Job title:ย Policy and Programme Support Internย
Location:ย UNFPA Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office (ESARO)ย Johannesburg, South Africaย
Full/Part-time:ย Full-time (approximately 40 hours per week) from mid August 2025
Duration:ย 6 monthsย ย ย ย
The Position:ย
Under the direct supervision of the Head of the Middle Income Country Hub (MIC-Hub) at ESARO, the intern will support the MIC-Hubโs staff in the areas of policy research and development and programme advisory services. The support will cater to Country Offices based in a select group of middle income countries in Southern Africa, i.e. Botswana, Eswatini, Mauritius, Namibia, Seychelles and South Africa.ย ย
A work-plan, outlining achievements and learning opportunities for the duration of the Internship, will be mutually agreed upon. Periodic progress meetings will foster a conducive environment for the Intern, further enhancing their skills and capacity in areas aligned with UNFPAโs mandate.
About UNFPA and How You Can Make a Difference:ย
UNFPA is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, everyย childbirth is safe and every young person's potential is fulfilled. UNFPA expands choices andย possibilities for women and young people to lead healthy and productive lives. UNFPAโsย ย
strategic plan (2022-2025), focuses on three transformative results: to end preventable maternalย deaths; end unmet need for family planning; and end gender-based violence and harmful practices.ย
UNFPA is seeking candidates that transform, inspire and deliver high impact and sustained results.ย We need interns who are exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them and whoย commit to deliver excellence in programme results.ย
You would be responsible for:ย
Providing support to monitor trends and new developments in the political, social and economic environments relevant to sexual and reproductive health and rights, gender equality, and population and development in a selection of middle income countries;ย Contributingย to the preparationย ofย policyย briefs, reportsย andย otherย relevant research output in line with the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) Programme of Action;ย ย Assisting in the development, implementation, and evaluation of technical cooperation programmes focused on sustainable financing to strengthen national development planning frameworks;ย Supporting the organization of the MIC-Hub initiated trainings, consultations, and pertinent meetings and conferences as per MIC-Hubโs annual work plan; and Assisting in any other task as required by the MIC-Hub, ESAROย ยYou should have:ย
Your Education:ย
Applicants to UNFPAโs internship programme must at the time of applicationย meet one of theย following requirements:
A) Be enrolled in a postgraduate degree programme (such as a masterโs programme, or higher) in a recognised university;ย B) Be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree programme (such asย bachelorโs degree or equivalent) in a recognised university;ย C) Have recently graduated with a university degree (as defined in (A) and (B) above) from aย recognised university and, if selected, must start the internship within one-year of graduation; D) Be enrolled in a postgraduate professional traineeship programme in a recognised university andย undertake the internship as part of this programme.ยOther Eligibility Requirementsย
E) Demonstrate interest in the field of development;ย F) Demonstrate written and spoken proficiency in English;ย G)Demonstrate ability to adapt to new environments and to establish and maintain good working relations with individuals of different cultural backgrounds.An individual whose father, mother, son, daughter, brother or sister is a UNFPA staff member is not eligible for an internship with UNFPA.
Yourย Experiences:ย
Strong analytical and writing skills.ยLanguage requirements:ย Fluency in English; knowledge of other official UN languages, preferably French and/or Spanish, is desirable.
Learning Elements:ย
Upon completion of the assignment, and depending on its duration, the Intern will gain the followingย knowledge assets:ย
1. Increased understanding of the UNFPA and the Programme Division within UNFPAย
2. Understand the UNFPA mandate and policies, including regional set-upย
3. Understand and familiarize with UNFPA Governance and Executive Boardย ย
4. Understand UNFPA programme design and delivery mechanismsย
5. Understand the dynamics of operational and programme support and communications toย the field, and at the level of HQย
6. Learn UN technical language, working procedures, and coordination mechanismsย
7. Write and formulate substantive documentsย
8. Network with UN colleaguesย
9. Work experience as a team member in a multicultural settingย
Financial Aspects:ย
Interns do not receive a salary or any other form of remuneration from UNFPA. The costs associatedย with an intern's participation in the programme must be assumed either by the nominatingย institution, which may provide the required financial assistance to its students, or by the studentsย themselves, who will have to meet living expenses as well as make their own arrangements forย accommodation, travel and other requirements. However, the Intern will receive a stipend to help cover basicย daily expenses related to the internship, if not financially supported by any institution orย programme, such as a university, government, foundation, or scholarship programme. The amountย of the stipend varies according to the duty station. In addition, applicants must have medicalย insurance for the duration of the internship. Proof of insurance will need to be submitted before theย internship begins. UNFPA does not provide medical insurance for interns.ย
Due to the volume of applications received, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for anย interview.