Application Guide
How to Apply for Photography and videography intern
at United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
🏢 About United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
UNFPA is the UN agency uniquely focused on sexual and reproductive health, working toward three transformative 'zero' goals: zero preventable maternal deaths, zero unmet need for family planning, and zero gender-based violence. As a UN agency, it offers a global platform to create meaningful visual content that directly supports humanitarian and development missions, making it an ideal place for creatives who want their work to drive social change.
About This Role
This remote internship involves capturing photography and videography for UNFPA missions, field visits, workshops, and events, with a focus on documenting human interest stories ethically and producing short-form social media content. The role is impactful because your visual storytelling will help amplify UNFPA's advocacy on critical issues like maternal health, gender equality, and ending violence against women, reaching global audiences.
💡 A Day in the Life
A typical day might involve remotely covering a UNFPA workshop or mission via live feeds or pre-recorded materials, editing footage into short social media videos, and retouching photos for digital platforms. You could also be planning content for upcoming campaigns, collaborating with teams to document human interest stories, and ensuring all visuals align with UNFPA's ethical and advocacy standards.
🚀 Application Tools
🎯 Who United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Is Looking For
- A student or recent graduate in photography, videography, multimedia, or photojournalism with hands-on experience in both photography and videography techniques.
- Proficient in Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut, or similar editing tools, and skilled in using professional cameras, microphones, and lighting equipment.
- Fluent in English or French (bilingual is a plus), with a strong ethical sense for documenting sensitive human interest stories respectfully.
- Able to produce engaging short videos for social media in horizontal and vertical formats, and comfortable supporting content for major campaigns.
📝 Tips for Applying to United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
Create a portfolio showcasing both photography and videography work, especially pieces that tell human interest stories or relate to social issues like health, gender, or humanitarian themes.
Highlight specific experience with Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut, or Canva in your resume, and mention any projects where you produced social media videos in multiple formats.
Tailor your application to UNFPA's mission by referencing their three 'zero' goals and explaining how your visual skills can support advocacy in sexual and reproductive health.
If bilingual, emphasize your language skills (French/English) clearly, as this is desirable for a global UN agency working in diverse regions.
Include examples of covering events or workshops remotely if you have them, as this internship is remote and may involve virtual documentation.
✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter
["Explain your passion for visual storytelling in a humanitarian context, linking it to UNFPA's mission to end maternal deaths, unmet family planning needs, and gender-based violence.", 'Detail your technical proficiency with cameras, editing software (e.g., Adobe Premiere Pro), and experience producing social media content, with specific examples.', 'Describe your ethical approach to documenting human interest stories, emphasizing respect and impact, as UNFPA works with sensitive topics.', "Mention any language skills (French/English) and how they enable you to support UNFPA's global outreach."]
Generate Cover Letter →🔍 Research Before Applying
To stand out, make sure you've researched:
- → Study UNFPA's three transformative results (zero preventable maternal deaths, etc.) and recent campaigns to understand their visual storytelling priorities.
- → Look at UNFPA's social media channels (e.g., Instagram, YouTube) to analyze their current video and photo style, noting formats and themes used.
- → Research UNFPA's work in specific regions or on issues like family planning or gender-based violence to tailor your application to their ongoing projects.
- → Review the UN's ethical guidelines for photography and videography, especially regarding consent and dignity in humanitarian contexts.
💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics
Based on this role, you may be asked about:
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Submitting a generic portfolio without examples of social media videos, human interest stories, or content related to health/gender issues.
- Failing to mention specific software skills (e.g., Adobe Premiere Pro) or equipment experience, as this role requires technical proficiency.
- Overlooking the ethical aspects of the job; avoid focusing solely on creative techniques without addressing how you'd handle sensitive topics respectfully.
📅 Application Timeline
This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.
Typical hiring timeline:
Application Review
1-2 weeks
Initial Screening
Phone call or written assessment
Interviews
1-2 rounds, usually virtual
Offer
Congratulations!
Ready to Apply?
Good luck with your application to United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)!