United Nations Development Programme

Established in 1965, UNDPUnited Nations Development Programme focuses on global development to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It supports countries with solutions in three main areas:

• sustainable development
• democratic governance and peacebuilding
• climate and disaster resilience

Switzerland and UNDP

Switzerland is a major donor to UNDP. Switzerland's current focus is on UNDP’s dialogue in fragile and conflict-affected states and increasing collaboration in areas such as democratic governance.
> More about the collaboration of Switzerland and UNDP

As of December 2016, UNDP employed 11 Swiss professionals. With the objective to increase this number, SDCSwiss Agency for Development and Cooperation has mandated cinfo to support the careers of Swiss nationals with UNDP by providing information and advice, facilitating networking opportunities and supporting Swiss nationals throughout the various stages of a selection process.
> More about the services for Swiss nationals

Career opportunities

UNDP regularly seeks professionals to work in the areas of:

• governance and peacebuilding
• sustainable development and poverty reduction
• resilience and climate change
• crisis response
• gender equality
• HIV/AIDS
• health and development
• partnership and advocacy
• management
• communication
• finance

For experienced professionals

Professionals with at least 5 years of relevant experience are regularly sought for mid-career (P-3 and P-4) to senior-level (P-5, D-1 and D-2) positions, consultancies, or for UNVUN Volunteers assignments.

• Explore current staff vacancies on UNDP's jobs database.
• If you are specialised in a technical area, look out and apply for consultancies.  Although they are temporary and non-staff functions, consultancies may lead to a staff position as incumbents are eligible to apply for externally advertised UNDP staff positions during and after their consultancy assignment. 
• Register on the UNV database to become available for UN Volunteer specialist assignments. These significantly underrated positions are the starting point for many professional careers with the UN. 

> Learn more about the various types of positions at the UN
> Use UNDP’s salary estimation tool to calculate the estimated salaries and benefits of staff members.

For junior professionals

Professionals with few years of relevant experience can start a career with UN WomenUnited Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women or another UN organisation as a Junior Professional Officer (JPOJunior Professional Officer ) if their government finances such positions.

Learn more about:

• JPO positions with UNDP (for Swiss nationals)
• JPO positions with other multilateral organisations (for Swiss nationals)
• JPO positions with UNDP (for nationals of other countries)

UNDP encourages junior professionals to join as consultants too.

For students and recent graduates

The UN Youth Volunteers Programme regularly offers young graduates the opportunity to gain direct exposure to UNDP's work in the field. Some UNYVUN Youth Volunteers positions are only open to nationals of certain countries or graduates of certain universities. If you are Swiss, learn more about the UNYV Programme for Swiss nationals.

Graduate-level students or recent graduates can also complement their development-oriented studies with practical experience with UNDP through an internship.

Location

UNDP operates in 170 countries worldwide. As of December 2016, UNDP had around 2,500 staff members, with a majority based in the field.

Due to recent decentralisation efforts, most vacancies are located in field offices.