Research and Knowledge Management Intern (home-based, reports to office in New York)
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
Intern Internship Closing soon: 1 Oct 2025
UNDP is the knowledge frontier organization for sustainable development in the UN Development System and serves as the integrator for collective action to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNDP’s policy work carried out at HQ, Regional and Country Office levels offers a spectrum of deep local knowledge to cutting-edge global perspectives and advocacy. In this context, UNDP invests in its Global Policy Network (GPN), a network of field-based and global technical expertise across a wide range of knowledge domains and in support of the signature solutions and organizational capabilities envisioned in UNDP’s Strategic Plan. Within the GPN, the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS) has the responsibility for developing all relevant policies and guidance to support the results of UNDP’s Strategic Plan. BPPS staff provide technical advice to Country Offices, advocate for UNDP corporate messages, represent UNDP at multi-stakeholder fora including public-private, government and civil society dialogues, and engage in UN inter-agency coordination in thematic areas.
UNDP's 2022-2025 Strategic Plan highlights our continued commitment to eradicating poverty, accompanying countries in their pathways towards the SDGs and working towards the Paris Agreement. As part of the Global Policy Network in the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support, UNDP's Nature, Climate Change, Energy, and Waste Hubs promote and scale up integrated whole-of-governance approaches and nature-based solutions that reduce poverty and inequalities, strengthen livelihoods and inclusive growth, mitigate conflict, forced migration and displacement, and promote resilient governance systems that advance linked peace and security agendas. This work advances crosscutting themes on innovative finance, digital transformation, capacity development, human rights, gender equality, health, technology, and South-South and regional partnership.
UNDP’s Strategic Plan has embedded our collective UN-Energy's ambitious target to contribute to delivering energy access to 500 million more people by 2025 in partnership with others and accelerate a just energy transition. UNDP supports countries to realize a just energy transition where the benefits of the transition are distributed evenly across people and society, and the potential negative impacts of the transition are minimized for the poorest and most vulnerable communities. UNDP’s focus is to make the transition more just by assessing the distributional social-economic impacts of energy transition (and access) policies, how to avoid exacerbating existing inequalities and minimize the impact on poor and vulnerable sections of the population that are disproportionately affected.
The UNDP Sustainable Energy Hub is the arrowhead of UNDP’s new Strategic Plan objectives. The Sustainable Energy Hub amplifies impact of UNDP’s existing Energy Portfolio, covering over 100 countries to harness clean energy and support the energy transition as well as on UNDP’s Climate Promise, UNDP’s Sustainable Finance Hub, and UNDP’s Digital offer. The Sustainable Energy Hub develops and operationalizes policies, programmes and partnerships to support the realization of UN/UNDP’s Energy Compact, a commitment to help increasing access to clean and affordable energy for 500 million people by 2025 and accelerating and supporting the transition to renewable energy. Recognizing that change will be disruptive, UNDP will work to ensure that such transitions are just, and that their impact on vulnerable people is understood and duly mitigated.
Summary of key functions:
Support knowledge management, content curation, and systematization of SEH products.
Conduct desk research on cross-cutting sustainable development, climate, and energy topics.
Assist in preparing briefs, background notes, and knowledge synthesis documents.
Contribute to the organization and upkeep of SEH knowledge repositories and digital platforms.
Provide ad hoc support for SEH events, learning sessions, and global communications.
1. Research & Knowledge Synthesis
Conduct literature reviews and comparative analysis across sustainable development, climate, and energy policy areas.
Synthesize key findings from UNDP reports, country documents, and partner studies into accessible summaries.
Support preparation of background papers, talking points, and briefing materials.
2. Knowledge Management & Data Organization
Support the tagging, structuring, and organization of SEH’s knowledge repositories.
Curate case studies, tools, and lessons learned from UNDP country offices and global partners.
Assist with maintaining digital platforms (e.g., knowledge hubs, intranet pages, or shared databases).
3. Communications & Storytelling
Draft short policy notes, blogs, or knowledge spotlights for internal/external dissemination.
Prepare content for presentations, newsletters, and global dialogues.
Support data visualization and infographic development where possible.
4. Data & Digital Management
Support the preparation and compilation of datasets, indicators, and indices for SEH knowledge products and dashboards.
Assist in organizing and cataloguing geospatial data and socio-economic datasets.
Develop metadata documentation to ensure transparency and consistency across platforms.
Contribute to the integration of data into digital platforms, indices, and interactive tools.
Corporate:
Demonstrates integrity by modelling 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;
Treats all people fairly without favoritism;
Fulfills all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment.
Technical:
Familiarity with economic development concepts, energy economics, or climate adaptation finance
Experience working with international development organizations, especially within the UN system
Data literacy, with ability to clean, synthesize, and visualize data using Excel, Python, or similar tools
Understanding of how evidence informs policymaking in global and national institutions
Functional:
Communication
Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, in a simple, concise and persuasive manner.
Professionalism
Ability to work and build partnerships with multiple stakeholders and partners across a wide range of disciplines;
Demonstrated ability in strategic thinking;
Strong organizational, reporting and writing abilities;
Able to work independently and remotely with minimal supervision;
Remains calm, in control and good humored, even under pressure;
Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
Openness to change and ability to receive/integrate feedback.
Teamwork
Demonstrated ability to work effectively as part of a collaborative team and process.
Be enrolled in a postgraduate degree programme (such as a master’s programme, or higher) in fields such as International Development, Sustainable Energy, Climate Policy, Economics, Political Science, Environmental Studies, or a related field.
Be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree programme (such as bachelor’s degree or equivalent) in these disciplines;
Have recently graduated with a university degree (as defined in (a) and (b) above) and, if selected, must start the internship within one-year of graduation;
Be enrolled in a postgraduate professional traineeship program and undertake the internship as part of this program.
Demonstrated research and writing experience (academic, policy, or advocacy).
Familiarity with sustainable development, climate, or energy topics an asset.
Experience with knowledge management, content curation, or database organization is desirable.
Experience working with UN or multilateral organizations is an asset.
Language requirements:
Excellent oral and written communication skills in English language is required;
Fluency in other official languages of the UN is considered an asset.
Institutional Arrangements
The intern/s will report to the Director of the UNDP Sustainable Energy Hub.
When completing a remote internship, interns will be responsible for providing their own equipment, internet and communication access and work space.
Interns’ Expenses
Interns may be given a stipend under conditions prescribed in the section on stipends, below. Costs and arrangements for travel, visas, passports, accommodation and living expenses are the responsibility of:
(a) The nominating institution, related institution or government, which may provide the required financial assistance to its students; or
(b) The intern.
Stipend
Where an intern is engaged in-person and is not financially supported by any institution or programme, such as a university, Government, foundation or scholarship programme, a stipend intended to help cover basic daily expenses related to an in-person internship, such as meals and transportation at the duty station, will be paid by the receiving office.
Where an intern is engaged remotely and is not financially supported by any institution or programme, such as a university, Government, foundation or scholarship programme, a remote stipend intended to help cover expenses related to the internship, such as internet connections or other means to remain in contact with the receiving office, will be paid by the receiving office.
The stipend will be paid on a monthly basis and part-time internship arrangements are prorated accordingly.
Where an intern is financially supported by an institution, government or third party, UNDP will, subject to the rules of such institution, government or third party, pay the intern the difference, if any, between the external financial support provided and the applicable UNDP stipend. No other payments of any kind will be made to an intern by the office in connection with an internship agreement.
Interns will accrue combined sick and annual leave at the rate of 1 ½ days per month, which will be prorated to the nearest half day for part-time internships. Any accrued leave days not used by the end of the internship will be forfeited. Any unjustified absences during the internship period exceeding a total of nine days or as prorated for part-time internships, will be deducted from the monthly stipend.
Insurance
Interns, whether engaged in-person or remotely, are responsible for securing adequate medical insurance for the duration of their internship with UNDP and must provide self-certification 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.
Selected candidates for in-person internships must show proof of valid medical insurance for the duty station in which they will intern. For interns that are neither nationals nor residents of the duty
station of the internship, 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.
Subsequent Employment
There is no expectation of employment with UNDP following an internship.
Third-party claims
UNDP is not responsible for any claims by any parties where the loss of or damage to their property, death or personal injury was caused by the actions or omission of action by the interns during their internship.
