UNDP hires personnel through international or local recruitment. It applies several types of contracts depending on a number of criteria, such as legal basis and duration of services. The standard types of contracts are:

1. Fixed Term Appointment (FTA) – nationals and international
2. Temporary Assignment (TA) – nationals and internationals
3. Service Contracts (SC) – nationals only
4. Individual Contracts (IC) – nationals and internationals

Fixed Term Appointments (FTA)
FTAs are concluded for the staff members contracted under Staff Rules. Salary scale for national staff is based on the best prevailing local conditions. Salary scale for international staff is based on the best comparator civil service.

Temporary Appointments (TA)
TAs are concluded for the staff members under TA Guidelines. Maximum duration of the contract is 364 days. Salary scale for national staff is based on the best prevailing local conditions; Salary scale for international staff is based on the best comparator civil service.

National Personnel Service Agreement (NPSA) 
NPSA is a contract modality, established by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in order to engage the services of individuals to provide a time-limited service to UNDP under a service-based contract. The duration of the NPSA contract is from 1 day to 6 months (short-term contract) or from 6 months-to 1 year (regular contract). The two types of contracts have the flexibility of being both office and/or home-based.

International Personnel Services Agreement (IPSA) 
IPSA is a contract modality, established by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in order to engage the services of individuals to provide a time-limited service to UNDP under a service-based contract. An IPSA Holder is normally a person engaged to perform specialist functions in a country other than their home country or place of permanent residence. An IPSA may be issued for up to 12 months at a time, and may be renewed for up to 4 years, however, not to exceed the maximum duration of the project. The maximum period for the use of an IPSA is normally for the duration of the project and/or its expected funding period.

Service Contracts (SC)
SCs are for personnel governed by explicit terms of service. The duration of the contract must be more than 6 months. Salaries are based on local market conditions for specific jobs.

Individual Contract (IC)
IC is a legal instrument used for procurement of services of an individual to perform non-staff tasks in connection with clear and quantifiable deliverables listed in the contract and linked to payment. Individual Contractor is intended solely to deliver time and deliverable-bound services. The services can be intellectual in nature (requiring a consultant) or support services (requiring a contractor). The principle for setting the fees is nature of the assignment, complexity, difficulty and extent of the work to be performed and the degree of expertise required to accomplish it.

Internships
Are you dedicated to world development and want to gain practical experience to complement your studies?

Internships at UNDP are a great opportunity for students and recent graduates to acquire direct exposure to UNDP's work.

Opportunities are available in a variety of areas and every attempt is made to match the interests of the intern with the needs of the organization. Visit our current vacancies and discover your development internship.

The duration of an internship assignment varies in length according to the availability and academic requirements of the intern, as well as the needs of UNDP. Assignments are available on a part-time and full-time basis throughout the year.

Qualifications & Requirements

Interns are selected on a competitive basis. Applicants to UNDP internships must at the time of application meet one of the following academic 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 programme (minimum Bachelor’s level or equivalent);
• Have 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 programme and undertake internship as part of this programme.

As an applicant, you should be able to demonstrate an interest in the field of development and respect the principles of the United Nations Charter and UNDP's mission. The desire to work with and gain the confidence and respect of people with different language, national and cultural backgrounds is an essential part of working in the UN system. You should also be interested in global mobility, as well as adaptability to varied physical and other environments.

Typically, the language requirements are: Applicants should have written and spoken proficiency in English. Fluency in Arabic might be also required in certain cases.

Where to apply

All internships are advertised on UNDP's jobsites: UNDP Jobs