supporting at any given point and time.

Operations and Administration (1 Intern)

• Support the Country Office with VAT management/recoveries 
• Support regularly in monitor and analyses detailed expenditures, check fund availability and communicate with the respective managers;
• Support in preparation of Annual Work Plans and Budgetary adjustments in QUANTUM Plus .
• Support in preparing donor financial reports. 
• Prepare documentation and liaise with the finance team for payments, including monitoring and follow-up of outstanding processes. 

Qualifying for an Internship

• All interns must meet the following educational and other eligibility requirements:

Educational requirements

• Be enrolled in a first university degree programme (such as bachelor’s degree or equivalent) and have completed one full academic year;
• Be enrolled in a postgraduate degree programme (such as master’s programme or higher);
•  Have recently graduated with a university degree as defined above and, if selected, must start the internship within one-year of graduation; or
•  Be enrolled in a postgraduate professional trainee programme and undertake the internship as part of this programme.

Other eligibility requirements

• Demonstrate interest in the field of development;
•  Demonstrate written and spoken proficiency in at least one of the working languages of the United Nations (English) 
• Demonstrate ability to adapt to new environments and to establish and maintain good working relations with individuals of different cultural backgrounds.
   

Qualifications and Experience: 

Education:  

• Bechelor's Degree

Knowledge and Experience: 

• Some experience in working with development agencies, including in volunteer capacity. 
• Fluency in English. Knowledge of other languages is an asset. 
• Strong analytical and writing skills.
• Initiative, sound judgment and demonstrated ability to work harmoniously with staff members from different national and cultural backgrounds.
   

Learning Elements:

Upon completion of the assignment, and depending on its duration, the Intern will gain the following knowledge assets:

1. Increased understanding of the UNFPA and the Programme Division within UNFPA
2. Understand the UNFPA mandate and policies, including regional set-up 
3. Understand and familiarize with UNFPA Governance and Executive Board  
4. Understand UNFPA programme design and delivery mechanisms
5. Understand the dynamics of operational and programme support and communications to the field, and at the level of HQ
6. Learn UN technical language, working procedures, and coordination mechanisms 
7. Write and formulate substantive documents
8. Network with UN colleagues 
9. Work experience as a team member in a multicultural setting

Financial Aspects:

Interns do not receive a salary or any other form of remuneration from UNFPA. The costs associated with an intern's participation in the programme must be assumed either by the nominating institution, which may provide the required financial assistance to its students, or by the students themselves, who will have to meet living expenses as well as make their own arrangements for accommodation, travel and other requirements. However, they receive a stipend to help cover basic daily expenses related to the internship, if not financially supported by any institution or programme, such as a university, government, foundation, or scholarship programme. The stipend is based on the intern’s agreed place of work, which may be different from the duty station of the hiring office in cases of remote arrangements. 

In addition, applicants must have medical insurance for the duration of the internship. Proof of insurance will need to be submitted before the internship begins. UNFPA does not provide medical insurance for interns. 
 

Required Competencies: 

Values:

• Exemplifying integrity, 
• Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system, 
• Embracing cultural diversity, 
• Embracing change

UNFPA Work Environment:

UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, diversity, integrity and healthy work-life balance. We are committed to ensuring gender parity in the organization and therefore encourage women to apply. Individuals from the LGBTQIA+ community, minority ethnic groups, indigenous populations, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups are highly encouraged to apply. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. UNFPA promotes equal opportunities in terms of appointment, training, compensation and selection for all regardless of personal characteristics and dimensions of diversity. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is at the heart of UNFPA's workforce - click here to learn more.

Disclaimer:

Selection and appointment may be subject to background and reference checks, medical clearance, visa issuance and other administrative requirements. 

UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process and does not concern itself with information on applicants' bank accounts. 

Applicants for positions in the international Professional and higher categories, who hold permanent resident status in a country other than their country of nationality, may be required to renounce such status upon their appointment.