The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has announced a new internship opportunity for qualified national applicants in Nairobi, Kenya, inviting aspiring development professionals to apply for the Cross-Border Knowledge Management Internship under its Resilience Hub for Africa. The six-month internship offers graduates and students practical experience supporting governance, peacebuilding, and resilience initiatives across the Horn of Africa and the Great Lakes Region.
Applications are open until 14 July 2026, providing an excellent opportunity for individuals interested in international development, governance, conflict prevention, and knowledge management to gain hands-on experience within one of the world’s leading development organizations.
Internship Supports Peacebuilding and Regional Resilience Efforts
The internship is hosted by the UNDP Regional Bureau for Africa within the Resilience Hub for Africa, which serves as a regional platform supporting UNDP Country Offices and development partners across the continent.
The Hub works to strengthen resilience in fragile and conflict-affected regions by addressing complex challenges such as:
- Conflict and insecurity
- Climate change
- Governance deficits
- Forced displacement
- Economic vulnerability
- Social cohesion
- Cross-border cooperation
The successful intern will contribute to the Governance and Peacebuilding portfolio by supporting analytical research, programme development, and knowledge management initiatives focused on the Horn of Africa and the Great Lakes Region.
About the Position
The internship has been designed to strengthen evidence-based programming and policy development by improving knowledge collection, analysis, and dissemination related to cross-border governance challenges.
Position Details
- Position: Cross-Border Knowledge Management Intern
- Location: Nairobi, Kenya
- Agency: United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
- Practice Area: Conflict Prevention, Peacebuilding and Responsive Institutions
- Contract Duration: Six months
- Vacancy Type: Internship Programme
- Application Deadline: 14 July 2026
- Required Language: English
- Desired Language: Any additional UN language
The internship is open to national applicants only.
Key Responsibilities
The selected intern will support several strategic knowledge management initiatives within the Resilience Hub.
Primary responsibilities include:
Knowledge Repository Management
- Establish and maintain a structured repository on cross-border issues.
- Collect, organize, and catalogue reports, policies, datasets, and research publications.
- Develop and maintain directories of institutions and stakeholders working on regional cross-border initiatives.
Great Lakes Cross-Border Monitor
The intern will contribute to the production of a recurring monthly publication by:
- Conducting research using open-source information.
- Tracking regional developments.
- Analysing trends affecting governance, trade, mobility, displacement, and peacebuilding.
- Preparing monthly monitoring reports.
Research and Policy Analysis
Responsibilities include:
- Analysing governance, security, climate, livelihood, and investment trends.
- Identifying emerging risks and opportunities across border regions.
- Producing evidence-based analytical reports.
- Supporting programme design and policy engagement.
Knowledge Sharing and Stakeholder Engagement
The intern will also:
- Disseminate knowledge products to regional partners.
- Support engagement with organizations such as:
- East African Community (EAC)
- International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR)
- Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA)
- African Union (AU)
- Governments
- UN agencies
- Prepare communication materials and stakeholder briefs.
- Facilitate knowledge sharing across UNDP networks.
Programme Support
Additional responsibilities include:
- Preparing policy briefs and knowledge products.
- Supporting resource mobilization activities.
- Documenting programme outputs and lessons learned.
- Updating research repositories with new publications.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must satisfy one of the following educational requirements at the time of application:
- Be enrolled in a postgraduate programme.
- Be in the final year of a bachelor’s degree.
- Have graduated within the past year with a degree in a relevant field.
- Be undertaking a postgraduate professional traineeship requiring an internship.
Relevant academic disciplines include:
- Political Science
- International Relations
- Development Studies
- Peace and Conflict Studies
- Governance and Public Policy
- Law
- Related social science fields
Preferred Skills and Experience
UNDP is seeking applicants who demonstrate:
- Interest in governance, peacebuilding, or development policy.
- Research and policy analysis skills.
- Experience in academic writing or development communication.
- Knowledge of governance and conflict dynamics in Africa.
- Strong analytical and organizational abilities.
- Excellent Microsoft Office proficiency.
- Effective teamwork and interpersonal communication skills.
Candidates should also demonstrate integrity, professionalism, cultural sensitivity, and the ability to work effectively in multicultural environments.
Required Application Documents
Interested applicants must submit the following documents through the UNDP online recruitment portal:
- Updated Curriculum Vitae (CV).
- Cover letter written in English.
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree certificate, or proof of enrolment.
Selected interns will work in person at the UNDP Resilience Hub in Nairobi, Kenya.
Equal Opportunity and Recruitment Principles
UNDP reaffirmed its commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion by encouraging applications from qualified individuals from all backgrounds, including historically underrepresented and marginalized groups.
The organization also emphasized its zero-tolerance policy toward harassment, discrimination, sexual exploitation, abuse of authority, and recruitment fraud. Applicants are reminded that UNDP does not charge any fees at any stage of its recruitment process.
Aspiring professionals seeking practical experience in governance, conflict prevention, knowledge management, and international development are encouraged to submit their applications before the 14 July 2026 deadline.
VISIT OFFICIAL WEBSITE TO APPLY
