How to Apply for UN Jobs in Kenya: A Practical Guide

Nairobi is one of only four main United Nations headquarters in the world, alongside New York, Geneva and Vienna. The UN Office at Nairobi (UNON) is home to the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and UN-Habitat, and dozens of other UN agencies, funds and programmes have offices in Kenya. That makes the UN one of the biggest international employers in the country.

UN recruitment is fair but slow and competitive. Understanding how it works will save you a lot of wasted applications.

Types of UN positions

• General Service (G): administrative, finance, IT, logistics and support roles. These are recruited locally, so they are open to Kenyans and people already allowed to work in Kenya.
• National Professional Officers (NO): professional roles for nationals of the country where the job is based. They require a university degree and relevant experience in Kenya.
• International Professional (P) and Director (D): recruited internationally. Kenyans can apply for these, including posts in other countries, but competition is global.
• Consultants and individual contractors: short-term, task-based contracts. Often a good way in.
• UN Volunteers (UNV): national and international volunteer assignments with a living allowance, applied for through the UNV platform.
• Internships: usually for current students or recent graduates; many are unpaid or carry a small stipend.

Where to find official UN vacancies

Every genuine UN vacancy is published on an official UN website:

• careers.un.org lists all jobs in the UN Secretariat, including UNON, UNEP and UN-Habitat.
• Agencies such as UNDP, UNICEF, UNHCR, WFP, WHO, FAO and IOM each run their own careers site and application system.
• UN Volunteer assignments are on the UNV platform at app.unv.org.

We list verified UN and other international vacancies under NGO and international jobs, and we always link to the official application page. You can also set up an alert for UN jobs in Kenya or worldwide.

How the UN application process works

1. Create a profile, not just a CV

Most UN systems ask you to build an online profile covering your education, every job you have held, languages and references. Some agencies accept a CV upload; the UN Secretariat asks for detailed information in its own form. Fill it in carefully, because this profile is what is screened. Describe your duties and achievements in each job, and give the exact dates.

2. Match the job opening precisely

UN job openings list required education, years of relevant experience and languages. Screening, often partly automated, checks whether your profile meets these. If the opening asks for "a minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in procurement", make sure that experience is clearly visible and adds up.

3. Answer the screening questions honestly

You will usually be asked questions such as "Do you have at least five years of experience in…". Your answers must be supported by your profile; inflated answers are discovered later.

4. Assessments

Shortlisted candidates often take a written test, a technical exercise or a timed assessment, usually online.

5. Competency-based interview

UN interviews focus on competencies such as communication, teamwork, planning and organising, and accountability. Expect "Tell us about a time when…" questions. Prepare examples using the STAR method (situation, task, action, result); see our interview questions guide.

6. Reference checks and offer

The whole process can take several months. Keep applying elsewhere while you wait.

Understanding a UN job opening

UN vacancy announcements follow a standard layout. The parts to read most carefully are:

• Grade and contract type, such as G-5, NO-B or P-3, and whether it is a fixed-term, temporary or consultancy contract.
• Duty station: where the job is based. "Nairobi" may still involve travel to the field.
• Competencies: the behaviours you will be assessed on in the interview.
• Education and work experience: the minimum degree and years of relevant experience, which are strictly applied.
• Languages: required and desirable languages.
• Assessment: whether there will be a test, and in what form.

For international (P-level) posts, the UN generally counts experience gained after your first university degree, so check how your years add up.

Tips to improve your chances

• Apply for roles that fit. Ten targeted applications beat fifty random ones.
• Use the language of the job opening. If it says "results-based management", and you have done it, use that phrase.
• Languages matter. English and French are the UN Secretariat's working languages; Kiswahili, Arabic or French can help for regional roles.
• Consider short-term routes. Consultancies, UNV assignments and temporary appointments give you UN experience that counts later.
• Look at NGOs too. Experience with international NGOs is valued. See our guide on how to get an NGO job in Kenya.

Beware of fake UN job offers

The UN does not charge a fee at any stage of recruitment and does not ask for bank details or payments for processing, travel or visas. Fake "UN" offers often arrive by email or WhatsApp from free email addresses, promise high salaries without an interview, and ask you to pay a lawyer, an agency or a "processing office".

If an offer did not come through an official UN application system, treat it with suspicion. Read our warning signs of a fake job advert, or check it with our "Is this job real?" tool.