Political Affairs intern

Internship

Overview

Join as an intern in Political Affairs at the UN to support disarmament initiatives.

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 level or equivalent).
• Fluency in spoken and written English is required for the internship.
• Knowledge of an additional official UN language is an advantage.
• Demonstrated interest in the United Nations Internship Programme.
• Ability to communicate effectively in writing and orally.

Contract

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

Work Location

Flexible (hybrid, all remote, or in person).

Expected duration

6 months. Desired start date: 21 September 2026, or sooner.

Duties and Responsibilities

The duration of the internship is for six (6) months. This internship is UNPAID in person and full-time (35 hours per week), on the United Nations premise working arrangement from (New York, USA). This internship is designed to be full-time and in-person but can be adjusted based on the needs of the successful candidate to part-time (20 hours per week) and/or remote. The intern will perform 75% of its duties for the Office's Front Office, and 25% for the Office's Regional Disarmament, Information and Outreach Branch. The United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) is seeking for qualified interns for a maximum internship of 6 months, depending on the needs of UNODA and the willingness of applicant. UNODA advises and assists the Secretary-General in the discharge of his responsibilities under the Charter of the United Nations and the implements mandates given by the General Assembly, the Security Council and other organs of the United Nations system, in the area of disarmament and related security. For more information, please refer to: .https://disarmament.unoda.org/ The intern shall undertake the following duties which may include, but are not limited to: • Developing content management and development of disarmament stories through information posted on the Office's website and through social media channels. • Document, media and internet research. • Assistance in drafting and preparing official documents, summaries, talking points, speeches, remarks and web content. • Assistance during conferences and meetings (including 1st Committee). • Assistance in developing media products for web and social networking platforms. • Other duties as required.

Qualifications/special skills

Applicants to the United Nations Internship Programme must at the time of application meet one of the following requirements: (1) Be enrolled in, or have completed, a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher); or, (2) Be enrolled in, or have completed, the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum bachelor’s level 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.

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.

Additional Information

The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance and geographical diversity in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. Applicants who have previously served six months, in total, as an intern in one or more UN Common Systems cannot be engaged as an intern. Applicants who are children, siblings, and sons or daughters-in-law (including stepchildren, half-siblings, or stepsiblings) of an active staff member in a UN Common System cannot be engaged as an intern. In your Motivational Statement, please indicate when you would like to start your internship. Please note that the start and end dates are flexible. A complete online application is required. The Motivational Statement must also include: • Title of degree you are currently pursuing. • Graduation Date (When will you be graduating/have graduated from the programme?) • Explain why you are the best candidate for this specific internship • Explain your interest in the United Nations Internship Programme In your online Personal History Profile, be sure to include all past work experiences, IT skills, and three references.

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.

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Potential interview questions

Added 3 hours ago - Updated 3 hours ago - Source: careers.un.org