UN-Habitat promotes socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities, working with partners to build inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable communities.
The Urban Basic Services Section focuses on essential services for vulnerable urban populations, including children, women, elderly, indigenous groups, people with disabilities, and the urban poor.
The Urban Mobility team supports sustainable, inclusive, and efficient mobility systems in cities. In Nairobi, this includes developing a Non-Motorized Transport (NMT) Master Plan prioritizing walking and cycling.
Through the Kenya Urban Mobility Improvement Project (KUMIP), UN-Habitat helps redesign streets in the Central Business District (CBD) to improve safety, accessibility, and inclusivity for pedestrians, cyclists, and public transport users.
UN-Habitat conducts Safe Routes to School (SR2S) assessments to capture children’s perspectives on mobility and road safety. Findings inform child-centered urban mobility strategies.
The Active Mobility Programme Support Intern will support the development of a Walking and Cycling Strategy for Nairobi, focusing on children and aligned with NMT Master Plan and SR2S initiatives.
Key responsibilities of the intern include:
Supporting development of a child-centered Walking & Cycling Strategy for Nairobi.
Conducting desk research and synthesizing data from SR2S pilots, surveys, and participatory workshops with children, parents, and teachers.
Assisting in the design and facilitation of participatory methods (e.g., mapping, drawing, storytelling) to capture children’s mobility perspectives.
Drafting policy and strategy elements, including vision, goals, and recommended actions.
Preparing reports, knowledge products, and visual materials (maps, infographics, briefs) to communicate findings to Nairobi City County and partners.
Supporting coordination with Nairobi City County officials, schools, and partner organizations to align strategy with local priorities.
Contributing to documentation of lessons learned for potential replication in other African cities.
Performing other tasks assigned related to the team’s portfolio.
Qualifications/Special Skills
Must meet one of the following at the time of application:
Enrolled in a graduate school program (second university degree or higher).
Enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree program (minimum Bachelor’s level).
Completed a Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD program.
Computer literate in standard software applications (Microsoft Office Suite).
Keen interest in the work of the United Nations and commitment to the ideals of the UN Charter.
Ability to interact successfully with individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds.
Preferred areas of study: Urban Planning/Design, Architecture, Data Science, Environmental Science, Innovation Management, Computer Science, Urban Geography, or other relevant fields.
Additional skills and experience:
Sound knowledge of active mobility concepts, planning, road safety, street design, and child-centered mobility approaches.
Familiarity with participatory methods for data collection (surveys, mapping, workshops, storytelling tools).
Strong writing and analytical skills for concise, engaging reports and policy recommendations.
Ability to collaborate with local authorities, schools, and communities, demonstrating initiative and attention to detail.
Experience researching active mobility in cities, particularly walking, cycling, or Safe Routes to School.
Experience producing and disseminating knowledge products and policy materials (reports, briefs, articles, infographics).
Experience working with local governments and community engagement is desirable.
Languages
Fluency in oral and written English is required.
Knowledge of another UN language is desirable.
Additional Information
Applicants should indicate previous UN internship experience, if any, including UN entity and dates.
Intern Specific Text
Internship is UNPAID and full-time.
Costs and arrangements for travel, visas, accommodation, and living expenses are the responsibility of the intern or sponsoring institution.
Interns who are not citizens or permanent residents may require appropriate visa and work authorization.
Deadline : Nov 19, 2025
Start Your Application
Applications for this position must be completed on the recruiting organization's website.
