Internship: Programme Support

Job Description

Job Opening ID: 269510
Job Network : -
Job Family : HST
Category and Level : Internship, I-1
Duty Station : NAIROBI
Department/Office : United Nations Human Settlements Programme
Date Posted : Jan 8, 2026
Deadline : Jan 22, 2026

Work Location: In-person, Nairobi, Kenya

Expected duration: 6 months

Duties and Responsibilities Org. Setting and Reporting

The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) is mandated by the UN General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities. UN-Habitat is the focal point for all urbanization and human settlement matters within the UN system.

UN-Habitat works with partners to build inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable cities and communities. UN-Habitat promotes urbanization as a positive transformative force for people and communities, reducing inequality, discrimination and poverty.

The Planning & Finance Section is responsible for coordinating the Agency’s substantive, normative and operational work on various dimensions of urban planning, finance and economy. The Section aims to develop, document, pilot/test and disseminate integrated planning and finance policies, norms, standards, tools, methodologies, regulatory frameworks, operating procedures and practices at global, regional, national and sub-national levels in support of:

• urban and territorial planning at all scales including urban design and public space;
• urban finance (municipal finance and urban development/projects finance); and
• local economic development.

The intern will report to the Chief, Planning Finance and Economy Section.

Responsibilities

The intern will work under the direct supervision of the Chief of Planning, Finance and Economy Section and will undertake the following duties:

Specific Duties:

• Assist in guidance of the PFS by tracking developments and innovations in the field of planning, finance and inclusion and conducting review of partners and initiatives relevant for the Section.
• Support the Chief of the Urban Planning and Finance Section, and Programme in preparing content and logistics for workshops, surveys, assessments, trainings, and seminars, to steer urban and territorial planning, finance & economy towards climate adaptation and mitigation, and social inclusion goals.
• Assist the Chief in the coordination of the Section teams, such as Urban Lab, Humanitarian Development practice, Public Space, Urban Health, Urban Regeneration.
• Support research for the development of papers and thinking pieces on urban and territorial planning, finance and economy for Urban Development Policies, Strategies, Plans and Projects.
• Assist in the SDG’s localization in urban planning and finance policy frameworks, guidelines, policies, presentations through identification and review of relevant publications and documents, drafting and commenting on documents, and assist in producing information materials.
• Supporting the Section Chief in handling administrative matters, such as organizing and scheduling meetings, taking notes, reviewing various system such as the filing system, etc.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the supervisor.

Task Opportunities:

• Familiarizing oneself with the United Nations.
• Familiarizing oneself with urban planning and finance normative work, climate adaptation and mitigation, social inclusion, migration, urban regeneration, urban-rural linkages, urban health, and urban territorial planning topics;
• Participating in the dialogues with UN-Habitat headquarters divisions, branches, sections, units, and regional and country offices, and partners such as UN agencies, regional or local institutes, NGOs.

Qualifications/special skills

Applicants must at the time of application, meet one of the following requirements:

• Be enrolled in a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher),
• Be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree program (minimum Bachelor’s level or equivalent),
• Have graduated with Bachelor’s degree, Masters, PhD or equivalent.

Be computer literate in standard software applications (Microsoft Office Suite).

Have demonstrated a keen interest in the work of the United Nations and have a personal commitment to the ideals of the Charter.

Have a demonstrated ability to successfully interact with individuals of different cultural backgrounds and beliefs, which includes a willingness to try and understand and be tolerant of differing opinions and views.

Preferred areas of study: Urban Planning, Urban Design, Landscape Architecture, Urban Policy, Geography, Architecture, Economic, Finance, Urban Finance, Local Economic Development, International development, or related field that is relevant for sustainable urban development.

In addition, successful applicants are expected to have demonstrated ability in one or more areas listed below:

• Writing and research skills are a strong asset for this assignment.
• Previous experience in developing contexts and in urban development will be considered as an asset.
• Have a demonstrated ability to successfully interact with individuals of different cultural backgrounds and beliefs, which include willingness to try and understand and be tolerant of differing opinions and views.
• Proficiency in GIS, Microsoft Office Suite including excel is a requirement.
• Proficiency in graphic software such as Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop, AutoCAD, etc an asset.

Candidates shall share examples of relevant past work authored by them which may include research, as well as GIS/Excel/design/graphic work.

Applicants to the UN Internship Programme are not required to have professional work experience. However, a field of study that is closely related to the type of internship that you are applying for is required.

Applicants must be a student in the final year of the first university degree (bachelor or equivalent), Master’s or Ph.D. Programme or equivalent, or have completed a Bachelor’s, Master’s or Ph.D. Programme.

Do you meet any of the above criteria? If yes, please indicate which one and attach proof to the application. Please note that you will have to provide an official certificate at a later stage.

Proficiency in GIS and/or the Microsoft Office Suite, as well as graphic software such as Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop, and AutoCAD, is desirable.

Writing and research and powerpoint skills are desirable for this assignment. Kindly provide examples of relevant skills that you might have in this respect.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this internship position, fluency in oral and written English is required. Knowledge of another UN language is desirable.

Additional Information

Do you have any previous UN internship experience? If yes, please indicate the UN entity and the specific dates.

Intern Specific text

Interns are not financially remunerated by the United Nations. Costs and arrangements for travel, visas, accommodation and living expenses are the responsibility of interns or their sponsoring institutions.

Interns who are not citizens or permanent residents of the country where the internship is undertaken, may be required to obtain the appropriate visa and work/employment authorization. Successful candidates should discuss their specific visa requirements before accepting the internship offer.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.

DEADLINE: January 22, 2026