UNDP’s workforce is made up of personnel from across the globe who contribute a wide variety of skills and expertise towards building a fairer and more inclusive world for those in need through sustainable development. 

UNDP offers all personnel an attractive remuneration package, in accordance with UN-wide salary scales, policies and practices. 

Regular staff positions 

UNDP personnel in regular staff positions are recruited both locally and internationally for fixed-term or temporary appointments under the UN Staff Rules and Regulations as International Professionals, National Officers or General Service Staff. 

International Professionals (IP) and Directors (D)  

International Professionals are generally recruited internationally. They provide the expertise necessary to drive our mission forward by fulfilling a range of specialist functions. Within this category, Directors fulfil essential management and leadership duties. 

International Professional staff are international civil servants who are expected to be globally mobile and work in various regions and settings, including in crisis contexts and humanitarian emergencies. The expected duration of a specific assignment varies and is based on the hardship of the duty station. 

For International Professional positions, candidates must hold a Master’s degree, or a Bachelor’s degree plus additional two years of relevant work experience. The higher the level, the more complex the functions become.   

National Officers (NO) 

National Officer staff are nationals of the country where their duty station is located. Requirements for this staff category are similar to those of International Professional staff, with a more pronounced emphasis on in-depth knowledge of the local context, institutions and partners. 

For national officer positions, candidates must hold a Master’s degree, or a Bachelor’s degree plus additional two years of relevant work experience. The higher the level of the job, the more complex the functions become. 

General Service (GS) 

General Service staff are typically recruited locally from the area in which an office or duty station is located. They provide essential support to UNDP’s work and are crucial to its smooth operation. These include administrative, secretarial and clerical support workers, as well as specialized roles such as drivers and building maintenance positions. The higher the level of the job, the more complex the functions become. 

Completion of a secondary education is required while a first-level university degree is an asset. Each General Service level position requires a minimum number of years of relevant professional work experience: 

 
Personnel Services Agreements (PSA) 

UNDP also contracts PSA holders who help us carry out various functions including performance of specific tasks or delivery of work for the implementation of projects or other activities of a business unit; specific tasks that are needed because of variable business volume; professional and supporting roles in functions within an office/bureau/project or as a shared service, which may otherwise be outsourced to a company; or services which may not be needed long-term by UNDP. PSA holders may be national or international, office-based or home-based, full-time or part-time, and on longer-term, short-term or retainer contracts. PSA holders receive a generous package that (depending on the nature of the PSA contract) includes pay and other additional benefits such as leave, insurance, and pension contributions. 

Please check the UNDP Policies on Personnel Service Agreements for more information.