The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has officially opened applications for the highly impactful Humanitarian-Development-Peace (HDP) Nexus Academy Internship. This remote internship opportunity is designed for students and recent graduates who are passionate about international development, humanitarian action, peacebuilding, AI innovation, digital learning, and global collaboration.
Hosted under the UNDP Crisis Bureau in New York, the internship offers participants the opportunity to work with a globally recognized institution that is shaping innovative responses to some of the world’s most pressing crises. The selected intern will contribute directly to the Nexus Academy — a global learning and collaboration platform focused on building resilience and strengthening coordination across humanitarian, development, and peace actors worldwide.
This internship is ideal for young professionals seeking practical international experience in knowledge management, AI-enabled learning systems, digital education, community engagement, communications, and global development programming.
About the UNDP HDP Nexus Academy
The Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus Academy was established as part of UNDP’s broader Crisis Academy initiative. The Academy serves as a global centre for learning, collaboration, and innovation focused on integrated responses to modern crises.
As global crises become more interconnected and prolonged, traditional siloed approaches to aid and development are becoming less effective. The HDP Nexus Academy works to bridge the gap between humanitarian response, long-term development planning, and peacebuilding efforts.
The Academy operates through three key pillars:
1. Learning
Developing innovative training programmes, workshops, and courses for practitioners across sectors.
2. Community
Building a global network of practitioners, experts, policymakers, and learners who exchange knowledge and best practices.
3. Action
Supporting practical implementation of integrated and locally grounded solutions in crisis settings.
A major innovation currently being developed by the Academy is NexusMind, an AI-powered knowledge platform that transforms curated HDP knowledge into practical intelligence for professionals working in crisis response and development.
Internship Location
- Remote
- Hosted by UNDP Careers
- Based in New York, United States
Internship Responsibilities
Selected interns will work closely with the Nexus Academy Programme Specialist and support several strategic initiatives across knowledge management, AI innovation, digital learning, communications, and community engagement.
Support the Expansion of the Nexus Knowledge Hub
Interns will:
- Help curate and organize verified humanitarian-development-peace resources
- Assist in tagging, uploading, and managing knowledge assets
- Support the transformation of the repository into an AI-enabled learning platform
- Contribute to testing features such as:
- Natural language queries
- Insight synthesis
- Learning material generation
- Operational outputs
- Provide feedback on user experience and testing processes
Assist in Designing and Delivering Learning Experiences
Interns will:
- Contribute to curriculum development for online and multi-stakeholder learning cohorts
- Support tailored training programmes and online courses
- Help deliver virtual learning sessions using:
- Microsoft Teams
- Zoom
- Slido
- Analyze post-training feedback and learner engagement data
Facilitate Global Community Engagement
Interns will also:
- Support management of the Nexus Academy’s online communities
- Assist with organizing community events and “Open Houses”
- Create communication materials and LinkedIn content
- Engage with global HDP practitioners and partners
Skills and Competencies Required
UNDP is seeking candidates who demonstrate strong interest in innovation, collaboration, and global development work.
Key competencies include:
Passion for Innovation
- Interest in AI, digital tools, and technology for development
- Ability to apply creative approaches to global challenges
Research and Analytical Skills
- Ability to synthesize and present complex information clearly
- Strong critical thinking and organizational abilities
Communication Skills
- Excellent written and verbal English communication
- Strong presentation and content creation skills
Teamwork and Interpersonal Skills
- Ability to collaborate in multicultural and international environments
- Experience engaging with diverse stakeholders
Organizational Skills
- Ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines effectively
- Self-motivated and proactive attitude
Educational Requirements
Applicants must meet at least one of the following criteria at the time of application:
- Be in the final year of a Bachelor’s degree
- Be enrolled in a Master’s degree programme
- Have graduated within one year from a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree
- Be enrolled in a postgraduate professional traineeship programme
Preferred Fields of Study
Although all academic backgrounds are welcome, priority may be given to candidates studying:
- International Relations
- Development Studies
- Political Science
- Data Science
- Communications
- Related disciplines
Experience Requirements
Applicants should demonstrate:
- Interest or experience in:
- Knowledge management
- AI applications
- Digital learning tools
- Data analysis
- Understanding of humanitarian, development, and peacebuilding concepts
- Experience supporting events, workshops, or trainings
- Familiarity with:
- Microsoft Office
- Teams
- SharePoint
- Zoom
- Ability to work across diverse cultural environments
Language Requirements
Required
- Fluency in written and spoken English
Strong Assets
- French
- Spanish
- Other UN languages
Internship Benefits
UNDP offers several benefits and professional development opportunities for selected interns.
Benefits Include
- Monthly internship stipend in line with UNDP policy
- Opportunity to work with a globally respected UN organization
- Exposure to international development and crisis response systems
- Experience with AI-powered knowledge and learning platforms
- Networking with global experts and practitioners
- Flexible remote work arrangement
- Hands-on experience in digital learning and international collaboration
Internship Conditions
Applicants should note the following conditions:
- Interns must provide proof of health insurance coverage
- Interns are expected to provide their own computer and IT equipment
- Internship expenses outside the stipend are the responsibility of the intern
- Interns are not considered UNDP staff members
- Completion of the internship does not guarantee future employment
Diversity and Inclusion Commitment
UNDP strongly promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion and encourages applications from underserved and marginalized communities worldwide.
The organization maintains a zero-tolerance policy against:
- Sexual exploitation
- Harassment
- Abuse of authority
- Discrimination of any kind
All selected candidates will undergo rigorous background and reference checks.
Important Notice for Applicants
UNDP does not charge any fees during the recruitment or application process. Applicants are advised to avoid scams and only apply through official UNDP channels.
Deadline
No official application deadline was stated in the announcement. Early application is strongly recommended.
Learn more and apply
Interested applicants can learn more and apply through the official UNDP Careers portal here.
Explore more global fellowship opportunities on OFY here.
