Want to gain professional experience with a United Nations agency working on global development, gender equality and reproductive health? The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) offers internship opportunities for students and recent graduates interested in contributing to its work across different countries and offices.
The UNFPA Global Internship Roster 2026 allows eligible candidates to submit their profiles for consideration when suitable internship opportunities become available. Depending on the assignment, interns may contribute to programme development, communications, research, data analysis, gender equality, humanitarian response and other areas connected to UNFPA’s mission.
A stipend towards living expenses may be available to interns who do not receive financial support from another source. However, this is not a guaranteed fully funded placement, and candidates should check the financial and practical requirements of individual assignments before accepting an offer.
Applications are listed with a closing date of 31 December 2026. If you are interested in working with the UN system, this roster is worth exploring.
Quick Facts
- Opportunity Type: International Internship
- Host Institution: United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
- Location: Multiple locations worldwide
- Duration: Depends on the specific internship assignment
- Age Limit: No specific age limit
- Mode: Depends on the placement
- Nationality: Worldwide
- Minimum Degree Required: Applicants must meet at least one of the following academic conditions: enrolment in a postgraduate degree, enrolment in the final academic year of a first university degree, recent graduation from an eligible university degree, or participation in a qualifying postgraduate professional traineeship
- Work Experience: No universal minimum professional experience requirement is specified in the general roster criteria
- Application Deadline: 31 December 2026, 23:59 Eastern Time
- Application Fee: No application or recruitment fee
- Stipend / Salary / Financial Support: A stipend towards living expenses may be available if the intern does not receive financial support from another institution or programme. The amount depends on the agreed place of work.
What Is the UNFPA Global Internship Roster?
The UNFPA Global Internship Roster is a centralised recruitment pool that allows UNFPA offices around the world to select interns from a pre-screened list of candidates. Once added to the roster, individual duty stations can reach out with placement offers. This is a key pathway to gain experience through a UN internship with direct impact in sexual and reproductive health, gender equality, and humanitarian response.
Who Can Apply?
- Currently enrolled in a graduate or undergraduate programme, or a recent graduate (within one year of graduation)
- Proficient in at least one UN official language (English, French, Spanish, Arabic, Russian, or Chinese)
- Strong communication, analytical, and organisational skills
- Available to commit full-time for 3 to 6 months
- Open to applicants from all nationalities
What Do You Get?
- Placement at a UNFPA country, regional, or headquarters office anywhere in the world
- Monthly stipend possible at some duty stations (in local currency; not guaranteed at all locations)
- Hands-on experience in UN development, humanitarian, and health programming
- Official UN internship certificate upon completion
- Professional network across UNFPA and the broader UN system
What Will You Do?
Tasks vary by office and team. Interns typically support programme planning and monitoring, research and data collection, drafting reports, event coordination, communications, and field-level activities. Your specific duties are determined by the UNFPA office that selects you from the roster.
Focus Areas
UNFPA offices work across sexual and reproductive health and rights, gender equality, maternal health, adolescent and youth programming, population data, and emergency humanitarian response. Placements vary based on the priorities and needs of each office.
How to Apply
Apply directly through the UNFPA Careers portal at unfpa.org/jobs/global-internship-roster-2026. Submit your application, CV, and academic documents via the online system. Once shortlisted, your profile is added to the Global Internship Roster and UNFPA offices may contact you for placement. There is no need to apply separately to individual offices.
Important Deadline
Applications close on December 31, 2026 at 11:59 PM New York time. Submit early to be considered for placements across 2026 and 2027.
Apply Now
Deadline: December 31, 2026 | Free to Apply | Stipend Possible
Find more fully funded UN internships and opportunities on Potenue.
