Job description
Location: UNFPA, HQ, New York
Full/Part-time: Full-time
Remote/In person: In person
Duration: 24 weeks
The Position:
Under the direct supervision of The Strategic Partnership Specialist within the Private Sector and Civil Society Branch (PSCSB) the intern will support the branch team in the areas of the Corporations and Businesses and Foundation and Philanthropy teams in PSCSB.
A work-plan with achievements for the duration of the Internship and learning opportunities will be agreed upon. Periodic progress meetings will lead to a beneficial environment for the Intern enhancing her/his skills and capacity in areas related to UNFPA’s mandate.
About UNFPA and How You Can Make a Difference:
UNFPA is the lead United Nations agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is intended, every childbirth is safe, and every young person's potential is fulfilled. The UNFPA Strategic Plan for 2026-2029 articulates the organization’s response to a complex global environment, providing a roadmap for resilience and renewal. It is designed to accelerate the implementation of the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. This mandate is pursued through a focus on four interconnected outcomes: ending the unmet need for family planning; ending preventable maternal deaths; ending gender-based violence and harmful practices; and adapting to demographic change through evidence and rights-based policies.
You would be responsible for:
Support to Strategic Intelligence & Pipeline Development
Prospect Mapping & CRM Management: Conduct comprehensive prospect mapping for foundations, corporations, and wealth management entities ahead of major global engagements (such as UNGA, WEF, and WHA). Utilize the CRM system to track donor trends and map high-potential prospects, ensuring profiles detail financial projections and thematic alignment.
Funding Opportunities: Track and manage Requests for Proposals (RFPs) to identify new strategic funding avenues for both direct funding and the Coalition for Reproductive Justice in Business (CRJB).
Strategic Material Development: Provide input to the development of key partnership materials to introduce the organization to potential partners and convert interest into formal resource commitments. Deliverables include Donor Intelligence Briefs, Grant Briefings, Background Notes (BNs), and strategic investment cases.
Global Event Support & Partnership Stewardship
High-Level Event Coordination: Support the planning of high-level bilateral meetings, side events, and roundtables by drafting Concept Notes, meeting agendas, and external outreach emails. Maintain active event invitation trackers, participant lists, and follow-up tools.
Tier 1 Partnership Support: Provide support for the management of existing Tier 1 Corporate Partnerships. This includes preparing Monthly Meeting Notes, assisting with legal and agreement management, and documenting meeting outcomes.
Risk Mitigation & Due Diligence
Risk Assessment: Support pre-screening evaluations and due diligence processes for prospective corporate and philanthropic partners to ensure strict institutional alignment.
Framework Drafting: Support the drafting and implementation of Partnership Risk Mitigation Frameworks to safeguard organizational interests.
Knowledge Management & Capacity Building
Internal Repositories: Maintain and organize centralized business intelligence systems, including databases of successful private sector proposals and site maps grouped by clustered themes.
Capacity Building Assets: Support the development of training materials, guidance manuals, toolkits, and market analyses designed to decentralize internal knowledge and empower Regional and Country Office (RO/CO) staff.
Performance Reporting: Assist in the preparation, editing, and finalization of the relevant analysis reports, including Quarterly Analysis Reports for the Foundations & Philanthropies (F&P)
Qualifying for an Internship
All interns must meet the following educational and other eligibility requirements:
Educational requirements
Be enrolled in a first university degree programme (such as bachelor’s degree or equivalent) and have completed one full academic year;
Be enrolled in a postgraduate degree programme (such as master’s programme or higher);
Have recently graduated with a university degree as defined above and, if selected, must start the internship within one-year of graduation; or
Be enrolled in a postgraduate professional trainee programme and undertake the internship as part of this programme.
Other eligibility requirements
Demonstrate interest in the field of development;
Demonstrate written and spoken proficiency in at least one of the working languages of the United Nations (English or French) and fluency in the official language (Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian or Spanish) of the UNFPA office; and
Demonstrate ability to adapt to new environments and to establish and maintain good working relations with individuals of different cultural backgrounds.
You Have:
Your Education:
Be enrolled in a postgraduate degree programme, the final academic year of a first university degree programme, or have recently graduated with an advanced degree in Social Sciences, Public Administration, International Relations, Business Administration, Development Studies, or a similar field.
Your Experiences:
Fluency in English. Knowledge of other languages is an asset.
Strong analytical and writing skills.
Initiative, sound judgment and demonstrated ability to work harmoniously with staff members from different national and cultural backgrounds.
Some experience in working with development agencies, including in volunteer capacity is preferred but not required.
Learning Elements:
Upon completion of the assignment, and depending on its duration, the Intern will gain the following knowledge assets:
Increased understanding of the UNFPA and the Private Sector and Civil Society Branch within UNFPA
Understand the UNFPA mandate and policies, including regional set-up
Understand and familiarize with UNFPA Governance and Executive Board
Understand UNFPA programme design and delivery mechanisms
Understand the dynamics of operational and programme support and communications to the field, and at the level of HQ
Learn UN technical language, working procedures, and coordination mechanisms
Write and formulate substantive documents
Network with UN colleagues
Work experience as a team member in a multicultural setting
Financial Aspects:
Interns do not receive a salary or any other form of remuneration from UNFPA. The costs associated with an intern's participation in the programme must be assumed either by the nominating institution, which may provide the required financial assistance to its students, or by the students themselves, who will have to meet living expenses as well as make their own arrangements for accommodation, travel and other requirements. However, they receive a stipend to help cover basic daily expenses related to the internship, if not financially supported by any institution or programme, such as a university, government, foundation, or scholarship programme. The stipend is based on the intern’s agreed place of work, which may be different from the duty station of the hiring office in cases of remote arrangements.
In addition, applicants must have medical insurance for the duration of the internship. Proof of insurance will need to be submitted before the internship begins. UNFPA does not provide medical insurance for interns.
UNFPA Work Environment:
UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, diversity, integrity and healthy work-life balance. We are committed to ensuring gender parity in the organization and therefore encourage women to apply. Individuals from the LGBTQIA+ community, minority ethnic groups, indigenous populations, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups are highly encouraged to apply. UNFPA promotes equal opportunities in terms of appointment, training, compensation and selection for all regardless of personal characteristics and dimensions of diversity. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is at the heart of UNFPA's workforce - click here to learn more.