Home-Based Internship at UNDP Brazil: Communications & Social Media | 6-Month Remote Opportunity with Stipend. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Brazil offers an exceptional home-based internship for students and recent graduates in communications, journalism, public relations, or design fields. This comprehensive 6-month remote position provides hands-on experience supporting UNDP’s Communications Unit through social media management, multimedia content creation, translation services, and digital strategy implementation. Operating under UNDP’s core principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion, this internship requires native Portuguese fluency and advanced English proficiency, with Spanish language skills as a valuable asset. While unpaid, the position offers a stipend to cover basic expenses and represents a unique opportunity to gain professional experience with a leading international development organization. Applications are strongly encouraged from individuals belonging to marginalized or excluded populations, reflecting UNDP’s commitment to inclusive representation. Learn how to apply for this transformative internship experience that combines professional development with meaningful contribution to global sustainable development initiatives.
Comprehensive Background & Job Description
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) stands as the United Nations’ primary global development network, actively advocating for transformative change and connecting countries to essential knowledge, experience, and resources to help build resilient nations and improve living conditions worldwide. Operating in approximately 170 countries and territories, UNDP focuses on eradicating poverty while simultaneously addressing inequality and exclusion while protecting the planet. By helping countries develop strong policies, leadership skills, partnership abilities, institutional capabilities, and build resilience, UNDP aims to sustain development results that ultimately contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
UNDP Brazil represents one of the organization’s most dynamic country offices, working comprehensively on Brazil’s most pressing development challenges. The office implements programs and projects across multiple focus areas including sustainable economic development, democratic governance, climate change and disaster risk reduction, social protection, and crisis response. Brazil’s unique position as both an emerging economic power and a country facing significant social inequalities makes it a critical testing ground for innovative development solutions that balance economic growth with social inclusion and environmental sustainability.
This detailed advertisement concerns a home-based internship opportunity with UNDP Brazil’s Strategic Communications Unit. This remote position has been specifically designed to accommodate graduate-level students and recent graduates seeking substantial practical experience within the context of multilateral technical cooperation and international development. The internship program forms an integral component of UNDP’s broader commitment to capacity development, knowledge sharing, and creating pathways for young professionals to engage with global development challenges.
The selected intern will play a supportive but vital role in implementing UNDP Brazil’s comprehensive communications strategy, contributing to various tasks including social media management, digital content creation, media monitoring, translation services, and event coverage. This position operates within UNDP’s firm commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, with particular encouragement for applications from individuals belonging to marginalized or excluded populations, including but not limited to indigenous communities, Afro-Brazilians, LGBTQI+ individuals, people with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups.
The Communications Unit at UNDP Brazil serves as the organization’s voice and face to the public, responsible for crafting compelling narratives about UNDP’s work, managing media relations, developing strategic communication products, and maintaining the organization’s digital presence. By joining this team, the intern will gain exposure to how international organizations communicate their mission, values, and results to diverse audiences including government partners, donor organizations, civil society groups, and the general public.
This internship opportunity emerges at a particularly crucial moment in Brazil’s development trajectory, as the country addresses multiple challenges including economic recovery post-pandemic, environmental conservation efforts in the Amazon, social inclusion initiatives, and climate change adaptation. The communications work undertaken by the intern will directly contribute to raising awareness about these critical issues and UNDP’s response to them.
The home-based nature of this internship reflects UNDP’s adaptive approach to workplace arrangements, particularly following the global shift toward remote work precipitated by the COVID-19 pandemic. This flexibility allows UNDP to tap into talent pools regardless of geographical constraints while providing opportunities to individuals who might otherwise face barriers to accessing traditional internship programs due to location, mobility issues, or other constraints.
It is essential to understand that this internship is designed primarily as a learning and development opportunity rather than a pathway to employment within UNDP. The organization makes explicit that there should be no expectation of employment following the completion of the internship period. This clarity ensures transparent relationships and manages expectations from the outset of the engagement.
Home-Based Internship at UNDP Brazil: Communications & Social Media | 6-Month Remote Opportunity with Stipend.
Detailed Tasks and Responsibilities
The intern will undertake a diverse range of responsibilities under the guidance and supervision of the Communications Coordinator. These tasks are designed to provide comprehensive exposure to the workings of a communications unit within a major international organization while ensuring the intern contributes meaningfully to UNDP Brazil’s operational objectives:
Content Development and Management: The intern will assist in researching, writing, editing, and proofreading various communication materials including press releases, feature stories, web articles, social media posts, newsletters, and reports. This involves adapting technical programmatic information into accessible content suitable for different target audiences while maintaining accuracy and alignment with UNDP’s messaging guidelines. The intern will develop skills in tailoring content for various platforms and audiences, from formal reports for government partners to engaging social media content for public consumption.
Translation and Language Services: Utilizing their language capabilities, the intern will provide translation services between Portuguese, English, and Spanish for various communication products including documents, presentations, news articles, press releases, and social media content. This requires not only linguistic proficiency but also cultural sensitivity and the ability to maintain the original meaning and tone while adapting content for different linguistic contexts. The translation work will support UNDP Brazil’s engagement with international audiences and partners.
Digital Media and Website Management: The intern will support the maintenance and updating of UNDP Brazil’s website and other digital platforms, helping to ensure content remains current, accurate, and engaging. This includes uploading new content, formatting materials according to web standards, optimizing content for search engines, and assisting with basic troubleshooting. The intern will also contribute to analyzing website metrics and user engagement data to inform content strategy decisions.
Social Media Strategy and Implementation: A significant component of the role involves supporting the development and implementation of UNDP Brazil’s social media strategy. This includes helping to create and schedule content across various platforms (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, etc.), monitoring social media conversations relevant to UNDP’s work, engaging with followers, and analyzing performance metrics to assess the effectiveness of different approaches and content types.
Multimedia Production: The intern will assist in creating visual content including graphics, infographics, photographs, and short videos that effectively communicate UNDP’s work and impact. For those with relevant skills, this may involve using Adobe Creative Suite applications (particularly InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, and Premiere) to produce professional-quality materials. Even without advanced technical skills, the intern can contribute ideas and basic support for multimedia projects.
Media Monitoring and Analysis: The intern will be responsible for preparing daily news clippings covering stories relevant to UNDP’s mandate and activities in Brazil. This involves monitoring Brazilian and international media, identifying relevant coverage, summarizing key developments, and distributing these clippings to relevant staff members. This service helps keep the UNDP Brazil team informed about the media landscape and public discourse around their areas of work.
Event Support: The intern will provide support for virtual and in-person events organized or supported by UNDP Brazil, which may include helping with planning, preparing promotional materials, managing registration processes, providing technical support for virtual events, covering events through social media, photography, or written summaries, and assisting with post-event evaluation and reporting.
Research and Information Gathering: The intern will conduct research on themes related to UNDP’s mandate and specific projects in Brazil, helping to gather information, data, and examples that can inform communication strategies and products. This might involve researching specific development topics, identifying relevant statistics, finding compelling human interest stories, or mapping key stakeholders and influencers.
Administrative Support: The intern will assist with various administrative tasks including maintaining contact databases and mailing lists, handling telephone inquiries, responding to information requests from the public and partners, and providing general support to the communications team as needed. These tasks, while seemingly routine, provide important insight into the operational aspects of an international organization.
Learning and Development: Beyond specific tasks, the intern is expected to proactively seek learning opportunities throughout the internship, whether through formal training sessions, learning from colleagues, independent study, or participating in meetings and events. The intern should demonstrate initiative in identifying areas for skill development and seeking out relevant experiences.
Comprehensive Qualifications
Educational Requirements and Certification
Candidates must meet specific educational criteria to be eligible for this internship opportunity. The position requires current enrollment in or recent completion (within one year) of a graduate program in a relevant field of study. Acceptable fields include Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, Advertising, Marketing, Design, International Relations, Development Studies, or closely related disciplines. The educational requirement ensures that candidates possess the theoretical foundation necessary to understand and contribute to UNDP’s communications work.
For candidates enrolled in undergraduate programs, they must be in their final academic year of a first university degree program (minimum bachelor’s level or equivalent). This flexibility acknowledges that advanced undergraduate students may possess the maturity and skills necessary to benefit from and contribute to the internship experience.
While not mandatory, additional certifications in relevant areas would strengthen an application. These might include certifications in digital marketing, social media management, graphic design software (particularly Adobe Creative Suite), translation services, project management, or specific development-related topics. Any certification that demonstrates specialized skills relevant to communications work in a development context would be viewed favorably.
Academic performance, while not the sole determining factor, provides indication of a candidate’s ability to engage with complex material and deliver quality work. Candidates should be prepared to demonstrate their academic standing if requested, though UNDP takes a holistic approach to candidate assessment that considers multiple factors beyond grades alone.
Professional and Practical Experience
While previous professional experience is not strictly required for an internship position, certain types of experience will strengthen an application and better prepare a candidate to maximize the learning opportunity:
Communications Experience: Any previous experience in communications roles, whether through previous employment, volunteer positions, or academic projects, is highly valuable. This might include experience writing for publications, managing social media accounts, creating multimedia content, or working with media outlets.
Development Sector Exposure: Familiarity with the development sector, whether through previous work, academic study, or volunteer activities, helps candidates understand the context in which UNDP operates. Experience with NGOs, community organizations, or other development actors demonstrates interest and commitment to the sector.
Technical Skills: Practical experience with specific tools and platforms is advantageous. This includes experience with content management systems (particularly for websites), social media management tools, email marketing platforms, graphic design software, video editing tools, and data analysis applications. Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite applications (InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere) is specifically mentioned as desirable in the job description.
Research Experience: Experience conducting research, whether academic or professional, develops skills in information gathering, analysis, and synthesis that are valuable in a communications role. This is particularly relevant for the media monitoring and research components of the internship.
International Experience: Any international experience, whether through study abroad programs, work in multicultural environments, or travel, helps develop the cross-cultural sensitivity needed to work in an international organization like UNDP.
Language Practice: Beyond meeting the minimum language requirements, practical experience using languages in professional or academic settings demonstrates real-world proficiency. This might include translation work, studying in a second language, or living in a country where another language is spoken.
Event Management: Experience helping to organize events, whether academic, professional, or community-based, develops organizational and coordination skills relevant to the event support aspects of the internship.
It’s important to note that UNDP recognizes diverse forms of experience, including unpaid work, volunteer positions, and academic projects. Candidates should think broadly about how their background has prepared them for this opportunity and be able to articulate the transferable skills they’ve developed through various experiences.
Comprehensive Additional Information
Logistical Details and Practical Considerations
Duration and Time Commitment: This is a 6-month internship position operating on a full-time basis. The exact start date is flexible but would typically align with academic calendars or be determined based on operational needs. While full-time commitment is expected, UNDP may demonstrate some flexibility regarding specific working hours, particularly to accommodate different time zones or limited academic commitments. However, the intern would need to maintain sufficient overlap with the core working hours of the UNDP Brazil office to enable effective collaboration and supervision.
Remote Work Arrangements: As a home-based internship, the selected candidate will work remotely rather than from UNDP’s physical offices. This arrangement requires the intern to have access to reliable internet connectivity, a suitable workspace, and the necessary technology (computer, headset, etc.) to perform their duties effectively. UNDP will provide access to necessary software and digital platforms but does not typically provide hardware for internship positions.
Stipend and Financial Considerations: While this is an unpaid internship, UNDP provides a stipend intended to help cover basic daily expenses related to the internship, such as meals and transportation costs that might be incurred even while working remotely. The exact amount of the stipend may vary based on the duty station and individual circumstances. It’s important to note that the stipend is not intended to represent a salary or cover all living expenses. Candidates should carefully consider their financial situation and ensure they have sufficient resources to support themselves during the internship period.
Insurance Requirements: Interns are responsible for securing adequate medical insurance for the duration of their internship with UNDP. This insurance must provide coverage in Brazil (or the intern’s country of residence) and include provisions for medical evacuation and repatriation of remains if the intern is neither a national nor resident of the duty station. Proof of valid medical insurance must be provided before the internship can commence. UNDP does not reimburse the cost of this insurance.
Visa and Work Authorization: For international candidates (those not residing in Brazil), it is essential to verify visa requirements and work authorization regulations related to undertaking an internship while located in a particular country. While the remote nature of the work may provide some flexibility, interns remain responsible for ensuring they comply with all relevant immigration and labor regulations in their country of residence.
Equipment and Software: The intern will need access to a computer with sufficient capabilities to handle communications work, including video conferencing, graphic design software (if applicable), and standard office applications. UNDP will provide access to necessary specialized software and platforms. The intern may be required to install endpoint security software on their device to protect UNDP’s digital assets.
Performance Management: While not formal employees, interns will receive regular feedback and guidance from their supervisor. This typically includes an initial orientation, regular check-in meetings, and a final evaluation at the conclusion of the internship. The intern should proactively seek feedback and guidance to maximize their learning experience.
Networking Opportunities: Despite the remote nature of the position, UNDP will make efforts to integrate the intern into the team and provide opportunities for virtual networking with colleagues across the organization. The intern should also take initiative in building professional relationships and learning from different team members.
Confidentiality and Conduct: Interns are expected to maintain the confidentiality of all information they encounter during their internship and to adhere to the highest standards of professional conduct. This includes respecting copyright and intellectual property rights, maintaining appropriate boundaries in professional relationships, and representing UNDP appropriately in all interactions.
Termination Conditions: Either UNDP or the intern may terminate the internship arrangement with two weeks’ notice. This allows for flexibility if the arrangement proves unsatisfactory for either party or if the intern’s circumstances change unexpectedly.
Application Process and Selection Timeline
The application process typically involves submitting materials through UNDP’s online portal, including a resume/CV, cover letter, and possibly writing samples or a portfolio for communications positions. The selection process may include multiple stages such as:
- Initial screening of applications against minimum requirements
- Review of qualified candidates by the hiring team
- Interviews (typically conducted virtually)
- Reference checks
- Final selection and offer
The entire process may take several weeks from application deadline to final decision. Candidates should ensure they provide complete and accurate information in their application and be prepared to respond promptly if contacted for further steps.
The selection committee will be looking for candidates who not only meet the technical qualifications but also demonstrate a genuine interest in UNDP’s mission, strong communication skills, cultural sensitivity, and the ability to work effectively in a diverse team environment. Applications from qualified individuals belonging to marginalized or excluded populations are particularly encouraged.
Learning and Development Value
While the internship does not lead directly to employment, it offers significant value in terms of professional development and career preparation:
Skill Development: The internship provides opportunities to develop and practice a wide range of hard and soft skills including written and verbal communication, digital literacy, project management, cross-cultural collaboration, and strategic thinking.
Professional Network: Through the internship, the individual will have the opportunity to connect with professionals in the international development sector, potentially building relationships that could lead to future opportunities.
Practical Experience: The hands-on experience gained through the internship helps bridge the gap between academic learning and professional practice, making the individual more competitive for future positions.
Organizational Understanding: Exposure to UNDP’s operations provides valuable insight into how large international organizations function, which can inform future career decisions and applications.
Career Exploration: For those considering a career in international development or communications, the internship offers a low-risk way to test interest and aptitude for this type of work.
Credibility Enhancement: Having UNDP on one’s resume signals to future employers that the individual has met the organization’s standards and gained experience in a professional, multicultural environment.
Candidates should approach the internship with clear learning objectives and proactively seek experiences that will help them develop specific skills and knowledge relevant to their career aspirations.
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