Job opening at United Nations Capital Development Fund

The United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) is looking for talented interns to join its Strategic Funds Unit (SFU)!

Job Title: Strategic Engagement Intern (3 positions)
Job Location: Home Based
Closing Date: 12/03/2026, 05:59
Contract Type: Internship Programme (6 months)
Job Schedule: Full time
Agency: United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF)
Grade: IN
Required Languages: English
Desired Languages: Knowledge of other UN languages

This is your chance to work with a leading UN development finance institution, contribute to impactful initiatives, and grow your skills in an international, multicultural environment.

United Nations Capital Development Fund – Overview

The United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) is a unique UN organization established under General Assembly Resolution 2186 (XXI) to assist developing countries, especially least developed countries, in economic development. UNCDF supports countries by providing grants, loans, and guarantees to supplement existing sources of capital assistance.

As a flagship catalytic blended finance platform within the UN system, UNCDF mobilizes capital for Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) impactful investments to address pressing development challenges facing vulnerable communities. Its vision is to catalyze investment flows for sustainable economic growth and equitable prosperity.

UNCDF operates as a hybrid development organization and development finance institution. Its work focuses on three priority areas:

SME Finance
Sub-National Finance
Digital Finance

UNCDF’s organizational structure includes:

Investment and Implementation Division (IID)
Investment and Finance Oversight Division (IFOD)
Operations and Oversight Division (OOD)
Directorate of the Executive Office

Regional hubs are located in Dakar (Senegal), Nairobi (Kenya), and Bangkok (Thailand), with sub-regional presence in the Caribbean and Pacific regions. The organization is led by an Executive Secretary based in New York, USA, with oversight by an Executive Board of UN Member States.

The Strategic Funds Unit (SFU) within UNCDF enhances its capacity to deploy grants, loans, and guarantees to crowd in finance and scale development impact. SFU develops and oversees trust funds in partnership with UN agencies and other partners, mobilizing capital at scale, expanding pipelines of investable solutions, and ensuring alignment with climate, biodiversity, and SDG commitments.

Internship Overview

The Strategic Engagement Intern will support the Strategic Funds Unit under the guidance of the Strategic Engagement & Partnerships Specialist and in coordination with the Strategic Engagement Analyst.

This internship provides a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience in:

Global development finance
UN institutional processes
Strategic partnerships and stakeholder engagement
Blended finance initiatives

The internship is fully remote, allowing interns to contribute from anywhere while providing their own equipment, internet, and workspace. Flexibility is required to attend virtual team meetings across time zones.

Duties and Responsibilities

Strategic Engagement and Coordination

Support coordination of strategic engagement activities to help achieve resource mobilization targets.
Conduct background research on UN institutional processes, including initiatives moving through the UN system (e.g., from UNGA to UNEA).

Assist in mapping and analyzing multilateral and intergovernmental negotiation processes related to ocean governance (e.g., UNFCCC, CBD, BBNJ Agreement, International Seabed Authority, IMO, ITLOS, IOC-UNESCO).
Track stakeholder meetings and follow-ups; maintain partner, donor, and stakeholder contact lists and outreach notes.

Support preparation of donor briefings, speaking points, background materials, and technical briefs.
Assist in researching donor priorities, funding mechanisms, and upcoming opportunities aligned with UNCDF’s thematic areas.
Contribute to planning missions and events, including itineraries, logistics, and preparation of briefing materials.

Research and Initiative Development

Conduct desk research on global finance mechanisms, governance structures, and precedents (e.g., Gavi, UNITAID) to understand UN anchoring.
Map international and regional organizations active in ocean and climate finance, plastics, blue economy, and marine governance.

Prepare summaries, briefs, and background notes on multilateral processes, funding opportunities, and emerging policy trends.
Maintain work plans, activity trackers, and databases to support ongoing initiatives.

Competencies

Excellent verbal and written communication skills
Strong planning and organizational skills
Proactive problem-solving and results-oriented mindset
Ability to translate complex ideas into clear visual concepts
Capability to work effectively in multicultural and international environments

Required Skills and Experience

Education

Applicants must be enrolled in or have recently completed:

A postgraduate degree program (master’s or higher)
The final academic year of a first university degree program (bachelor’s or equivalent)
A postgraduate professional traineeship program

Fields of study include: International Law, Economics, Economic Development, Policy, International Relations, Business or Public Administration, or related fields.

Languages

Fluency in English is required
Knowledge of other UN languages is considered an advantage

Internship Conditions

Interns are responsible for their own equipment, internet, and workspace.
Proof of enrollment in a health insurance plan is required.

UNCDF provides no responsibility for accident, illness, or death costs during the internship.
A stipend may be offered to help cover basic daily expenses.
Interns are not staff members and may not represent UNCDF in an official capacity.

Benefits of the Internship

Gain exposure to high-level multilateral processes and UN finance mechanisms
Work closely with strategic partners and stakeholders in the development finance ecosystem

Develop professional skills in project management, stakeholder engagement, research, and strategic communications
Opportunity to contribute to global initiatives addressing climate change, ocean governance, and sustainable economic development

MORE OPPORTUNITIES:

How to Apply

Candidates interested in joining UNCDF as a Strategic Engagement Intern can apply via the following link:

Apply Here

Applications must be submitted before 12 March 2026, 05:59.

This internship offers a highly impactful experience for individuals passionate about development finance, strategic partnerships, and multilateral engagement, providing a platform to contribute to global initiatives while building a foundation for a career in international development.

United Nations Capital Development Fund is hiring 3 Strategic Engagement Interns (Home-based)

Job Description