Research & Partnerships Intern

Overview

Background
The mission of the Human Development Report Office (HDRO) is to advance human development. The goal is to contribute towards the expansion of people’s opportunities, choice, and freedom. HDRO works towards this goal by promoting innovative new ideas, advocating practical policy changes, and constructively challenging policies and approaches that constrain human development. HDRO works with others to achieve change through writing and research, data analysis and presentation, and outreach and advocacy work.

The 2026 Human Development Report explores how changes in our planetary systems are shaping the future of human development—and how advances in human development can, in turn, address the threats to those systems. It looks at how planetary pressures intersect with health, education, livelihoods, and well-being, and asks how societies can cultivate more constructive, mutually beneficial relationships between people and nature.

The report proposes new metrics to better capture progress in this context and identifies actionable strategies to move beyond defensive and retreating approaches towards mobilizing people's aspirations for a better future to ensure that people and planet thrive together.

The internship program is designed to develop emerging talent interested in the Human Development approach and global development challenges, building their analytical toolkit and ability to inform policy with evidence. The intern will be supervised by a senior HDRO staff and work closely with the research team on the preparation of the Human Development Reports and related products and engagements. In particular, they are expected to deliver the following tasks:

• Provide assistance for quantitative and qualitative background research for the 2026 Human Development Report, including data analysis and compilations of charts and tables.
• Undertake literature reviews.
• Write short research notes.
• Review and verification of statistical materials for the report.
• Support the team in analysis and presentation of human development statistics.
• Assist in identification of data sources and preparation of datasets.
• Assist in fact checking and proofreading.
• Support research partnership engagements, including developing concept notes and background materials as well as tracking key actions points and follow-up.
• Support the development of high-impact communications materials for the Human Development Reports and related products.
• Support and participate in other activities as requested, including providing logistical support to various events organized by HDRO such as team meetings, research seminars, consultations, workshops, and side events.

This assignment can be office-based or undertaken remotely.

Core Competencies

• Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Treats all people fairly without favoritism.

Technical And Practical Competencies

• Familiarity with human development concepts, measurements and international development issues
• Familiarity with the broad topic of the 2026 Human Development Report “An Aspirational approach to human and planetary futures”; quantitative data analysis skills, using a wide variety of statistical software or open source programming tools is desirable.
• Proven research and writing skills, with track records in producing research or communications products on development topics

Professional And Interpersonal Skills

• Strong service orientation and teamwork skills, with the ability to work in a fast-paced, multicultural environment
• Demonstrated enthusiasm and commitment to continuous learning

Education
Required Skills and Experience

• Currently enrolled in a Master’s or Ph.D. Program or those completing a Master’s or in the last year of their Bachelor’s and to recent graduates (up to one year post-graduation), with a major in demography, economics, development studies, public policy or relevant social science subjects.

Experience

• Experience working with an…