Internship,Youth Team , Johannesburg ESARO
United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
Internship Intern Internship The Position:
Background
UNFPA ESARO strongly promotes young professionals in the region to engage and mentor them in core
SRHR interventions of UNFPA. The intern is required to give professional opportunities to young leaders
and build their skills to transit to successful professional endeavors. This specific role in UNFPA ESARO is
looking for an intern to support the work related to mainly Youth and Adolescent participation and
leadership that includes AfriYAN, United Movement and Youth Power Hub.
How to make a difrence:
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, harmful practices and HIV; and adapting to demographic change through evidence and rights-based policies. In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff, who embody these international norms and standards and who will defend them courageously and with full conviction. UNFPA is seeking candidates who transform, inspire, and deliver high-impact and sustained results and ensure effective external relations, communications, and partnership-building and resource mobilization in a rapidly changing development and funding landscape. We need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them, and who commit to delivering excellence in programme results.
Main Tasks and Responsibilities
The Intern will be hired under the overall guidance of the Adolescent and Youth Team Leader and the
direct supervision of the Adolescent and Youth programme Specialist. The main tasks are
Youth Participation and meaningful engagement
● Support the design and organization of key youth-led virtual, in-person and hybrid events
● Support the dissemination of UNFPA’s key messaging in collaboration with youth-led
organisations and movements such as Y-Act, AfriYAN and United Movement
● Contribute to the development of key proposals for mobilization of resources for youth
programming
● Support the Communications Unit in the development and dissemination of communication
materials, ranging from social media posts, press releases, and newsletters including adaptation
of a Social Media Strategy for meaningful youth participation to increase youth-led social
accountability on SRHR and other interlinked thematic areas such as innovation, climate
adaptation and humanitarian response
● Liaise and provide linkages and capacity building with existing networks, programmes and
structures at the continental level with special emphasis on ESA, programmes and structures to
facilitate lessons learning and sharing of experiences towards enhanced youth engagement in
health, education and overall development; particularly AfriYAN e.g. EC meetings, AfriYAN AWP,
Y-ACT and AfriYAN regional youth accountability for the ICPD30 commitments.
● Support the generation of knowledge, sharing of best practices, comparable lessons and
experiences; dissemination of project outcomes on youth empowerment with a particular focus
on UNFPA ESAR-led programs
● Support the establishment of a youth consultants roster and the establishment of regional youth
engagement mechanisms;
● Support the regional effort to identify, map and create a dashboard of youth and community led
and UNFPA supported innovation solutions across the region.
Qualifying for an Internship
The intern must meet the following educational and other eligibility requirements:
Educational requirements
1. Have at least a Bachelors degree in a relevant field in international development, public health,
women or gender studies, population and development etc.;
2. Enrolled in a postgraduate degree programme in a relevant field is advantageous
3. The candidate must start the internship within a few years of graduation.
Other eligibility requirements
● Demonstrate interest in the field of development specifically SRHR;
● Demonstrate ability to adapt to new environments and to establish and maintain good working
relations with individuals of different cultural backgrounds.
● Some experience in working with development agencies, including in a volunteer capacity.
● 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.
● Candidates must be between 18 and 35 years old.
Learning Elements:
Upon completion of the assignment, the Intern will gain the following knowledge assets:
1. Increased understanding of the UNFPA and the Programme Division within UNFPA
2. Understand the UNFPA mandate and policies, including regional set-up
3. Understand and familiarize with UNFPA Governance and Executive Board
4. Understand UNFPA programme design and delivery mechanisms
5. Understand the dynamics of operational and programme support and communications to the
field, and at the level of HQ
6. Understanding megatrends including innovation and climate change programming
7. Learn UN technical language, working procedures, and coordination mechanisms
8. Write and formulate substantive documents
9. Network with UN colleagues
10. Work experience as a team member in a multicultural setting
Financial Aspects:
Interns 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 amount of the stipend varies according to 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.
Required Competencies:
Values:
Core Competencies:
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. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. 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.
Disclaimer:
Selection and appointment may be subject to background and reference checks, medical clearance, visa issuance and other administrative requirements.
UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process and does not concern itself with information on applicants' bank accounts.
Applicants for positions in the international Professional and higher categories, who hold permanent resident status in a country other than their country of nationality, may be required to renounce such status upon their appointment.
