Expected duration: Six months; 01 September 2025 – 28 February 2026
The internship is based in the Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CPCJ) Programme at the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Regional Office for Eastern Africa (ROEA), Nairobi, Kenya. This position will run for six months, starting in September 2025. The internship is UNPAID, and interns work five days per week (full time – 40 hours) under the supervision of a designated staff member within the department. For more information on UNODC’s activities, please visit https://www.unodc.org/easternafrica
As the global custodian of the UN Standards and Norms in Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, UNODC is mandated to assist Member States in strengthening the Rule of Law and promoting effective, fair, humane, and accountable criminal justice systems in accordance with international standards and norms.
This internship supports PLEAD Phase II (Programme for Legal Empowerment and Aid Delivery), which focuses on:
- Strengthening the rule of law, access to justice, and accountability in Kenya’s justice system.
- Leveraging technology to improve justice delivery.
- Addressing systemic bottlenecks in service delivery.
- Enhancing access to justice for marginalized groups while tackling corruption.
Key Responsibilities
Under the overall supervision of the Head of the Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme and the direct supervision of the PLEAD Programme Manager, and in close technical collaboration with Associate Programme Officers, programme staff, and consultants within the Criminal Justice Programme in ROEA, the intern will be responsible for the following tasks:
1. Substantive Support
- Assist in the implementation of programme and project initiatives focused on crime prevention and criminal justice.
- Conduct thorough research and analytical work on key topics related to crime prevention and criminal justice frameworks and practices.
2. Programme Planning and Coordination
- Contribute to the organization and execution of programme activities, including meetings, workshops, conferences, and training sessions.
- Prepare detailed reports, meeting minutes, and event summaries to document and support programme activities.
3. Documentation and Presentation Development
- Assist in the preparation of background materials, presentations, talking points, and speeches for use in programme activities.
- Draft briefing notes and other supporting documentation for meetings and engagements with stakeholders, including UN agencies and partner organizations.
4. Communications and Visibility
- Support the development, review, and maintenance of social media content to increase awareness and visibility of the programme’s work and impact.
5. Administrative Support
- Provide assistance with procurement processes, including the drafting of terms of reference and preparation of related documentation.
6. Other Duties
- Undertake additional tasks, as needed, to support the effective delivery and achievement of the programme’s objectives.
Qualifications/special skills
- Applicants must meet one of the following requirements:
(a) be enrolled in, or have recently completed, a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher);
(b) be enrolled in, or have recently completed, the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum bachelor’s degree or equivalent), preferably in Law, Criminology, Political Science, or Criminal Justice.
- Be computer literate in standard software applications;
- Have a demonstrated keen interest in the work of the United Nations and have a personal commitment to the ideals of the Charter; and
- 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.
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 recently completed a Bachelor’s, Master’s or PH.D. Programme, preferably in Law, Criminology, Political Science, or Criminal Justice.
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.
Applicants must have good knowledge of standard software applications, especially MS Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint and MS Teams.
Languages
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Fluency in spoken and written English is required for the internship. Knowledge of an additional official UN language is an advantage. Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish are the official languages of the United Nations Secretariat.
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.
