Back Intern – Investigations Section (5 posts)

Background   The Investigations Section of the Office of Audit and Investigations (OAI) is seeking to recruit five (5) interns for a period of six months, beginning on 1 February 2026. The Investigations Section of OAI is responsible for conducting investigations into allegations of misconduct, such as fraud, corruption, retaliation on whistleblowers, workplace harassment, including sexual harassment, abuse of authority, violation or willful disregard of UNDP regulations, rules, and administrative instructions, which involve UNDP staff and other personnel. The Investigations Section also investigates allegations of fraud and other financial irregularities committed by contractors, implementing partners and other third parties deemed detrimental to UNDP. OAI conducts investigations in accordance with the UNDP Legal Framework for Addressing Non-Compliance with UN Standards of Conduct and the OAI Investigation Guidelines. This is a call for an internship for the period 2025. OAI will select the top five (5) applicants for this internship. Other qualified applicants will be placed in OAI’s Roster for Internship under Investigations Sections.
  Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are core principles at UNDP:  we value diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate, we foster inclusion as a way of ensuring all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, and we ensure equity and fairness in all our actions. Taking a ‘leave no one behind’ approach to our diversity efforts means increasing representation of underserved populations. People who identify as belonging to marginalized or excluded populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Learn more about working at UNDP including our values and inspiring stories.
  UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.
  Duties and Responsibilities

The interns provide support to the Investigations Section in the conduct of investigations into allegations of various types of wrongdoing. In carrying out this overall function, the interns may be requested to:
• Assist in reviewing cases reported to OAI to determine appropriate referrals;
• Assist in drafting documents and communications with respect to cases under investigation, including investigation plans, witness statements, investigation reports, closure reports and other documents;

• Assist in conducting interviews with complainants, witnesses and subjects;
• Assist in identifying, collating and analyzing potential evidence, including carrying out open-source
research and forensic reviews;
• Assist with editing investigation reports and other documents for quality assurance purposes;
• Undertake other related tasks as required.

It is important that the candidates applying satisfy the criteria below in order to be eligible for the internship, namely: at the
time of the application:

• Be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree programme (such as bachelor’s degree or equivalent)
• Be a graduate with a university degree (as defined above) obtained within one-year of the start of the
internship (e.g. must have graduated no earlier than 1 February 2025;
• If enrolled in a postgraduate degree programme (such as a master’s programme or higher) in
investigations, management, finance, law, international relations, international development, journalism or
related fields and be able to take on a full time 6-month internship starting 1 February 2026.
• Be enrolled in a postgraduate professional traineeship program and undertake the internship as part of this
program on a full time 6-month internship starting 1 February 2026.

• Knowledge of Microsoft Office programmes (Word, PowerPoint, Excel) required;
• Interest and/or experience in dealing with investigations, administrative and/or disciplinary law is
desirable;
• Experience in copy-editing and proof reading is desirable; and
• Experience conducting open-source research is desirable.

Working Languages:
• Fluency in written and spoken English is required;
• Fluency in French, Spanish, Arabic, or Portuguese is highly desirable.

Work arrangements:

• Internships are located at UNDP Headquarters in New York or can be home based;
• Internships will be full-time.

Application process: the application should contain the following uploaded as one file:
• Current curriculum vitae (CV);
• Original text of up to 500 words addressing the following question: (i) why you would like to be considered for the internship and your primary motivation to apply for this role; (ii) timeframe and availability for an internship with OAI;
• Please note that the UNDP jobsite system allows only one uploading of application document, so please make sure that you merge all your documents (CV/ Resume, Cover Letter etc. into a single file before uploading).

Terms and Conditions:
Internships within the UN system are subject to following conditions, which the candidates should familiarize themselves with prior to applying:
• Internship will be for a period of six months.
• Interns who are not financially supported by an institution or programme, such as a university, government, foundation, or scholarship programme, will receive a stipend in accordance with UNDP rules and regulations. A stipend is intended to help cover basic daily expenses related to the internship, such as meals and transportation at the duty station, must be paid by the receiving office.
• Costs and arrangements for travel, visas, passports, accommodation and living expenses are the responsibility of: (a) The nominating institution, related institution, or government, which may provide the required financial assistance to its students; or (b) The intern.
• Interns are responsible for securing adequate medical insurance for the duration of their internship with UNDP and must provide a medical certificate of good health prior to starting the internship. UNDP will not reimburse the medical insurance of the intern. Any costs arising from accidents and illness incurred during an internship assignment will be the responsibility of the intern.
• UNDP accepts no responsibility for loss or damage to personal effects that may occur during the internship.

Subsequent Employment:
• The purpose of the internship programme is not to lead to further employment with UNDP but to complement an intern’s studies. Therefore, there should be no expectation of employment at the end of an internship. Only those candidates who are shortlisted will be contacted for an interview.

Selected candidates must submit the following documents prior to being offered a Letter of Acceptance for Internship:
• A duly completed UNDP Internship Application Form;
• A signed UNDP Internship Agreement;
• Copy of updated CV/resume;
• Official letter from the university confirming current enrolment and graduation date;
• Copy of passport/national ID card;
• A copy of his/her school transcript;
• Letter of endorsement/recommendation from a Professor;
• Proof of both Medical and Life Insurance which is valid for the duty station and covers duration of the internship programme.

Female applicants and qualified applicants from developing countries are especially encouraged to apply. UNDP has zero tolerance for discrimination and does not discriminate on the basis of color, gender, or any other status.