UNDP Hiring Now: 5 Remote Research Assistants 2026 | Fully Remote Roles & Early-Career Opportunities — The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has opened multiple remote and research-focused roles for 2026, including the CSR Research and Policy Intern and several global Research Assistant positions. These opportunities are ideal for graduate students, early-career professionals, and individuals seeking hands-on experience in sustainable development, policy analysis, SDG research, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), partnership management, and international development programming. As an independent platform, I am not affiliated with UNDP; I only advertise and share such opportunities to help applicants access accurate, high-quality career information. These roles offer remote work flexibility, career-enhancing experience, and exposure to UNDP’s global mission to reduce inequalities, strengthen governance, and accelerate the Sustainable Development Goals.
Background & Job Description
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) remains one of the world’s most influential development organizations, supporting over 170 countries and territories in governance, poverty reduction, gender equality, climate action, crisis prevention, resilience building, digital transformation, and sustainable economic development. UNDP plays a crucial role in supporting governments to implement the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), drive innovation, strengthen public institutions, and build inclusive development frameworks.
For 2026, UNDP is hiring five research-focused roles, including remote Research Assistant and Research Intern positions across various departments. These opportunities give early-career professionals hands-on experience in development research, policy writing, partnership development, program design, CSR strategy, and global development reporting.
The highlighted role — the CSR Research and Policy Intern — is one of the flagship research opportunities. The internship, based remotely or from Dehradun, India, focuses on strengthening Corporate Social Responsibility as a driver of sustainable development. This position is part of the Centre for Public Policy and Good Governance (CPPGG) and the SDG Acceleration Unit, giving interns exposure to government collaboration, private-sector partnerships, policy consultation processes, and SDG financing frameworks.
In addition to the CSR Research and Policy Intern, UNDP is hiring four additional research-oriented roles in 2026, each with responsibilities in:
- SDG impact reporting
- Policy development
- Research assistance
- Knowledge management
- Monitoring and evaluation
- Climate adaptability studies
- Private sector engagement
- Governance and institutional strengthening
These roles are particularly suitable for individuals looking to build a competitive profile for future UN staff roles, research careers, policy consulting positions, PhD programs, or long-term international development employment.
This article is intended purely for informational and promotional purposes. I am not affiliated with UNDP, and applicants must apply directly through the UNDP Careers Portal.
UNDP Hiring Now: 5 Remote Research Assistants 2026 | Fully Remote Roles & Early-Career Opportunities
Tasks
Below is an expanded, 3000-word-level task list that covers the responsibilities of the CSR Research and Policy Intern and similar research-oriented roles at UNDP.
1. Research & Analysis
Core Research Deliverables
Research Assistants and interns will:
- Conduct in-depth research on governance, CSR, sustainable business models, and development priorities.
- Analyze global CSR frameworks, national policy trends, and SDG integration practices.
- Examine peer-reviewed research, UN reports, policy briefs, and government documents.
- Track CSR investments, funding flows, corporate philanthropy trends, and ESG reporting mechanisms.
- Conduct comparative case studies examining CSR best practices from different countries.
- Monitor development indicators relevant to poverty, gender equality, rural development, climate resilience, and institutional strengthening.
Analytical Outputs
Research staff will also prepare:
- Background papers
- Literature reviews
- Thematic summaries
- Technical briefs
- Policy notes
- Evidence-based recommendations
The goal is to support policymakers, program managers, and UNDP advisors with high-quality, credible evidence.
2. Partnership Development & Stakeholder Engagement
Research Assistants will:
- Identify potential CSR partners, philanthropic organizations, private companies, and industry leaders aligned with SDG principles.
- Prepare partnership briefs and due diligence notes.
- Research alignment between corporate CSR priorities and UNDP project goals.
- Support partner outreach, communication, and meeting coordination.
- Help organize multi-stakeholder consultations on SDG financing, digital innovation, climate adaptation, and social impact programs.
This requires strong communication skills and an understanding of public-private collaboration.
3. Documentation & Knowledge Management
Interns will support knowledge management by:
- Taking detailed notes during expert consultations and stakeholder workshops.
- Organizing meeting minutes, reports, and project documentation in online knowledge platforms.
- Preparing background summaries for technical sessions, review meetings, and internal discussions.
- Updating knowledge repositories with relevant documents, datasets, and insights.
- Supporting the development of newsletters, communication updates, and knowledge products.
4. Event Support & Coordination
UNDP frequently organizes:
- Policy consultations
- Expert roundtables
- Workshops
- Public-private dialogues
- Technical training sessions
- SDG innovation challenges
Intern responsibilities include:
- Logistics coordination for online and in-person events
- Preparing speaker profiles and briefing notes
- Assisting with participant communication
- Supporting technical documentation and follow-ups
- Drafting post-event summaries for internal distribution
Event management offers valuable experience in facilitation and stakeholder engagement.
5. SDG Acceleration Support
The CSR Research and Policy Intern supports the SDG Acceleration Unit by:
- Analyzing national development priorities and their alignment with the SDGs.
- Examining bottlenecks in SDG progress and suggesting actionable strategies.
- Supporting project designs for SDG financing, climate resilience, governance reforms, and livelihood promotion.
- Developing knowledge products that highlight innovative SDG solutions.
Skills gained here include development planning, SDG monitoring, data interpretation, and innovative financing practices.
6. Policy Development Assistance
Research Assistants will:
- Support drafting of sectoral policy recommendations.
- Contribute to policy dialogues with state departments and ministries.
- Prepare evidence-based policy inputs for governance reforms.
- Assist in drafting technical guidance documents for CSR implementation.
This work develops policy writing skills essential for careers in government, the UN, NGOs, and think tanks.
7. Monitoring & Reporting
Interns help with project monitoring tasks such as:
- Updating project dashboards
- Synthesizing progress against key performance indicators
- Assisting in preparing donor reports
- Conducting basic data analysis
- Identifying gaps in project implementation
These skills are essential for future roles in project management, M&E, and results-based reporting.
8. Administrative Support
Although research is central, interns also assist with:
- Managing calendars and scheduling meetings
- Documenting correspondence
- Drafting official communication
- Assisting with procurement and documentation where needed
This ensures smooth team operations.
Qualifications (Education & Certification)
Education Requirements
Applicants must generally have:
- Enrollment in or recent graduation from a degree in:
- Public Policy
- Development Studies
- Economics
- International Relations
- Management
- Environmental Science
- Business Administration
- Data Science
- Social Sciences
- Political Science
- Sustainability Studies
Additional training in CSR, ESG, SDG frameworks, or sustainability reporting is a strong advantage.
Experience Requirements
While these roles target early-career professionals, competitive applicants often show:
- Prior research experience (academic or professional)
- Experience with data analysis or policy writing
- Understanding of CSR and SDG concepts
- Ability to synthesize complex information
- Familiarity with global development frameworks
- Experience with event coordination or stakeholder engagement
- Excellent writing and analytical skills
Skills & Competencies
Strong candidates demonstrate:
- Excellent written and spoken English
- Research skills and critical thinking
- Ability to work independently in a remote setting
- Strong organizational and multitasking abilities
- Attention to detail and commitment to quality
- Professional ethics, transparency, and accountability
- Curiosity and willingness to learn
- Ability to work in multicultural teams
Additional Information
Contract Type & Duration
- Duration: 3 months, with possibility of extension
- Contract Type: UNDP Internship Contract (Unpaid or stipend depending on duty station policies)
- Work Arrangement: Fully Remote
Application Deadline
- CSR Research and Policy Intern: 27 November 2025
- Additional research roles: Deadlines vary depending on posting
Application Method
Candidates must apply through the UNDP Careers Portal:
- Create a UNDP Jobs account
- Upload CV and cover letter
- Complete applicant questionnaire
- Submit before the deadline
Eligibility Requirements
- Must meet UNDP internship academic criteria
- Must not be a child or sibling of a UNDP staff member
- Must have medical insurance coverage
- Remote interns must have a reliable internet connection
Why Apply for UNDP Research Roles?
These positions provide:
- Real UN work experience
- Exposure to UN policy planning and SDG acceleration
- Hands-on research and policy development experience
- Networking with UN staff, government officials, academics, and private sector leaders
- A competitive advantage for future UN staff roles, consultancies, fellowships, or master’s/PhD programs
Important Notes
- UNDP does NOT charge any application fees
- Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted
- Stipends depend on duty station policies
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