The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has announced four internship opportunities based in Nairobi, Kenya, providing students and eligible candidates with opportunities to gain professional experience across environmental affairs, programme management, communications, knowledge management and information technology.
The vacancies are offered at the I-1 internship level and are listed through the official United Nations Careers platform. Three of the opportunities have application deadlines between August 19 and August 20, 2026, while the Information Technology and Management Internship closes on August 21, 2026.
The openings include two internships under the CITES MIKE Programme, alongside opportunities in communications and knowledge management and information technology and management.
1. Programme Management Intern – CITES MIKE Programme
The United Nations is recruiting a Programme Management Intern for the CITES MIKE Programme in Nairobi.
The position is classified at Level I-1 and carries Job ID 282343. It falls under the Environmental Affairs job family.
Key details include:
- Position: Programme Management Intern – CITES MIKE Programme
- Job ID: 282343
- Level: I-1
- Job Family: Environmental Affairs
- Duty Station: Nairobi, Kenya
- Application deadline: August 19, 2026
- Closing time: 23:59:59 New York time
The internship is designed for candidates interested in programme management and environmental affairs within an international organization.
2. Communications Intern – CITES MIKE Programme
A second opportunity is available for a Communications Intern supporting the CITES MIKE Programme.
The internship is also based in Nairobi and is classified at Level I-1 under the Environmental Affairs job family. The position has Job ID 282333.
Key details include:
- Position: Communications Intern – CITES MIKE Programme
- Job ID: 282333
- Level: I-1
- Job Family: Environmental Affairs
- Duty Station: Nairobi, Kenya
- Application deadline: August 19, 2026
- Closing time: 23:59:59 New York time
The position may be of interest to candidates seeking experience in communications within the environmental and international development sector.
3. Communications and Knowledge Management Intern
The United Nations is also offering a Communications and Knowledge Management Internship in Nairobi.
The position has Job ID 282151 and is classified at Level I-1. Unlike the two CITES MIKE opportunities, this vacancy is listed under the Programme Management job family.
Key details include:
- Position: Communications and Knowledge Management Intern
- Job ID: 282151
- Level: I-1
- Job Family: Programme Management
- Duty Station: Nairobi, Kenya
- Application deadline: August 20, 2026
- Closing time: 23:59:59 New York time
The opportunity combines communications and knowledge management, making it relevant to candidates seeking experience in information management and programme-related communications.
4. Information Technology and Management Intern
The fourth vacancy is an Information Technology and Management Internship based in Nairobi.
The position carries Job ID 282219 and is offered at Level I-1. The listing does not specify a job family in the information provided.
Key details include:
- Position: Information Technology and Management Intern
- Job ID: 282219
- Level: I-1
- Duty Station: Nairobi, Kenya
- Application deadline: August 21, 2026
- Closing time: 23:59:59 New York time
The opportunity provides a potential entry point for candidates interested in the intersection of information technology and organizational management.
United Nations Internship Opportunities in Nairobi
The four vacancies demonstrate the range of internship pathways available within the United Nations system in Nairobi. Candidates can choose opportunities aligned with different professional interests, including environmental affairs, programme management, communications, knowledge management and information technology.
The vacancies can be summarized as follows:
- Programme Management Intern – CITES MIKE Programme — August 19, 2026
- Communications Intern – CITES MIKE Programme — August 19, 2026
- Communications and Knowledge Management Intern — August 20, 2026
- Information Technology and Management Intern — August 21, 2026
How to Apply
Interested candidates should review the individual vacancy announcements through the official United Nations Careers website and follow the application instructions provided for each position.
Applicants should carefully check the full vacancy description, including eligibility requirements, academic criteria, responsibilities and any supporting documentation required before submitting an application.
Because the deadlines are expressed in New York time, applicants outside the United States should account for the relevant time-zone difference when preparing their applications.
Application Deadlines
The earliest deadlines are August 19, 2026, for the two CITES MIKE Programme internships. The Communications and Knowledge Management Internship closes on August 20, followed by the Information Technology and Management Internship on August 21.
Candidates interested in these United Nations internship opportunities in Nairobi are encouraged to submit their applications well before the respective deadlines.
