The United Nations Resident Coordinator’s Office (RCO) in Nairobi are seeking to recruit a Communications and Multimedia Intern for an initial period of 6 Months.
The Resident Coordinator’s Office supports the UN Resident Coordinator, the highest-ranking representative of the UN Development System in Kenya and helps the United Nations Country Team work as one in support of Kenya’s development priorities. The RCO strengthens coherence across UN entities and supports strategic planning, development economics, partnerships and development finance, data and results, communications and advocacy.
The RCO also supports implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework, the central agreement between the Government of Kenya and the UN Country Team for collective development cooperation. It connects the UN’s work with national priorities, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the commitment to leave no one behind. During the internship period, the office will be communicating current results while also supporting preparations for the next programme cycle.
Supervision and Working relationships: The intern will work under the direct supervision of the Communications, Advocacy and Coordination Officer, who leads communications for the RCO and in collaboration with the Communications and Coordination Associate.
The intern will work closely with RCO communications colleagues and collaborate with the UN Communications Group, communications teams across UN entities in Kenya and relevant programme colleagues and partners. Regular editorial guidance and feedback will be provided. Sensitive content, external engagement and products intended for publication will require appropriate review and clearance.
The intern will work within the existing UN Kenya communications work plan and editorial calendar, contributing fresh ideas, helping review and update planned activities and supporting implementation. The supervisor will agree the intern’s priorities, expected products, learning objectives and review points for the six-month assignment.
Responsibilities:
A. Video and multimedia storytelling
- Research and develop story ideas that show how the SDGs and the UN’s collective work connect with Kenya’s development priorities and people’s daily lives.
- Support the preparation of briefs, interview questions, scripts, shot lists and storyboards for short videos, interviews, explainers, event highlights, testimonials and human-interest features.
- Film interviews, events and supporting footage using available camera, audio, lighting and mobile production equipment, in line with approved briefs and consent requirements.
- Edit footage into clear, accurate and engaging products for web and social media, including horizontal, square and vertical formats.
- Add subtitles, captions, titles, graphics, transitions, music and sound design where appropriate, while following UN branding, accessibility, copyright and editorial requirements.
- Create simple motion graphics, animated text, data-led visuals and multimedia explainers that make development evidence easier to understand.
- Prepare platform-specific cuts and export files at suitable dimensions, duration, quality and file size for publication across UN Kenya channels.
B. Events, field documentation and coordination
- Support photography, videography, interview set-up and live or rapid content production during meetings, events, missions and field visits.
- Coordinate practical production requirements with RCO colleagues, UN entities, event organisers and contributors, including schedules, access, releases and approved messaging.
- Assist the UN Communications Group and RCO communications team with joint campaigns, content collection and inter-agency storytelling assignments.
- Treat contributors with dignity and avoid extractive, sensational or hero-centred storytelling, particularly when working with children or people in vulnerable situations.
C. Digital asset management and office support
- Support organisation and maintenance of video, photo, audio and design files using consistent naming, metadata, credits, consent records and version control.
- Help identify gaps in the RCO multimedia archive and prepare approved assets for future use, retrieval and handover.
- Maintain orderly project files and provide the RCO with source files and final masters for all products developed during the internship.
- Provide related communications and coordination support as assigned, consistent with the learning purpose and scope of the internship.
The internship is full-time, in-person at the RCO Kenya, Nairobi Office for a duration of 6 months.
The internship is unpaid and will not attract any remuneration or allowances.
Qualifications/special skills
- At the time of application, applicants must have completed and graduated from a recognised university degree programme at bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral level. Candidates who are still enrolled and have not completed their degree are not eligible for this internship.
- Applicants are not required to have professional work experience. Academic assignments, volunteer work, internships, freelance work and personal projects may be used to demonstrate relevant capability.
- Preferred area of study: Relevant fields include communications, journalism, film and television production, multimedia, digital media, media production, photography, graphic design, visual arts, public relations, development studies, international relations or a closely related discipline.
- Demonstrable ability to plan, film and edit video or multimedia content. Applicants should provide a portfolio or showreel that clearly identifies their contribution to each sample.
- Ability to write clear, concise English for digital and public audiences and to check facts, names, titles, captions and credits carefully.
- Working knowledge of at least one professional or widely used video-editing application, such as Adobe Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve or Final Cut Pro.
- In addition, basic understanding of camera operation, composition, lighting, sound recording, file management and export settings
- Languages: English and French are the working languages of the United Nations. Fluency in English language is required for this internship. Working knowledge of Kiswahili is highly desirable, particularly for interviews, filed documentation and audience-focused story-telling. Knowledge of another official United Nations language is an advantage.
Additional Information
Applicants should submit:
- A completed application or personal history profile, as required by the recruitment platform.
- A concise cover letter stating the completed degree, graduation date, availability from 1 October 2026 and interest in this internship.
- A current curriculum vitae.
- A portfolio or showreel containing relevant video or multimedia work. Academic, volunteer, freelance and personal work is acceptable. For collaborative work, applicants should state their specific role.
- Proof of graduation or completion of the qualifying degree, if requested during the recruitment process.
