

Local Internship Opportunity, South Africa Country Office:
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)
Operations and Administration (1 Intern)
Qualifying for an Internship
Educational requirements
Other eligibility requirements
Qualifications and Experience:
Education:
Knowledge and Experience:
Learning Elements:
Upon completion of the assignment, and depending on its duration, the Intern will gain the following knowledge assets:
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:
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.