The UNDP Graduate Programme Pool for Recent Graduates is a 2-year entry-level programme run by the United Nations Development Programme to bring talented young graduates into UNDP and the wider UN system. For the current round UNDP is recruiting around 40 graduates into a 2-year assignment in one of its country, regional, or headquarters offices, with work aligned to the Sustainable Development Goals. There are 2 streams: a Programme and Policy stream, where participants help advance UNDP's programmes and projects, and a Corporate Operations stream, covering management services, organisational policies, processes, and oversight. The programme offers a 1-year international professional entry-level contract that may be extended for a second year based on performance and funding, an entry-level salary, a travel ticket between the participant's location and the duty station, paid annual and sick leave, health and disability insurance, and pension contributions; the overall first-year package is worth roughly 30,000 to 45,000 euros (est.) depending on duty station. To qualify, applicants need either a completed Master's degree with no more than 2 years of work experience, or a Bachelor's degree with 2 to 3 years of relevant paid experience, fluency in English, and a relevant field of study; nationals of a defined list of more than 50 countries, including Angola, Barbados, Cambodia, Haiti, Morocco, Serbia, and Uruguay, are particularly encouraged. Applications are made online through the Cappfinity platform, after which shortlisted candidates take online assessments; the round closes around 12 October 2026 (est.). Because the number of slots, eligible countries, and the closing date are set each round, confirm the current details on the official UNDP page before you apply.
Applications are submitted online through the Cappfinity recruitment platform, after which qualifying candidates are invited to online assessments.
The list of eligible countries is subject to change, so refer to the most recent information published by UNDP. This is a paid UN entry-level programme rather than a study scholarship.
Angola, Barbados, Cambodia, Haiti, Morocco, Serbia, Uruguay, and other countries on UNDP's published priority list
UNDP screens applications against the qualification, experience, language, and field requirements, and invites those who meet the criteria to take online competency assessments delivered through Cappfinity, a strengths-based recruitment provider. Candidates who perform well move through further selection stages into the graduate pool, from which placements are made into country, regional, or headquarters offices. Relevant academic background, demonstrated competencies, and fit with the chosen stream and the Sustainable Development Goals are central to selection.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the UN's lead agency on international development, working in around 170 countries and territories to help end poverty and advance the Sustainable Development Goals. Its Graduate Programme offers recent graduates a 2-year entry-level pathway into UNDP and the wider UN system, with assignments in programme, policy, and corporate operations across its global network of offices.
Answers below are best-effort estimates from the most recent application cycle. Values marked ~ or (est.) may shift year-to-year — confirm specifics on the official scholarship page.
Recent graduates with a completed Master's degree (up to 2 years of experience) or a Bachelor's degree (2 to 3 years of relevant paid experience) in a relevant field, fluent in English.
It is a 2-year programme, structured as a 1-year contract that may be extended for a second year based on performance and funding.
Around 40 graduate slots are available in the current round.
A Programme and Policy stream focused on UNDP's programmes and projects, and a Corporate Operations stream focused on management services, policies, and oversight.
An entry-level salary, a travel ticket, paid annual and sick leave, health and disability insurance, and pension contributions, worth roughly 30,000 to 45,000 euros (est.) in the first year.
It is a paid UN entry-level professional programme rather than a study scholarship.
In one of UNDP's country, regional, or headquarters offices, depending on placement.
Fields such as political science, public administration, international relations, economics, statistics, finance, law, procurement, HR, data management, and environmental science.
Nationals of a defined list of more than 50 countries, including Angola, Barbados, Cambodia, Haiti, Morocco, Serbia, and Uruguay, are particularly encouraged.
Online through the Cappfinity platform, after which qualifying candidates take online competency assessments.
The round closes around 12 October 2026 (est.); confirm the exact current-round date on the official UNDP page.
On the official UNDP and UNDP jobs pages linked in the sources section.