National Internship: Human Resources Assistant job at United Nations Population Fund (Unfpa)

The Position:

Under overall guidance and supervision of the Representative and direct supervision of a Human Resources Analyst, the Human Resources Assistant intern provides HR operational support at the UNFPA Country Offices. S/he will learn and apply all relevant rules, guidelines, processes, and procedures and is expected to deliver services impartially to all staff, contractors and consultants of UNFPA Uganda. The internship will have a duration of a minimum of 3 months and a maximum of 6 months.

How you can make a difference:

UNFPA is the lead United Nations agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is intended, every childbirth is safe, and every young person's potential is fulfilled. The UNFPA Strategic Plan for 2026-2029 articulates the organization’s response to a complex global environment, providing a roadmap for resilience and renewal. It is designed to accelerate the implementation of the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. This mandate is pursued through a focus on four interconnected outcomes: ending the unmet need for family planning; ending preventable maternal deaths; ending gender-based violence and harmful practices; and adapting to demographic change through evidence and rights-based policies.

In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff who embody these international norms and standards and will defend them courageously and with full conviction.

UNFPA is seeking candidates who transform, inspire, and deliver high-impact sustained results, ensuring effective external relations, communications, partnership-building and resource mobilization in a rapidly changing development and funding landscape. We need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them, and who commit to delivering excellence in programme results

Job Purpose:

The HR intern is responsible for effective delivery of HR services, and supports the management of the CO HR team. He/she analyzes and interprets the rules and regulations and provides solutions to HR issues. He/She promotes a collaborative, client-oriented approach consistent with UNFPA rules and regulations.

You would be responsible for:

• Participate in Recruitment and Placement - Records and maintains recruitment files, ensuring all necessary documentation has been prepared and filed.
• Supporting individual contract and management- Prepares manual offers and contracts for individual consultants ensuring that all the requested documents are completed and filed.
• Participate in learning & development activities – maintaining completion status reports for mandatory training and following up with staff to ensure that the documents are on file.
• Support on-boarding – Drafting offer and appointment letters, introduction of new staff to different offices, preparing the orientation package, ensuring that all staff have submitted the required on boarding documents.
• Support in drafting and responding to routine queries from staff and offices concerning a range of standard Human Resource matters, evaluations and justifications required on general HR administration or specialized tasks that are of confidential nature within assigned area of responsibility.
• Participate in reviewing and updating the list of staff and dependents.
• Contribute to proper administration of staff entitlements.
• Support staff separation processes, ensuring the checkout forms are received on time.
• Filling all HR function documents.

Qualifications and Experience:

Education:

Applicants to UNFPA’s internship programme must at the time of application meet one of the following requirements:

• Be enrolled in a first university degree programme (such as bachelor’s degree or equivalent) and have completed one full academic year;
• Be enrolled in a postgraduate degree programme (such as master’s programme or higher);
• Have recently graduated with a university degree as defined above and, if selected, must start the internship within one-year of graduation; or
• Be enrolled in a postgraduate professional trainee programme and undertake the internship as part of this programme.

Knowledge and Experience:

• Some experience in working with development agencies, including in volunteer capacity.
• Fluency in English. Knowledge of other languages is an asset.
• Strong analytical and writing skills.
• Initiative, sound judgment and demonstrated ability to work harmoniously with staff members from different national and cultural backgrounds.

Other eligibility requirements

• Demonstrate interest in the field of development;
• Demonstrate written and spoken proficiency in at least one of the working languages of the United Nations (English or French) and fluency in the official language (Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian or Spanish) of the UNFPA office; and
• Demonstrate ability to adapt to new environments and to establish and maintain good working relations with individuals of different cultural backgrounds.

Learning Elements:

Upon completion of the assignment, and depending on its duration, the Intern will gain the following knowledge assets:

• Increased understanding of the UNFPA and the Programme Division within UNFPA
• Understand the UNFPA mandate and policies, including regional set-up.
• Understand and familiarize with UNFPA Governance and Executive Board.
• Understand UNFPA programme design and delivery mechanisms.
• Understand the dynamics of operational and programme support and communications to the field, and at the level of HQ.
• Learn UN technical language, working procedures, and coordination mechanisms.
• Write and formulate substantive documents.
• Network with UN colleagues
• Work experience as a team member in a multicultural setting

Financial Aspects:

The interns will receive a stipend to help cover basic daily expenses related to the internship if not financially supported by any institution or programme, such as a university, government, foundation, or scholarship programme. In addition, applicants must have medical insurance for the internship duration. Proof of insurance will need to be submitted before the internship begins. UNFPA does not provide medical insurance for interns.

Languages:

Fluency in English; knowledge of other official UN languages.

Required Competencies:

Values:

• Exemplifying integrity,
• Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system,
• Embracing cultural diversity,
• Embracing change

Core Competencies:

• Achieving results,
• Being accountable,
• Developing and applying professional expertise/business acumen,
• Thinking analytically and strategically,
• Working in teams/managing ourselves and our relationships,

UNFPA Work Environment:

UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, diversity, integrity and healthy work-life balance.

• Participate in Recruitment and Placement - Records and maintains recruitment files, ensuring all necessary documentation has been prepared and filed.
• Supporting individual contract and management- Prepares manual offers and contracts for individual consultants ensuring that all the requested documents are completed and filed.
• Participate in learning & development activities – maintaining completion status reports for mandatory training and following up with staff to ensure that the documents are on file.
• Support on-boarding – Drafting offer and appointment letters, introduction of new staff to different offices, preparing the orientation package, ensuring that all staff have submitted the required on boarding documents.
• Support in drafting and responding to routine queries from staff and offices concerning a range of standard Human Resource matters, evaluations and justifications required on general HR administration or specialized tasks that are of confidential nature within assigned area of responsibility.
• Participate in reviewing and updating the list of staff and dependents.
• Contribute to proper administration of staff entitlements.
• Support staff separation processes, ensuring the checkout forms are received on time.
• Filling all HR function documents.

• Strong analytical and writing skills.
• Initiative, sound judgment and demonstrated ability to work harmoniously with staff members from different national and cultural backgrounds.
• Demonstrate written and spoken proficiency in at least one of the working languages of the United Nations (English or French) and fluency in the official language (Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian or Spanish) of the UNFPA office.
• Demonstrate ability to adapt to new environments and to establish and maintain good working relations with individuals of different cultural backgrounds.

• Be enrolled in a first university degree programme (such as bachelor’s degree or equivalent) and have completed one full academic year;
• Be enrolled in a postgraduate degree programme (such as master’s programme or higher);
• Have recently graduated with a university degree as defined above and, if selected, must start the internship within one-year of graduation; or
• Be enrolled in a postgraduate professional trainee programme and undertake the internship as part of this programme.
• Some experience in working with development agencies, including in volunteer capacity.
• Fluency in English. Knowledge of other languages is an asset.