Anchored in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and in line with the strategic objectives outlined in the UNDP Strategic Plan, the Regional Bureau for Arab States supports the Arab States region’s progress towards high human development, while protecting the planet, and to expand people’s choices for a fairer, sustainable future.

RBAS is establishing a roster from which to pool qualified interns during the course of 2026 for a maximum period of 6 months, subject to the needs of teams in New York and Amman.

In New York, RBAS serves as the headquarters for UNDP regional programme and country programmes in 17 countries in the region. It conducts strategic analysis, monitors development trends, supports regional and country programmes, develops partnership strategies, and shapes communications and advocacy positioning.

The Amman Regional Hub hosts the regional programme and provides technical, programmatic and operational support to Country Offices across the region. Teams include Gender; Nature, Climate and Energy; Governance, Peacebuilding & Crisis Response; Inclusive Growth and Sustainable Finance; Strategic Innovation; Regional Programme; Country Support Team; and Operations Management and Support.

Job Responsibilities

While specified TOR will be based on the selection of the cluster/team, the tasks to be performed by the intern fall under one or more of the following categories:

Policy and Strategy Advice and Development

• Prepare policy briefs, sector scan, status papers on development challenges based on desk review studies and analysis for evidence-based advocacy and policy development in the relevant field.

• Review of policy literature in respect to the subject to enhance UNDP programming in the relevant field within the Arab Region.

• Document good practices, cases studies, innovations and pilot models for wider dissemination and sharing.

• Assist in the documentation of the outcome of regional consultations for positioning UNDP in the region.

Project Design & Formulation

• Assist in policy development in relevant area within UNDP in the Arab States region feeding into global policy development.

• Prepare conceptual framework / concept notes on new areas of work or development challenges.

• Assist in the development of technical support in development of new interventions or projects.

• Prepare and review project documents.

Programme Management Support

• Support in coordinating and monitoring of projects and initiatives.

• Assist in organizing programme activities and events.

• Provide support to the Results-Based Management specialist in maintaining programme monitoring and reporting.

Knowledge Management & Communications

• Prepare knowledge and communication products for advocacy and outreach.

• Review knowledge and communications products.

• Disseminate knowledge and communications products.

• Contribute to preparation of social media content, drafting of news, interviews and stories, development of brochures, videos and infographics.

• Contribute to development of press releases and blog posts.

• Capture stories reflecting lessons learned.

• Monitor social media feedback regarding UNDP events.

• Undertake regular website updates.

Research and Data Management

• Undertake research on relevant initiatives.

• Conduct data collection and analysis.

• Conduct desk reviews of research and literature.

• Develop repository of initiatives with supporting resources.

• Manage files and online databases.

Operations Support

• Provide administrative and logistical support.

• Support organization of workshops, conferences and retreats.

• Organize travel arrangements and administrative surveys.

• Support preparation of budgets, financial documents and audit documentation.

• Support procurement processes including preparation of RFQs, ITBs or RFPs.

• Development of electronic templates to facilitate automation of operations processes.

• Provide ICT and HR support services.

Job Requirements

Education

Applicants to the UNDP internship programme must at the time of application meet one of the following requirements:

(a) Be enrolled in a postgraduate degree programme.
(b) Be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree programme.
(c) Have recently graduated with a university degree and, if selected, must start the internship within one-year of graduation.
(d) Be enrolled in a postgraduate professional traineeship program and undertake the internship as part of this program.

Experience

• Excellent communication skills; Ability to write clearly and concisely.

• Initiative, sound judgment and demonstrated ability to work harmoniously with staff members of different national and cultural backgrounds.

• Good command of information and communication technology.

• Some knowledge of the Arab region would be helpful.

Languages

• Fluency in English (both oral and written) is required.

• Arabic and French language skills would be an asset.