Location: Home-Based or Geneva, Switzerland
Duration: 6 Months
Application Deadline: 21 August 2025
Vacancy ID: 28218
Contract Type: Internship (Full-time)
About The United Nations Development Programme ( UNDP)
UNDP is the UN’s global development network, working across 170 countries and territories to eradicate poverty, reduce inequalities, and build resilience. UNDP supports nations in achieving sustainable development goals through integrated, people-focused solutions.
Diversity, equity, and inclusion are central to UNDP’s values. Applicants from underserved or marginalised backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply. UNDP is committed to a work environment free of sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination, and abuse of authority.
Internship Overview
The Disaster Risk Reduction and Recovery for Building Resilience Team (DRT) leads UNDP’s global practice on disaster risk reduction (DRR), offering policy advice and support to regional hubs and country offices. The team manages a significant portfolio of global and regional programmes and supports over 100 countries in strengthening risk management, recovery, and preparedness systems.
This internship specifically supports DRT’s work on early warning, preparedness, and anticipation, one of its key strategic areas. The intern will contribute to the ongoing development of UNDP’s Preparedness Learning Pathway and Preparedness Toolkit, both of which are corporate resources designed to build institutional capacity for disaster preparedness.
Key Responsibilities
1. Knowledge Management & Resource Development
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- Conduct research and categorise resources to expand the Preparedness Learning Pathway.
- Maintain and update the online repository on the UNDP intranet and selected open-source platforms.
- Support the development of new thematic modules for the Preparedness Toolkit.
- Coordinate translation efforts of the learning package into additional languages, as needed.
2. Workshop & Webinar Coordination
- Assist in planning and executing country workshops, including customizing agendas, slide decks, and methodological tools.
- Support webinar facilitation by preparing tailored webinar plans, MURAL boards, breakout group materials, and post-event reports.
- Contribute to the development of communication materials such as social media kits for webinars and workshops.
3. Research & Communications Support
- Draft proposals, talking points, briefs, and visual presentations.
- Support the DRT team in research, analysis, and communication tasks related to portfolio implementation.
Required Qualifications
Education
Candidates must meet one of the following criteria at the time of application:
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- Be enrolled in a Master’s programme or final year of a Bachelor’s programme in disaster risk reduction, humanitarian affairs, climate change adaptation, communications, public relations, or a related field.
- Have recently graduated (within the past year) from an eligible degree programme.
- Be enrolled in a postgraduate professional traineeship programme.
Skills & Competencies
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
- Experience with digital tools such as Canva, MURAL, Zoom, MS Teams, and Google Forms.
- Strong organisational skills with attention to detail.
- Ability to work effectively in multicultural environments.
- Familiarity with online knowledge management systems and social media platforms is desirable.
Internship Conditions
- Interns may receive a monthly stipend based on the UNDP internship policy, unless financially supported by another institution.
- Interns must secure health insurance for the full duration of the internship.
- The internship does not guarantee future employment with UNDP.
- Interns are not UN staff members and may not represent the organisation in an official capacity.
- A written evaluation will be provided at the end of the internship.
Application Process
Apply online by 21 August 2025. UNDP may select multiple candidates and retain applications for similar internships.
Visit the official website to apply
The application should contain a) brief Cover Letter (in English) stating interest in and qualifications for the post; and (b) current and complete CV in English.