National Internship - Information and Communication Technology

Internship offering is limited to candidates applying from within the duty station of the hiring unit.

The UNFPA Internship Program offers a small group of outstanding students the opportunity to acquire direct exposure to UNFPA operations. It is designed to complement development-oriented studies with practical experience in various aspects of UNFPA work.
Applicants should have expressed interest in the field of development; ability to adapt to new environments and work with individuals from different cultural backgrounds. Interns work under the supervision of a staff member at UNFPA. The background of the interns is matched with the needs of the organization.

The Position:

The primary objective of this internship is to provide a dynamic IT/Computer Science student or recent graduate with practical experience in enterprise IT operations, network administration, cybersecurity compliance, user support, and digital solutions within an international organization.
Under the direct supervision of the International Operations Manager, the interns will assist the ICT team in day-to-day operations while acquiring professional knowledge of UN technology frameworks and standards.

A work-plan with achievements for the duration of the Internship and learning opportunities will be agreed upon. Periodic progress meetings will lead to a beneficial environment for the Intern enhancing her/his skills and capacity in areas related to UNFPA’s mandate.

About UNFPA and How You Can Make a Difference:

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 and harmful practices; and adapting to demographic change through evidence and rights-based policies.
UNFPA is seeking an intern to support digital transformation, maintain robust IT infrastructure, and improve user support services.

The interns will be responsible for:

• Provide first-line desktop support (Helpdesk) to UNFPA staff in the Country Office and remote support to sub-offices.
• Assist in troubleshooting hardware (laptops, printers, scanners, projectors) and software issues (Windows OS, Microsoft 365 suite, video conferencing software).
• Set up, configure, and maintain workstations, peripheral devices, and user accounts in accordance with UNFPA standard configurations.
• Support multimedia and technical setup for hybrid meetings, workshops, webinars, and official virtual events.
• Assist in monitoring local area network (LAN), wireless networks (Wi-Fi), and internet connectivity across the office premises.
• Support basic routine maintenance of server rooms, network switches, routers, IP telephony, and backup power systems (UPS/generators/solar inverters).
• Assist in verifying software updates, antivirus definitions, and operating system security patches on user machines.
• Assist in creating, updating, and organizing digital media, internal SharePoint pages, or data visualization tools as required by program/operations units.
• Support simple database maintenance, automated forms, or digital workflows using Microsoft Power Platform (Power Apps, Power Automate, Form) where applicable.
• Promote ICT security awareness and standard operating procedures among staff members

Qualifying for an Internship

Candidates for the internship programme are selected on a competitive basis. The profiles of the interns are matched with the needs of the organization. The following qualifications are required for consideration:

• Students should be enrolled in an advanced degree programme or have recently graduated;
• Students must have written and spoken proficiency in English and/or French

Candidates with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply
All interns must meet the following educational and other eligibility requirements:

Education Requirements:

1. Be enrolled in a postgraduate degree programme in in Computer Science, Information Technology, Software Engineering, Telecommunications, or a related field ;
2. Have recently graduated with a university degree as defined above and, if selected, must start the internship within one-year of graduation; or
3. Be enrolled in a postgraduate professional trainee programme and undertake the internship as part of this programme.

Other eligibility requirements

1. Demonstrate interest in the field of UNFPA mandate;
2. Demonstrate written and spoken proficiency in at least one of the working languages of the United Nations in Cameroon (English or French); and
3. Demonstrate ability to adapt to new environments and to establish and maintain good working relations with individuals of different cultural backgrounds.

Your Experiences:

● Some experience in working with development agencies, including in 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.

Learning Elements:

Upon completion of the assignment, and depending on its duration, the Intern will gain the following knowledge assets:

1. Increased understanding of the UNFPA Programme Cooperation
2. Understand the UNFPA mandate and policies, including the Principle of LNOB
3. Understand and familiarize with UNFPA Governance
4. Understand UNFPA programme design and delivery mechanisms
5. Understand the dynamics of operational and programme support and communications to the UNFPA Cameroon Country Office
6. Learn UN technical language, working procedures, and coordination mechanisms
7. Write and formulate substantive documents
8. Network with UN colleagues
9. Work experience as a team member in a multicultural setting

Financial Aspects:

Interns do not receive a salary or any other form of remuneration from UNFPA. The costs associated with an intern's participation in the programme must be assumed either by the nominating institution, which may provide the required financial assistance to its students, or by the students themselves, who will have to meet living expenses as well as make their own arrangements for accommodation, travel and other requirements. However, they 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 stipend is based on 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.

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.
Indigenous populations and persons with disabilities. 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

Disclaimer:

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.