Intern - Programme Management

Support the UN Global Assessment Report on Disaster Risk Reduction.

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UNDRR - United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction

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

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Overview

Support the UN Global Assessment Report on Disaster Risk Reduction.

You have:

  • Enroll in or complete a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher) or be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum Bachelor's degree or equivalent).
  • Demonstrate good knowledge of standard software applications, especially MS Word, MS PowerPoint, and MS Teams.
  • Demonstrate a keen interest in the work of the United Nations and personal commitment to the ideals of the Charter.
  • Ability to interact successfully with individuals of different cultural backgrounds and beliefs.
  • Fluency in spoken and written English is required; knowledge of an additional official UN language is an advantage.

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

Expected duration

3-6 months

Duties and Responsibilities

Created in December 1999, the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) is the designated focal point in the United Nations system for the coordination of efforts to reduce disasters and to ensure synergies among the disaster reduction activities of the United Nations and regional organizations and activities in both developed and less developed countries. Led by the United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction (SRSG), UNDRR has over 150 staff located in its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, and in regional offices. Specifically, UNDRR guides, monitors, analyses and reports on progress in the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, supports regional and national implementation of the Framework and catalyses action and increases global awareness to reduce disaster risk working with U.N. Member States and a broad range of partners and stakeholders, including civil society, the private sector, parliamentarians and the science and technology community. This internship is located in the Global Risk Analysis and Reporting Section (GRAR) of UNDRR in Geneva, Switzerland. The internship is for a minimum duration of three (3) months and can be extended up to six (6) months. The internship is UNPAID and full-time. Interns work five (5) days per week (40 hours) under the supervision of the Officer-in-charge of internship. Responsibilities This internship will support the UN Global Assessment Report on Disaster Risk Reduction (GAR). Duties may include, but are not limited to: - Conducting data collection, research and analysis to develop country cases, best practice examples and visuals for the GAR series and related products. - Supporting outreach and dissemination of GAR series findings through webinars, social media messages, web stories etc. - Drafting and preparing background documents, reports, issue briefs, talking points, articles, presentations etc. - Supporting the organization of meetings and conferences, side events to strengthen strategic engagement with UN system partners. - Providing logistical and administrative support during meetings and conferences. - Supporting the organization of internal and external meetings, side events, webinars and expert group meetings. - Assisting in preparing training and learning events and other capacity building initiatives for Disaster Risk Reduction.

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); (b) be enrolled in, or have completed, the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum Bachelor's degree or equivalent). 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. 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. Applicants must have good knowledge of standard software applications, especially MS Word, MS PowerPoint, and MS Teams. Applicants must have a demonstrated keen interest in the work of the United Nations and have a personal commitment to the ideals of the Charter. Applicants must have a demonstrated ability to successfully interact with individuals of different cultural backgrounds and beliefs, which include willingness to try and understand and be tolerant of differing opinions and views.

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

Due to the high volume of applications received, only successful candidates will be contacted. The internship is designed to be full time. It can be either in person in Geneva, or remote. Candidates considering the in-person modality are advised that Geneva is classified as a high cost duty station and should ascertain that they can meet all related living expenses independently.

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

Can you describe a time when you conducted research that contributed to a team project? This question assesses your research skills and ability to contribute effectively. Highlight your research process, the tools you used and the outcomes.
How do you prioritize your tasks in a high-pressure situation? This assesses your organizational and time-management skills. Pro members can see the explanation.
What interests you most about working with the United Nations? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
Describe an experience where you had to work with a diverse group. Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
What software applications are you comfortable using for data analysis? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
How would you approach preparing a presentation for a high-profile meeting? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
What strategies would you use for effective outreach of the GAR findings? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
Can you provide an example of a time you faced a challenge while working as part of a team? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
Added 1 month ago - Updated 1 month ago - Source: careers.un.org