Background

Internships at UNDP are a great opportunity for students and recent graduates to acquire direct exposure to UNDP's work. UNDP Kuwait Country Office is looking to create a pool of interns to provide the necessary support into the various Operations functions. The objective of the internship is to give you a first-hand impression of the day-to-day working environment of the United Nations Development Program. You will be given a real chance to work with our team.

As part of our team, working directly with outstanding and inspiring career professionals and senior management, you will be exposed to high-profile conferences, participate in meetings, and contribute to administration work as well as analytical work of the United Nations.

United Nations interns are not paid. All costs related to travel, insurance, accommodation, and living expenses must be borne by either the interns or their sponsoring institutions. 

Interns for Programme & Operations Roster are expected to provide support in one/two of the following areas:

  • Human Resources functions and services;
  • Procurement functions and services;
  • Financial Resources functions and services
  • Administration functions and services;
  • Information and Communication Technology (ICT) functions and services;
  • Programme development & support.

Duties and Responsibilities

The typical tasks performed by interns include:

  • Assist in conducting research;
  • Support in writing documents;
  • Cataloguing/filing/copying/scanning information (non-confidential only);
  • Assisting in the organization of conferences, forums or other collaborative events; and Publishing knowledge stories/best practices, etc.
  • Perform other duties as required.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

  • Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
  • Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
  • Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

Functional Competencies:

  • Strong track record of research and writing skills;
  • Knowledge of gender and/or human rights;
  • Editing skills are helpful;
  • Computer literate in standard software applications;
  • Ability to successfully interact with individuals of different backgrounds and beliefs, which include willingness to try and understand and be tolerant of differing opinions and views.
  • Candidates must show sense of creativity, flexibility, innovation and ability to work in a team-based environment.
  • Strong work ethics and commitment; organized and resourceful and work in a diversified environment.
  • A desire to work with and gain the confidence and respect of people with different cultural backgrounds, nationality, language and race;
  • Show personal compassion and commitment to the values and principles of volunteerism;
  • Understand and respect the United Nations Charter mandate/ principles.

Required Skills and Experience

Applicants to the UNDP Internship Programme must at the time of application meet one of the following requirements:

Education 

  • Be enrolled in a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher);
  • Be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum Bachelor’s level or equivalent);
  • Have graduated with a university degree (as defined in (a) and (b) above) and, if selected, must start the internship within one-year of graduation.

Experience

  • Demonstrated interest in the field of development;
  • Demonstrated research and analytical capacity;
  • Proven ability to manage diverse and complex tasks, with tight deadlines;
  • Able to work effectively in a team and in an international environment;
  • Administrative skills in the organization of meetings and events;
  • Excellent written and communication skills;
  • Proficiency in using standard software programmes: Word, PowerPoint, Excel and Outlook.

Language Requirements

  • Fluency in English language both written and oral (Arabic is a plus).

Others

  • Interns are not financially remunerated by UNDP. Costs and arrangements for travel, visas, accommodation and living expenses are the responsibility of: The nominating institution, related institution or government, which may provide the required financial assistance to its students; or the intern, who must obtain financing for subsistence through private sources.
  • Interns are responsible for securing adequate medical insurance for the duration of their internship with UNDP and must provide a medical certificate of good health prior to starting the internship. UNDP will not reimburse the medical insurance of the intern. Any costs arising from accidents and illness incurred during an internship assignment will be the responsibility of the intern. 
  • Applicants for internships must show proof of valid medical insurance for the duty station in which they will intern. For applicants, which are neither nationals or residents of the duty station, the insurance must include adequate coverage in the event of an injury or illness during the internship duration which:
  • Requires transportation to the home country or country of residence for further treatment;
  • Results in death and requires preparation and return of the remains to the home country, or country of residence.
  • UNDP accepts no responsibility for loss or damage to personal effects that may occur during the internship. 

To apply, kindly upload the following documents online:

  • A copy of the most recent resume or curriculum vitae;
  • A letter from the university confirming current enrollment and graduation date or copy of diploma;
  • A copy of academic transcript or academic record book;
  • A recommendation letter from the university.

Please group all your documents into one (1) single PDF document as the system only allows to upload maximum one document.