Looking for an internship that goes beyond making coffee and filing documents?
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is offering a six-month internship in Nairobi focused on Civil Society and Youth Engagement, and this one puts you right in the middle of environmental policy, international meetings and youth participation.
The internship is based within UNEP’s Civil Society Unit in the Governance Affairs Office, where the intern will help connect UNEP with civil society groups, youth and other stakeholders involved in environmental processes.
Opportunity at a Glance
Organisation: United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
Position: Intern – Civil Society and Youth Engagement Programme Support
Location: Nairobi, Kenya
Duration: 6 months
Level: I-1 Internship
Job ID: 283729
Deadline: 11 September 2026
The internship is expected to begin around September or October 2026.
What Would You Actually Be Doing?
This isn’t an internship where your entire day disappears into spreadsheets.
You’ll support UNEP with activities connected to youth participation, stakeholder engagement and environmental governance.
Some of the work includes:
- Helping organise meetings, workshops, webinars and conferences
- Supporting youth participation in environmental processes
- Assisting with UNEA-related events and consultations
- Preparing meeting agendas, minutes and written summaries
- Providing logistical and technical support during meetings
- Supporting engagement with NGOs and other stakeholders
- Helping with follow-up activities involving civil society and youth groups
You may also get involved in activities connected to the Youth Environment Assembly and preparations leading towards UNEA-8.
Basically, if you enjoy environmental issues but also like people, communication, events and international affairs, this is an interesting combination.
Who Can Apply?
UNEP is looking for candidates with a first-level university degree, or those who are in the final year of a bachelor’s programme or enrolled in a graduate programme.
Relevant fields include:
- Environmental studies
- International relations
- Social or political sciences
- Sustainable development
- Law
- Political science
- Cultural and social studies
- Related fields
And here’s something worth highlighting: previous professional work experience is not required for this UN internship programme.
You’ll also need good knowledge of common software, particularly Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and Teams.
Being able to write news articles or social media posts is considered desirable, while experience designing surveys or polls can also be useful.
Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language is an advantage.
Why This One Stands Out
There are plenty of environmental internships out there.
What makes this one different is the exposure.
You’re not only dealing with environmental topics. You’re getting an opportunity to see how governments, NGOs, youth groups and other stakeholders participate in international environmental processes.
For someone hoping to build a career in environmental policy, sustainability, international development, youth engagement or the UN system, that combination could be valuable.
And yes, having UNEP on your CV definitely doesn’t hurt.
⚠️ One Important Thing Before You Apply
This is an unpaid internship.
UNEP states that interns are not financially remunerated, while travel, visa, accommodation and living expenses are the responsibility of the intern or their sponsoring institution. Candidates who are not citizens or permanent residents of Kenya may also need the appropriate visa or work authorisation.
So this is one to consider carefully if relocating to Nairobi would be necessary.
Also, don’t pay anyone claiming they can “secure” the internship for you. UNEP explicitly states that it does not charge fees at any stage of recruitment.
You may also be interested in:
🚀 How to Apply
Applications should be submitted through the official UNEP/United Nations recruitment system before the 11 September 2026 deadline.
TheOpHub Tip
Don’t just submit a generic CV and hope for the best.
For this particular internship, highlight anything you’ve done involving environmental projects, youth engagement, research, writing, social media, events, presentations, stakeholder communication or community work.
You don’t need ten years of experience. You need to show that what you’ve studied and what you’ve done so far actually connects to the work.
Final Word
If you’re interested in the environment but don’t want your career to stay confined to technical environmental work, this UNEP internship is worth a serious look.
It’s six months, it’s in Nairobi, and the work sits at the intersection of environment, youth and international engagement.
Just remember: unpaid doesn’t mean cost-free, so make sure the practical side works for you before applying.
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