Want to fight climate change from your couch and get paid for it? The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is offering a fully remote, paid internship that could be your chance to make a real difference!
The UNDP is on the hunt for a passionate and creative Climate Communications Social Media Intern. You'll be supporting their global climate communication efforts by crafting engaging, inclusive, and impactful content for the digital world. Think of it as becoming a digital voice for the planet!
This is a full-time, six-month internship, and while the official duty station is listed as New York, United States, the best part is: it's completely home-based! This opportunity sits within the Nature, Climate and Energy Practice Area, a key department under the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support at the UNDP.
For emerging communications professionals, this internship offers an unparalleled opportunity to directly contribute to UNDP's climate action agenda and boost their global digital presence. You'll be right in the thick of it, helping to shape the conversation around climate change on a global scale. And let's be honest, a UNDP internship on your resume? That's a serious career boost.
About UNDP and the Climate Hub
UNDP is dedicated to driving sustainable development worldwide by championing inclusive, equitable, and people-centered solutions. They deeply value Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, so candidates from marginalized or underrepresented backgrounds are highly encouraged to apply. UNDP believes that diverse perspectives are crucial to solving complex global challenges like climate change.
The Climate Hub is the engine that drives UNDP's global climate communications, advocacy, and engagement. They're the team responsible for amplifying climate solutions and supporting major international events like the UN Climate Change Conferences (also known as COPs). Think of them as the UNDP's climate megaphone, and you could be helping them crank up the volume!
Internship Overview: Your Role in the Climate Conversation
As the Climate Communications Social Media Intern, you'll be working closely with seasoned Communications Specialists within the UNDP Climate Hub. Your mission? To amplify UNDP's voice and strengthen engagement across their global digital platforms.
You'll report directly to the Social Media Specialist, supporting the entire lifecycle of social media content: planning, production, publication, and evaluation. This role is a blend of creativity and analysis. You'll be developing eye-catching content while also tracking its performance and engaging with the online community. Think crafting compelling short videos, analyzing engagement data, and brainstorming innovative ways to reach new audiences.
Here's a quick rundown of the key details:
- Job Identification: 31243
- Contract Duration: 6 months
- Job Schedule: Full time
- Application Deadline: 27 January 2026
- Required Language: English
- Vacancy Type: Internship Programme
Key Duties and Responsibilities: What You'll Be Doing
Get ready to roll up your sleeves and dive into a wide range of digital communications tasks. Here's a taste of what you'll be responsible for:
- Amplifying Content: Supporting the release and promotion of climate-related content across all major social media platforms: X (Twitter), Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube. You'll be helping to get the word out to a global audience.
- Crafting Compelling Posts: Drafting, editing, and scheduling social media posts that align with UNDP's editorial guidelines and climate communications strategy. This means understanding the UNDP's tone and voice and ensuring all content is accurate and impactful.
- Visual Storytelling: Developing engaging visual content, such as graphics, carousels, and short videos, using user-friendly tools like Canva. You'll be turning complex climate issues into visually appealing and easily digestible content.
- Data-Driven Insights: Supporting social media analytics by generating monthly reports and campaign-specific insights. You'll be tracking what's working, what's not, and providing data-driven recommendations to improve future campaigns. And this is the part most people miss: understanding the why behind the numbers is crucial for effective communication!
- Global Reach: Coordinating with Language Communications Specialists to support French and Spanish social media channels. This is a great opportunity to expand your skills and contribute to a truly global effort.
- Staying Organized: Organizing and updating promotional content using Trello boards. Staying organized is key to managing multiple projects and deadlines.
- Building Relationships: Assisting with influencer, partner, and stakeholder outreach for digital campaigns. You'll be helping to build relationships with key players in the climate space and amplify their voices.
- Community Engagement: Providing community management support by monitoring comments, messages, and audience feedback. You'll be the voice of UNDP online, responding to questions and fostering a positive community.
- Tracking the Conversation: Tracking audience sentiment and identifying emerging trends in climate-related conversations. You'll be staying on top of the latest news and trends in the climate space and helping UNDP stay relevant.
- Accessibility First: Ensuring all social media content meets accessibility standards, including alt text, captioning, and readability. Making sure everyone can access and understand the information is a core principle of inclusive communication.
- COP31 Support: Supporting climate communications campaigns in the lead-up to the UN Climate Change Conference (COP31) in Türkiye. You'll be helping to raise awareness and build momentum for this critical global event.
Required Competencies: What UNDP is Looking For
UNDP is looking for candidates who are not only skilled but also passionate and committed to their mission. Here's what they're looking for in terms of core competencies:
- Self-Starter: Ability to take initiative and work with minimal supervision. You'll need to be able to manage your time effectively and take ownership of your projects.
- Organized and Efficient: Strong organizational and time management skills, with the ability to meet tight deadlines. The social media world moves fast, so you'll need to be able to keep up.
- Excellent Communicator: Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English. You'll need to be able to communicate clearly and effectively in both written and spoken form.
- Adaptable: Ability to adapt tone, style, and messaging for diverse audiences. You'll need to be able to tailor your communication style to different audiences and platforms.
- Committed to the Cause: Commitment to UNDP's mission, values, and ethical standards. You'll need to be passionate about sustainable development and committed to making a difference.
- Team Player: Strong interpersonal skills and openness to feedback and learning. You'll be working as part of a team, so you'll need to be able to collaborate effectively and be open to learning from others.
- Collaborative Spirit: Ability to work collaboratively within a multicultural, international team. UNDP is a global organization, so you'll be working with people from all over the world.
Technical and Communication Skills: What Will Make You Stand Out
The ideal candidate will also demonstrate the following technical and communication skills:
- Content Creation: Ability to create and edit written content for multimedia platforms. This includes writing engaging captions, blog posts, and articles.
- Multimedia Storytelling: Experience combining text, images, and audiovisual elements for storytelling. You'll need to be able to create compelling narratives using a variety of media.
- Visual Communication: Strong visual communication skills and ability to produce engaging digital assets. This includes creating graphics, videos, and animations.
- Social Media Expertise: Knowledge of social media strategies for development and climate advocacy. You'll need to understand how to use social media effectively to raise awareness and drive action on climate change. But here's where it gets controversial... some argue that social media activism is just "slacktivism." What do you think?
- Tech Savvy: Familiarity with Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Canva. These are the basic tools of the trade, so you'll need to be comfortable using them.
Education and Experience Requirements: Are You Eligible?
To be eligible for this internship, you must meet one of the following criteria at the time of application:
- Currently Enrolled: Currently enrolled in a graduate programme in communications, media, or social media.
- Final Year Student: Enrolled in the final academic year of a Master's-level degree or equivalent.
- Recent Graduate: Graduated within the past year and able to begin the internship within one year of graduation.
In addition to these requirements, you should also have:
- Research Skills: Sound research skills, particularly in translating climate-related terminology. You'll need to be able to research complex climate issues and translate them into clear and concise language.
- Passion for Climate: Demonstrated interest in climate change, global development, and the work of the United Nations. You'll need to be passionate about making a difference in the world.
- Writing Experience: Experience drafting or editing content for websites and social media. You'll need to be able to write engaging and informative content for a variety of audiences.
- Understanding of Digital Communications: Understanding of digital communications in international or non-profit organizations. You'll need to understand how digital communications are used to advance the goals of international organizations.
Fluency in English is a must. Proficiency in other UN languages (like French, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, or Russian) is a major plus!
Internship Conditions and Application Process: What You Need to Know
UNDP interns receive a monthly stipend to help cover their living expenses. The exact amount depends on the duty location. In this case, you'll receive $1000 monthly. Keep in mind that you'll be responsible for covering any other expenses, such as internet, food, and other utilities.
You'll also need to provide proof of health insurance for the entire duration of the internship. It's important to remember that interns are not considered UN staff and are not covered by UN Staff Regulations.
To apply, you'll need to submit one single PDF document containing:
- A Cover Letter: A cover letter outlining your motivation for applying and why you're a good fit for the role. This is your chance to shine and show UNDP why you're the perfect candidate!
- A Curriculum Vitae (CV): A CV outlining your education, experience, and skills. Make sure your CV is up-to-date and highlights your relevant qualifications.
Selected candidates will be required to submit additional documents later, including medical clearance, proof of insurance, academic documentation, and transcripts.
UNDP has a zero-tolerance policy towards harassment, exploitation, and discrimination. They also want you to know that they will never ask for any fees at any stage of the recruitment process. If you encounter any suspicious requests, please report them immediately.
Ready to Apply?
Click here to apply: APPLY NOW
Want More Opportunities?
Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Twitter, LinkedIn and Telegram for more awesome opportunities like this one!
Important Disclaimer:
Please remember that Global South Opportunities (GSO) is not the internship organization. If you have any questions, please contact the UNDP directly. Do not send your applications to GSO, as we are unable to process them. We receive a high volume of emails, so we may not be able to respond to all inquiries. Thank you for your understanding.
Now it's your turn to weigh in: Do you believe social media can be a powerful tool for climate action, or is it just a distraction from real-world solutions? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
