The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) is recruiting an Administrative Support Intern for its Country Office in Philipsburg, Sint Maarten, working on the Detention Sector Reform Program (DSRP). The internship runs from 4 January to 31 March 2027 and is unpaid. Applications close on 19 November 2026. At Youth Works Hub, we read the full job opening and set out every duty, requirement and condition below.
Inside the UNODC Country Office in Sint Maarten
The internship is located in the Country Office of UNODC in Philipsburg, Sint Maarten. The Country Office supports the Government of Sint Maarten, in particular the Ministry of Justice, in the implementation of the Detention Sector Reform Program (DSRP).
What the Detention Sector Reform Program Covers
Within the DSRP, UNODC supports work to strengthen:
🏛️ Prison management
👥 Staff capacity
🔄 Rehabilitation and reintegration
⚙️ Operational systems
🧭 Preparedness for the transition to the new Point Blanche Prison
Day-to-Day Programme and Administrative Work
The first duty is to support the day-to-day programme and administrative work of the Country Office, with particular focus on the DSRP and related prison and criminal justice reform activities. This includes maintaining:
📅 Workplans and calendars
✅ Action trackers
📁 Project files
🗒️ Follow-up records
Desk Research
The intern will conduct basic desk research and compile information on prison management, rehabilitation and reintegration, criminal justice and other topics as required, under the guidance of professional staff.
Preparing Missions, Site Visits, Consultations and Meetings
The intern will assist in the preparation of technical missions, site visits, consultations and meetings by preparing:
📌 Agendas
📚 Briefing materials
🕒 Schedules
📋 Participant lists
📝 Meeting notes and action points
Workshops, Trainings and Logistics
The intern will support the planning and logistical organization of workshops, trainings and other activities, including:
💌 Invitations
🏢 Venue arrangements
📚 Materials
🍽️ Catering
📋 Attendance records
💬 Participant feedback
Project Outputs and Transition Planning
The intern will support the preparation, review and validation of project outputs, including operational, organizational and transition-planning materials. This ties directly to the DSRP's preparation for the move to the new Point Blanche Prison.
Collecting Inputs and Drafting Reports
The intern will assist with collecting inputs from colleagues and partners and drafting first versions of activity summaries and routine narrative reports, under supervision.
Communications, Visibility and Coordination
The intern will assist in the preparation of communications and visibility products, presentations, briefing notes and summaries. The intern will also:
🗣️ Attend meetings and take accurate notes
✉️ Draft routine correspondence and follow-up messages
🤝 Support coordination with counterparts, partners and other relevant stakeholders
Other Tasks and Confidentiality
The intern will perform other internship-appropriate tasks as assigned, consistent with the intern's level of training and supervision and with applicable confidentiality, data-protection and security requirements. The job opening states that the listed duties may include, but are not limited to these tasks.
Academic Requirements of the United Nations Internship Programme
Applicants must meet one of the following requirements:
🎓 (a) Be enrolled in, or have completed, a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher)
📖 (b) Be enrolled in, or have completed, the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum bachelor's level or equivalent)
Official written proof from the university supporting one of these possibilities must be attached to the Inspira application.
The job opening restates this in a second place: applicants must be a student in the final year of the first university degree (bachelor or equivalent), a Master's or Ph.D. programme or equivalent, or have completed a Bachelor's, Master's or Ph.D. programme.
A Field of Study Related to the Internship
Applicants to the UN Internship Programme are not required to have professional work experience. However, a field of study that is closely related to the type of internship you are applying for is required. If you are comparing this placement with other routes into the field, our guide to fellowship vs internship vs traineeship explains how the formats differ.
Proving Your Academic Status
Applicants are asked whether they meet any of the criteria above. If yes, you must indicate which one and attach proof to the application. You will also have to provide an official certificate at a later stage.
Skills and Values the Office Expects
The job opening lists the following:
🖥️ Computer literacy in standard software applications
🇺🇳 A demonstrated keen interest in the work of the United Nations and a personal commitment to the ideals of the Charter
🌐 A demonstrated ability to interact with individuals of different cultural backgrounds and beliefs, including a willingness to understand and be tolerant of differing opinions and views
Language Requirements
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations. For this internship, fluency in spoken and written English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language or Dutch is an advantage.
Costs: Interns Are Not Paid by the United Nations
The job opening states that the internship is unpaid. Interns are not financially remunerated by the United Nations. Costs and arrangements for travel, visas, accommodation and living expenses are the responsibility of interns or their sponsoring institutions. If you are weighing unpaid and funded options, see how paid internships abroad work for students and recent graduates.
Visa and Work Authorization
Interns who are not citizens or permanent residents of the country where the internship is undertaken may be required to obtain the appropriate visa and work or employment authorization. Successful candidates should discuss their specific visa requirements before accepting the internship offer.
No Fee at Any Stage of Recruitment
The United Nations carries a standard warning in capital letters: it does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process, whether at application, interview meeting, processing or training. It also does not concern itself with information on applicants' bank accounts. You can browse more internship opportunities on Youth Works Hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Administrative Support Intern do at the UNODC Country Office?
The intern supports the day-to-day programme and administrative work of the Country Office, maintaining workplans, calendars, action trackers and project files, doing basic desk research, preparing missions, site visits and meetings, supporting workshop logistics, drafting activity summaries and routine reports, and assisting with communications products and correspondence.
Where is this UNODC internship based?
The work location is Philipsburg, Sint Maarten, in the UNODC Country Office that supports the Government of Sint Maarten and its Ministry of Justice.
What is the Detention Sector Reform Program?
It is the programme through which UNODC supports Sint Maarten in strengthening prison management, staff capacity, rehabilitation and reintegration, and operational systems, and in preparing for the transition to the new Point Blanche Prison.
How long is the internship?
The internship runs from 4 January to 31 March 2027.
Is the UNODC internship paid?
No. The internship is unpaid, and costs for travel, visas, accommodation and living expenses are the responsibility of interns or their sponsoring institutions.
Who can apply to the United Nations Internship Programme?
Applicants must be enrolled in, or have completed, a graduate school programme, or be enrolled in, or have completed, the final academic year of a first university degree programme at minimum bachelor's level. Official written proof from the university must be attached to the Inspira application.
Is professional work experience needed?
No. Applicants to the UN Internship Programme are not required to have professional work experience, but a closely related field of study is required.
Which languages are required?
Fluency in spoken and written English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language or Dutch is an advantage.
Do I need a visa?
Interns who are not citizens or permanent residents of the country where the internship is undertaken may be required to obtain the appropriate visa and work or employment authorization, and should discuss their visa requirements before accepting an offer.
Does the United Nations charge an application fee?
No. The United Nations does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process, including application, interview meeting, processing or training.
Deadline
⏳ 19 November 2026
