Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Closing Date: August 21/2025, 05:59 AM
Job Description
The Africa Union Agenda 2063 envisions an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven and managed by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in the international arena. A prosperous and peaceful Africa is indispensable for its peoples. Agenda 2063 outlines Africa’s strategic aspirations for the 21st century.
Achieving peace and prosperity ranks high among them. African countries have made some progress in pursuing those aspirations in the context of the first Ten-Year Implementation Plan 2014-2023. However, major challenges remain, highlighting the gap between the normative aspirations and implementation of regional commitments. Closing that gap requires effective governance and enhanced peacebuilding efforts in the region.
The Governance and Peacebuilding programme seeks to ensure that ‘citizens’ expectations for voice, development, the rule of law and accountability are met by stronger systems of democratic governance’. Specifically, the programme will be addressing key issues of increasing space for public participation, increasing capacity for public and civil society engagement, deepening legitimacy and interaction between state and the society and strengthening economic governance. Others include improving and coordinating regional peace architecture through policies and strategies and strengthening regional preparedness to prevent disasters and managing risks.
The Governance and Peacebuilding team is currently completing a 4-year Renewed Governance and Peacebuilding Framework for Africa with the overall goal to achieve transformative change characterized by people-centered, human rights based inclusive and participatory governance and peacebuilding systems and strengthened trust and social contract between state and citizens that will contribute to change Africa’s narrative to one of promise, and to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SGDs) and Agenda 2063. The Framework is implemented through an integrated systems approach: prevention and early action; investing in Africa’s youth; economic governance; democratic governance and civic participation; promoting the rule of law, justice and human rights; and local governance and delivery of public services.
Objective
The objective of the internship is to provide graduate-level students with the opportunity to gain direct exposure to UNDP’s regional work in governance, rule of law, and democratic institutions within the Regional Service Centre for Africa (RSCA) in Addis Ababa. The internship aims to deepen interns’ understanding of democratic governance, access to justice, human rights, and electoral support programming in Africa.
Through this experience, interns will learn from experienced development practitioners, apply governance and legal reform theory in practice, strengthen research and analytical writing skills, contribute to knowledge products, and support the planning and delivery of regional initiatives. The internship offers a dynamic opportunity to understand the UNDP mandate and values, contribute to people-centered and rights-based governance, and engage in policy and programming that strengthens democratic resilience and inclusive institutions across the continent.
Duties and Responsibilities
Intern Key Responsibilities:
Under the supervision of the Regional Governance and Rule of Law Advisor, the intern will support the implementation of regional governance and justice initiatives through the following tasks:
Research and Technical Analysis
- Conduct policy-oriented research on access to justice, rule of law, electoral processes, and governance reforms.
- Draft background briefs, summaries, and analysis of national and regional justice systems.
- Support data collection and literature reviews on topics such as judicial independence, electoral integrity, legal aid, and civic engagement.
Knowledge Generation and Communications
- Assist in drafting concept notes, reports, toolkits, and knowledge briefs related to governance, elections, and rule of law.
- Support documentation of good practices and lessons learned from African countries.
- Prepare summaries from key events, expert roundtables, or missions.
- Contribute to newsletters, blogs, and social media content highlighting governance initiatives.
Coordination and Stakeholder Support
- Assist in organizing technical workshops, regional consultations, and governance dialogues.
- Liaise with UNDP Country Offices and partners to collect updates and support knowledge exchange.
- Monitor ongoing regional initiatives, AU treaties, or election observation missions relevant to rule of law and governance.
Core Competencies:
- Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards.
- Demonstrates openness to change and ability to receive/integrate feedback.
- Works collaboratively with team members by sharing information openly and displaying cultural awareness and sensitivity.
- Positive and results-oriented attitude.
Technical Competencies
- Good analytical skills in gathering and consolidating data and research for practical implementation.
- Outgoing and initiative-taking person with a goal-oriented mindset.
- Communicates effectively when working in teams and independently.
- Good at organizing and structuring various tasks and responsibilities.
- Excellent computer skill (Microsoft Office and software applications).
Other competencies and attitudes
- Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality, and age sensitivity and adaptability.
- Excellent interactive and interpersonal skills, and the ability to work in a multicultural environment and beliefs/backgrounds.
- Respond positively to feedback and differing points of view.
- Enrolled in a postgraduate degree programme (such as a master’s programme, or higher) OR recently graduated with a first university degree (bachelor’s or equivalent), in Governance, Peace and Security, Development Studies, Political Science, Sociology, Public Policy, Law, Human Rights, or related Social Science discipline is required and, if selected, must start the internship within one-year of graduation;
- No professional work experience is required for applicants to the UNDP Internship Programme. However, applicants should have a field of study closely related to the type of internship they are applying for.
- Availability to work consecutively for a period of 6 months.
- Strong interest in local and international governance, peacebuilding, and rule of law related issues.
- Proficiency in computer skills, including Microsoft Office and other relevant software applications.
- Knowledge and experience in communications, public relations, or a related role is advantageous.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to adapt messages for different audiences.
- Strong copywriting, editing, and proofreading abilities, with keen attention to detail.
- Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment, manage multiple priorities, and meet deadlines.
- Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to collaborate with diverse teams and stakeholders.
- Knowledge of the organization’s sector or field of work would be desirable.
Language:
- Fluency in oral and written English is required. Knowledge of French is desirable.
Application:
The following documents shall be required from the applicants:
- Updated CV and cover letter (in English)
