The United Nations Office is located in Nairobi. It’s among the best recruiters in Kenya.The internship targets students who are currently enrolled in at least the final year of a first university degree programme or in a graduate school (second university degree or higher) programme at the time of application, or if they have graduated, can commence their internship within a one-year period after graduation.
The Internship is for a minimum period of two months and a maximum of six.
The purpose of the United Nations internship programme is two-fold:
(a) to provide a framework by which students from diverse academic backgrounds gain exposure to the United Nations through assignment to offices within the Secretariat in order to enhance their educational experience and gain experience in the work of the United Nations; and
(b) to provide United Nations offices with the assistance of qualified students specialized in various professional fields.
The Staff Development and Training Unit (SDTU/HRMS) manages the internship programme on behalf of the following UN Organisations:
- United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT) including out-posted offices
- United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) including out-posted offices
- United Nations Offices at Nairobi (UNON)
- United Nations Dispute Tribunal, Office of Administration of Justice (OAJ)
Please read carefully the ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA before application.
Eligibility criteria
Due to the large number of applicants and the limited number of places available per year, applicants are strongly advised to note the following minimum eligibility criteria for an Internship at UN-HABITAT, UNEP, and UNON administered by the SDTU. If all of the requirements are not met, your application will not be processed. Successful application does not guarantee placement.
Applicants to the United Nations internship programme must at the time of application meet one of the following requirements:
(a) Be enrolled in a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher);
(b) Be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum Bachelor’s level or equivalent);
(c) Have graduated with a university degree (as defined in (a) above) and
(b) if selected, must commence the internship within a one-year period of graduation
Application process
Visit United Nations Website and apply.
Important note:
You must
- Upload with your online application, a proof of enrolment stating that you are currently enrolled in a course of study and your expected date of graduation and if you have graduated, a certified copy of your degree.
- Please ensure that an official letterhead or an official seal is used for the proof of enrollment. Candidates are advised that their online applications will not be processed without proper and adequate endorsement.
Salaries of Interns at the United Nations
United Nations pay Interns a salary of Ksh 80,000 to Ksh 120,000 per month. The good thing is that the money is not taxed. This means that if your monthly salary is Ksh 80,000 that’s the money you go home with.
There are also benefits when you do field work. UN pays the highest per diem for field work. They pay Ksh 7,000 to Ksh 15,000 per day to interns.
How to get internships easily at the UN
If you want to get internship easily, make sure that your performance in the university is good. Aim to score first class. You should also enroll for courses related to the environment, monitoring and evaluation, International relations, medicine, nursing, computer science or political science.
Another trick is to pursue a degree course from top universities in UK, USA, Canada or Australia. Those countries have top ranked universities. In case you find yourself in an interview with a graduate of those universities, there are high chances they will be given first priority.
