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Paid UN Internships
This may be the topic that arouses your interest and for good reason, since there are very few people who are able to spend months dedicating themselves to an unpaid internship. Many people wrongly believe there are no paid internships in the UN System. However, there are various organizations that belong to the UN System that offer stipends or some type of assistance. Obviously, you will not have a luxurious life as an intern but some of the programs provide sufficient and satisfactory living conditions for you to have this experience.
In this sense, the UN Internship Programs seek candidates interested in a highly diversified and multicultural work environment conducive to the development of their skills. The UN internships application process is a great opportunity for those interested in building an international career in the institution.
In pursuit of its mission, the OpenIGO network has prepared a comprehensive eBook and support and guidance services, with the aim of highly increasing your chances of success in these competitive processes. These services include revising your UN internships application documents (curriculum vitae/resume and cover letter) and a mock interview, as per the United Nations model. We also offer a range of packages that combine the eBook with different services.
UN Internships – Products & Services
UN Paid Internships
a) 19 UN Paid Internships
Among the main UN internship programs, approximately 19 offer payment or assistance to their interns. Some agencies, such as UNICEF, may offer both paid and unpaid vacancies. The average sum offered for unicef paid internships is between USD 1,000 and USD 1,300 per month.
The following tables summarize the information on the main UN Paid internships and Non-Paid Internships, presenting the differences in payment within the organizations. The sums presented are estimates.
| PAID INTERNSHIPS | |
|---|---|
| FAO | Up to USD 700/month |
| IAEA | Living Allowance = €500 Housing Allowance = €500 |
| IFC | Between USD 26 and USD 32/hour. |
| IFAD | Between USD 678 and USD 734/month |
| IMF | Up to USD 5,000/month |
| IOM | Assistance of between 500 and 1,500 CHF/month (Switzerland). |
| OPCW | €450/month |
| CTBTO | Living Allowance = €500 Housing Allowance = €500 |
| UNOPS | Between USD 770 and USD 850/month |
| WFP | Up to USD 1,000/month |
| UPU | Between 960 and 1,000 euro/month |
| WB | Between USD 20 and USD 30/hour |
| WIPO | Between 500 and 2,000 CHF/month. (Switzerland). |
| WTO | 60 CHF/day or 1,200 CHF/month. |
| UNSSC | €450/month |
| GAVI ALLIANCE | Between USD 11 and USD 13/hour. Local transportation and lunch. |
| ICC | €400/month or 1,550 CHF/month (Switzerland). |
| UNICEF | Between USD 1,000 and USD 1,300/month. |
| ILO | 2,245 CHF/month (Switzerland) Between USD 12 and USD 13/hour (USA) |
| UNPAID UN INTERNSHIPS | |
|---|---|
| ICSID ICAO IMO ITU UNISDR UNRWA WHO UN WOMEN UNDP UNFPA UN SECRETARIAT UNCTAD | UNESCO UNEP UN-HABITAT UNIDO UNODC UNAIDS UNHCR UNWTO INTRACEN UN FOUNDATION UNFCC JIU |
| TOTAL | 24 |
b) World Bank and IMF Internships: Higher remuneration than UN Paid Internships!
The World Bank and IMF Internships are among the programs with the best payments. The World Bank Group pays between USD 20 and USD 30 per hour. Considering that the interns at this organization work on a full-time basis (up to 40 hours per week), the monthly payment varies between USD 3,200 and USD 4,800.
In turn, the IMF offers their interns up to USD 5,000 per month, and may pay for the travel costs (return) from the applicant`s home country to the Fund`s headquarters in Washington D.C. However, these sums may be adjusted according to various factors, such as the candidate`s educational background, work experience, and differences in working hours.
Discover our products & services related to the WB and IMF internship:
WB Internship Products & Services
IMF Internship Products & Services
c) Payment Currency
The payment offered by the varying programs can also be divided into categories. This is the case of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), which offers €500 for housing expenses and an additional €500 for general living expenses. Other agencies offer assistance that only covers basic living costs. This is the case of Gavi Alliance, a UN partnership, which focuses on vaccinating vulnerable groups in underprivileged nations that offers between USD 11 and USD 12 per hour to assist with travel and food expenses.
Most UN organizations pay in US dollars or euros, but this may vary according to the location of the internship. For example, the International Labour Organization (Geneva) offers approximately 2,245 CHF (Swiss francs) to selected interns.
It should be emphasized that many organizations only award payment/assistance to interns who prove that they do not receive any type of assistance from private entities, public institutions or the governments of their respective countries.
