ERS Interns

Support emergency response efforts through coordination and logistics.

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UNOCHA - Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

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Application deadline 1 month ago: Tuesday 28 Apr 2026 at 03:59 UTC

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Overview

Support emergency response efforts through coordination and logistics.

You have:

  • Be enrolled in or have completed a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher) or be enrolled in or have completed the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum bachelor's degree or equivalent).
  • Good knowledge of standard software applications, especially MS Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint, MS Teams.
  • Strong communication skills, both written and oral, as well as ability to multitask, prioritize and work under pressure in a fast-paced environment.
  • Fluency in spoken and written English is required; knowledge of French is desirable.
  • No professional work experience is required, but a field of study closely related to the internship is required.
  • Knowledge of event management tools/platform and social media tools is desirable.

Contract

This is a I-1 contract. It usually requires 0 years of experience, depending on education. More about I-1 contracts.

Work Location

Geneva, Switzerland, in-person and/or remote and/or hybrid.

Expected duration

Jun-26 to Dec-26

Duties and Responsibilities

This internship is designed to be full-time and to be conducted at OCHA-Geneva, in-person and/or remote and/or hybrid. The modality may be adjusted based on request of the successful candidate and operational relevance. The intern shall provide support in connection with ERS' mandated actions related to coordination of response efforts to new or escalating emergencies and disasters through provision of various emergency response services: • rapid deployment of staff and experts • provision of operations and OCHA logistics support • compilation and dissemination of operational response guidance • capacity building of responders as well as partnership building • strengthening national and international disaster response and response preparedness capacities • facilitating initial disaster assessment and coordination through the timely deployment of appropriate staff resources and expertise • managing rosters and networks to ensure effective deployment of humanitarian experts • provision of technical services to support field operations • working with partners to ensure appropriate international standards for response are developed, including international urban search and rescue (USAR) activities • support the maintenance and development of effective networks e.g. United Nation Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC), International Search and Rescue Advisory Group (INSARAG), International Humanitarian Partnership (IHP), Stand-by Partnership (SBP) environmental emergency expert rosters and Surge Capacity resource providers.

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). 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. 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 that you are applying for is required. Good knowledge of standard software applications, especially MS Word, MS Excell, MS PowerPoint, MS Teams is required. Strong communication skills, both written and oral, as well as ability to multitask, prioritize and work under pressure in a fast-paced environment is required. Knowledge of event management tools/platform and social media tools is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Fluency in spoken and written English is required for this internship. Knowledge of French is desirable.

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.

Potential interview questions

Describe a time when you had to manage multiple tasks at once. How did you prioritize your workload? This assesses your multitasking and prioritization skills. Provide a specific example and explain the methods you used to manage your time.
What experience do you have working in a fast-paced environment? The interviewer wants to understand your adaptability and performance under pressure. Pro members can see the explanation.
Can you give an example of a project where you successfully communicated with a team? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
Why do you want to intern at OCHA? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
How familiar are you with logistics support in emergency situations? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
What software applications are you proficient in and how have you used them in your studies or previous roles? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
Tell us about a time when you had to facilitate teamwork in a challenging scenario. Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
How do you stay organized while working on different tasks? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
Added 2 months ago - Updated 1 month ago - Source: careers.un.org