UN Women offers internship opportunities for students and recent graduates interested in gaining practical experience within the United Nations system and contributing to work that advances gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.

The UN Women Internship Programme provides exposure to professional areas such as:

Strategic Partnerships

Communications

Advocacy

Policy

Evaluation

Human Resources

Programme Planning

Research and Data

Finance

and

Information and Communication Technology — ICT.

Internship assignments vary according to the needs of individual UN Women offices and may have:

Country-specific

Regional

Sectoral

Thematic

focus areas.

Most internships provide opportunities to support the design, implementation and evaluation of UN Women projects while learning about gender equality and humanitarian action in an international environment.

Internships normally last between:

2 and 6 months

and are generally:

Full-time.

Opportunities may be available:

Throughout the year.

UN Women Internship Programme 2026 Overview

Category	Details
Organization	UN Women
Programme	UN Women Internship Programme
Opportunity type	Internship
Duration	2–6 months
Work schedule	Generally full-time
Availability	Throughout the year
Locations	Depend on individual vacancy
International applicants	Welcomed from different nationalities
Master’s students	Eligible
Post-master’s students	Eligible
Doctoral students	Eligible
Final-year bachelor’s students	Eligible
Recent graduates	Eligible under stated conditions
Stipend	May be available in some circumstances
Salary	Interns are not financially remunerated for their work
Travel costs	Intern or sponsoring institution
Accommodation	Intern or sponsoring institution
Insurance	Intern or sponsoring institution
Application platform	UN Women Careers

About the UN Women Internship Programme

UN Women internships are designed to provide outstanding students with:

Direct professional exposure

to the organization’s work.

Assignments can vary significantly according to:

Office needs

Programme priorities

and

Available supervision capacity.

The programme is therefore not one single annual internship with identical duties for every participant.

Instead, individual offices advertise internship opportunities when meaningful assignments are available.

What Can UN Women Interns Work On?

The official programme page highlights several professional areas where internship opportunities may arise.

These include:

Strategic Partnerships

Communications

Advocacy

Policy

Evaluation

Human Resources

Programme Planning

Research and Data

Finance

and

ICT.

Strategic Partnerships Internships

Strategic partnership work can involve engagement with:

Governments

Civil Society

Donors

Private-Sector Partners

and

International Organizations.

Internships in this area may appeal to students interested in:

International Relations

Development Studies

Public Policy

Partnership Management.

Communications Internships

Communications opportunities may suit applicants with backgrounds in:

Journalism

Media

Communications

Public Relations

Digital Marketing

Content Development.

Depending on the specific vacancy, interns may support communications activities connected to UN Women’s programmes and campaigns.

Advocacy Internships

Advocacy is central to efforts to advance gender equality.

Interns may gain exposure to areas involving:

Public Campaigns

Stakeholder Engagement

Policy Messaging

and

Awareness Raising.

Policy Internships

Policy internships can be relevant to students studying:

Political Science

Public Policy

International Relations

Gender Studies

Law

Development Studies.

They may provide experience connected to research, policy analysis and programme support.

Evaluation Internships

Evaluation helps organizations determine whether programmes are:

Effective

Relevant

and

Achieving intended outcomes.

Evaluation internships can be particularly relevant to applicants interested in:

Monitoring and Evaluation

Research

Statistics

Impact Assessment

and

Data Analysis.

Human Resources Internships

HR internships may provide exposure to areas connected to:

Recruitment

Talent Management

Workforce Administration

and

Organizational Development.

Programme Planning Internships

Programme planning opportunities may involve supporting the development and implementation of initiatives related to:

Gender Equality

Women’s Empowerment

and

Humanitarian Action.

Research and Data Internships

UN Women specifically identifies:

Research and Data

among the areas in which interns may gain experience.

These opportunities may be particularly useful for applicants with skills in:

Data Analysis

Statistics

Research Methods

Data Visualization

Economics

Social Sciences.

Why Research and Data Matter at UN Women

UN Women uses evidence and data to understand issues affecting women and girls.

Research can contribute to areas such as:

Economic Empowerment

Women’s Leadership

Violence Against Women

Humanitarian Action

and

Sustainable Development.

Finance Internships

Finance internships may suit applicants studying:

Accounting

Finance

Economics

Business Administration.

Responsibilities vary by vacancy.

ICT Internships

Information and Communication Technology internships may be relevant to candidates with skills in:

Information Technology

Computer Science

Information Systems

Digital Platforms

Technology Support.

Who Can Apply for UN Women Internships?

UN Women sets several academic pathways through which candidates may qualify.

Applicants may be eligible if they are:

Enrolled in a master’s programme

Enrolled in a post-master’s programme

Enrolled in a doctorate programme

In the final year of a first university degree programme.

Final-Year Bachelor’s Students

Students pursuing a first university degree at:

Bachelor’s level or equivalent

may qualify if they are:

In their final year.

This is important because the programme is not generally presented as open to every undergraduate student regardless of year.

Master’s Students

Students currently enrolled in a:

Master’s programme

may be eligible.

Doctoral Students

Candidates enrolled in:

Doctoral programmes

may also apply.

Recent Graduates

Recent university graduates can qualify under certain conditions.

UN Women states that candidates who recently graduated must be able to:

Commence the internship within two years of graduation.

National Service Programmes

Eligibility may also extend to applicants enrolled in:

National service obligation programmes

where an internship can form part of the programme.

Professional Traineeships

Applicants may also qualify if they are enrolled in a:

Professional traineeship programme

that forms part of a postgraduate degree programme.

Applicants From Different Nationalities

UN Women states that it welcomes applications from:

All backgrounds

including people from different:

Nationalities

and

Study profiles.

Applicants should still meet the specific requirements of the vacancy for which they apply.

UN Women Values

Candidates should demonstrate UN Women values including:

Professionalism

Respect for Diversity

and

Integrity.

Internship Duration

UN Women internships last a minimum of:

2 months

and a maximum of:

6 months.

The exact length depends on:

The intern’s availability

Academic requirements

and

The needs of UN Women.

Are UN Women Internships Full-Time?

Assignments are generally:

Full-time.

Any different working arrangement would need to be confirmed in the individual internship announcement.

Are UN Women Internships Available Throughout the Year?

Yes.

The programme page states that assignments are generally available:

Throughout the year.

However, opportunities depend on whether offices have:

Meaningful assignments

and

Capacity to supervise interns.

Are UN Women Internships Paid?

This requires careful explanation.

UN Women states that:

Interns are not financially remunerated for their work.

However, eligible interns:

May receive a stipend

to help cover basic daily internship-related expenses.

What Can the Stipend Cover?

The stipend may help with basic expenses such as:

Meals

and

Transportation at the duty station.

Who May Receive a Stipend?

UN Women states that the stipend may apply when the intern is:

Not financially supported by another institution or programme.

Examples of other support can include funding from:

A university

Government

Foundation

Scholarship programme.

Is a UN Women Stipend Guaranteed?

No.

The programme should not be advertised as universally paid.

The accurate description is:

Interns are not financially remunerated, but some may receive a stipend for basic daily expenses depending on their financial-support situation.

Does UN Women Pay for Travel?

No.

The official internship conditions state that costs related to:

Travel

must be covered by:

The intern

The sponsoring institution.

Does UN Women Pay for Accommodation?

No.

Accommodation expenses must also be covered by:

The intern

A sponsoring organization.

Does UN Women Pay for Insurance?

Insurance expenses must be borne by:

The applicant

Their sponsoring institution.

Selected candidates must provide proof of health insurance coverage.

Living Expenses

Other living costs are also the responsibility of:

The intern

The sponsoring institution.

Candidates should therefore budget carefully before accepting an international placement.

How to Apply for UN Women Internships

Candidates must search for active internship opportunities through:

UN Women Careers.

There is no single application form that automatically puts candidates into consideration for every internship.

Applicants apply to:

Specific advertised vacancies.

Step 1 — Search Active Internships

Visit the official UN Women Careers website and filter available opportunities for:

Internships.

Step 2 — Choose a Relevant Vacancy

Applicants should focus on positions matching their:

Academic Background

Skills

Experience

and

Career Interests.

Step 3 — Complete the Online Application Fully

This is extremely important.

UN Women requires candidates to complete:

All sections of the online application form.

That includes:

Education

and

Employment History.

Do Not Rely Only on Your Resume

Uploading a resume does:

Not

replace the requirement to complete the application fields.

Is the P11 Form Required?

UN Women states that the:

Word version of the P11 form is no longer required.

Incomplete Applications

Applicants should pay close attention to this requirement.

If required application sections are incomplete:

The application may be disqualified.

Attaching a Resume Is Not Enough

Even if candidates attach:

A resume

P11 document,

they still need to complete all required fields in the online application.

What Happens After Applying?

UN Women states that it can respond only to applicants:

In whom there is further interest.

This means not every candidate will receive an individual response.

Documents Required After Selection

Once selected and contacted by the hiring office, candidates will need to provide additional documentation.

These include:

Two letters of recommendation

Proof of health insurance

Proof of school enrollment or graduation

Scanned passport

and

Visa documentation if applicable.

Candidates must also provide an:

Accepted and signed internship offer and agreement.

Two Letters of Recommendation

Selected candidates need:

Two recommendation letters.

Applicants may therefore want to identify potential referees before applying.

Proof of Enrollment

Current students will need to provide evidence of:

University enrollment.

Proof of Graduation

Recent graduates will need evidence showing:

University graduation.

Passport and Visa

Selected candidates may need to submit:

A scanned passport

and

Visa documentation where applicable.

Health Insurance Requirement

Candidates selected for an internship must provide:

Proof of health insurance coverage.

Applicants considering an international assignment should factor this into their preparation.

UN Women Internship Locations

The general programme page does not provide one universal internship location.

Assignments can have:

Country

Regional

Sectoral

Thematic

focus.

Candidates should therefore check each vacancy to confirm:

Duty station

Work arrangement

and

Location requirements.

Are UN Women Internships Remote?

The programme page does not state that all internships are remote.

Candidates should check individual vacancies for whether an assignment is:

Office-based

Remote

Hybrid.

Are UN Women Internships International?

UN Women welcomes applicants from different nationalities.

However, applicants must meet:

The specific requirements of each internship.

Nationality eligibility, visa arrangements and duty-station conditions can vary.

Main Areas of UN Women Work

Internship opportunities may connect with UN Women’s broader areas of work.

These include:

Women’s Leadership and Political Participation

Economic Empowerment

Ending Violence Against Women

Peace and Security

Humanitarian Action

Governance and National Planning

Youth

Women and Girls With Disabilities

and

HIV and AIDS.

Women’s Leadership and Political Participation

Interns interested in:

Governance

Politics

Public Policy

and

Women’s Leadership

may find opportunities connected to political participation.

Women’s Economic Empowerment

Economic empowerment work may involve issues such as:

Employment

Care Work

Financial Inclusion

and

Economic Policy.

Ending Violence Against Women

UN Women works globally to address:

Gender-Based Violence

and

Violence Against Women and Girls.

Relevant internships may attract applicants from:

Law

Human Rights

Social Work

Public Policy

and

Development Studies.

Peace and Security

Peace and security work can involve:

Conflict Prevention

Peacebuilding

and

Women’s Participation in Peace Processes.

Humanitarian Action

Some internship assignments may expose candidates to work related to:

Gender and humanitarian action.

This can be particularly valuable for applicants seeking careers in:

Emergency Response

Humanitarian Policy

International Development.

Research and Data Career Path

Applicants interested in data-focused UN careers can strengthen their profile through skills such as:

Excel

Statistics

SQL

Python

Data Visualization

Survey Analysis

and

Research Methods.

The exact technical requirements will depend on the vacancy.

Communications Career Path

Communications candidates can strengthen skills in:

Writing

Content Creation

Social Media

Public Information

and

Digital Communications.

Monitoring and Evaluation Career Path

Evaluation-focused applicants may benefit from skills in:

Impact Measurement

Programme Evaluation

Data Collection

Reporting

and

Quantitative and Qualitative Research.

Policy Career Path

Policy candidates can strengthen:

Research

Policy Analysis

Academic Writing

Briefing Skills

and

Stakeholder Analysis.

ICT Career Path

Technology-focused applicants may benefit from:

IT Support

Information Systems

Database Management

Cybersecurity

Digital Transformation

skills depending on the vacancy.

Application Tips for UN Women Internships

Competition for United Nations internships can be significant.

Applicants should therefore:

Read the vacancy carefully

Match their experience to the role

Complete every application field

and

Demonstrate alignment with UN Women values.

Tailor Every Application

A research internship and a communications internship require different skills.

Applicants should emphasize the experience most relevant to:

The specific vacancy.

Use Evidence

Rather than simply stating:

“I have research skills,”

applicants should demonstrate them through:

Research projects

Dissertations

Data analysis

Published work

Relevant coursework.

Highlight Gender-Related Experience

Where relevant, applicants can highlight:

Academic Research

Volunteer Work

Projects

Professional Experience

connected to:

Gender Equality

Women’s Rights

Human Rights

Development.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long are UN Women internships?

They last:

2 to 6 months.

Are internships full-time?

They are generally:

Full-time.

Are opportunities available throughout the year?

Yes.

Internships are generally available throughout the year depending on:

Office needs and capacity.

Can bachelor’s students apply?

Yes, if they are in:

The final year of their first university degree.

Can master’s students apply?

Yes.

Can PhD students apply?

Yes.

Can recent graduates apply?

Yes, provided they can start the internship:

Within two years of graduation.

Are UN Women internships paid?

UN Women says interns are:

Not financially remunerated for their work.

However, some interns may receive:

A stipend for basic daily expenses

when they are not financially supported by another institution or programme.

Does UN Women pay travel expenses?

No.

Travel expenses are the responsibility of:

The intern

The sponsoring institution.

Does UN Women pay accommodation?

No.

Accommodation and other living expenses must be funded by:

The intern

A sponsoring institution.

Do I need health insurance?

Selected interns must provide:

Proof of health insurance coverage.

Do I need the P11 form?

The Word version of the:

UN Women P11 form is no longer required.

Can I just upload my CV?

No.

Applicants must complete all required fields of the:

Online application form.

Uploading a resume does not replace this requirement.

Will every applicant receive a response?

No.

UN Women says it can respond only to applications:

In which there is further interest.

Opportunities Feed Assessment

The UN Women Internship Programme is a valuable early-career opportunity for candidates interested in:

Gender Equality

United Nations Careers

International Development

Research

Data

Communications

Policy

Evaluation

and

Humanitarian Work.

One of the programme’s strongest features is the variety of professional fields.

Candidates are not limited to traditional international-relations roles.

UN Women specifically identifies internship opportunities across:

Research and Data

ICT

Finance

Human Resources

Communications

and

Evaluation

alongside policy and programme work.

Eligibility is also broader than many applicants may assume.

Candidates may qualify if they are:

Final-year bachelor’s students

Master’s students

Post-master’s students

Doctoral students

Recent graduates able to start within two years of graduation.

However, there is an important financial distinction.

These internships should not be advertised broadly as paid internships.

UN Women clearly states that interns:

Are not financially remunerated for their work.

Some interns may receive:

A stipend toward basic daily expenses

if they are not financially supported by another institution or programme.

Applicants are still responsible for costs such as:

Travel

Accommodation

Insurance

and

Other living expenses,

either personally or through a sponsoring organization.

Candidates should therefore evaluate both:

Career value

and

Financial feasibility

before accepting an internship.

Another important application detail is that simply attaching a CV is not enough.

Applicants must fully complete:

Every required section of the online application.

An incomplete application can be disqualified.

A strong approach is:

Find a relevant vacancy → Review eligibility → Tailor your experience → Complete every application field → Submit before the vacancy deadline → Prepare supporting documents in case you are selected.

For students and graduates seeking experience in gender equality and international development, UN Women internships remain an important United Nations career pathway to monitor throughout 2026.

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