Political Affairs Intern

Work Location

In-Person

Expected duration

4-6 months

Duties and Responsibilities

This internship is hosted by the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (ODA) through its Conventional Arms Branch (CAB). ODA/CAB is seeking qualified interns from: 1) 14 September to 14 January 2027; 2) 1 October to 2 February 2027, with the possibility of an extension for either timeframe based on the needs of the Branch and the availability of the selected candidate.

ODA advises and assists the Secretary-General in the discharge of his responsibilities under the Charter of the United Nations and implements mandates given by the General Assembly, the Security Council, and other organs of the United Nations system in the areas of disarmament and related security.

For more information, please refer to: https://www.un.org/disarmament ODA/CAB provides substantive support in the area of conventional arms, including small arms and light weapons control; weapons and ammunition management; arms transfers; transparency in armaments; military confidence-building measures; and armed violence reduction. For more information, please refer to: https://disarmament.unoda.org/conventional-arms/ The Political Affairs Intern will work under the overall guidance of the Chief of CAB and the direct supervision of the Internship Coordinator. This internship is unpaid and is designed to be full-time and in-person at the New York duty station. Interns will be assigned to a primary supervisor and are expected to adhere to official working hours (five days per week, with one hour for lunch). Flexible working arrangements may be considered upon request.

Daily responsibilities will depend on the individual’s background, assigned tasks, and the internship period. The intern may undertake the following duties, which include but are not limited to:

• Draft and prepare official documents, including summaries, talking points, speeches, remarks, and web content
• Attend meetings and conferences and prepare summaries
• Conduct research, including document, media, and internet searches
• Provide substantive and logistical support during meetings and conferences
• Perform other related duties as required

Qualifications/special skills

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); or (b) be enrolled in, or have completed, the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum bachelor’s degree or equivalent).

Interested candidates must be pursuing or pursued their degree in areas related to this Job Opening. 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 is required Applicants must be a student in the final year of the first university degree (bachelor or equivalent), Master’s or Ph.D. Programme or equivalent, or have completed a Bachelor’s, Master’s or PH.D. Programme.

Do you meet any of the above criteria? If yes, please indicate which one and attach proof to the application. Please note that you will have to provide an official certificate at a later stage

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Fluency in spoken and written English is required for the internship. Knowledge of an additional official UN language is an advantage. Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish are the official languages of the United Nations Secretariat.

Additional Information

Not available.

Intern Specific text

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. 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/employment authorization. Successful candidates should discuss their specific visa requirements before accepting the internship offer.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.