Work Location
Hybrid (a few days per week in-person in New York, USA, and a few days per week remote
Expected duration
6 months. Desired start date is 3 August 2026, or sooner.
Duties and Responsibilities
The duration of the internship is six (6) months. This internship is in-person, unpaid, and full-time (35 hours per week) in a hybrid working arrangement at the United Nations premise (New York, USA). This internship is located in the Security Council Practices and Charter Research Branch (SCPCRB) of the Security Council Affairs Division (SCAD) within the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA).
The Branch serves as the advisory and research arm of SCAD, preparing the Repertoire of the Practice of the Security Council, providing guidance on Council practice, supporting outreach, and acting as the Secretariat’s focal point on Security Council reform. The intern will report to the Chief of the Branch and will be supervised by the Senior/Political Affairs Officer. The intern will contribute to research, analysis, and drafting related to Security Council practice and support public awareness of SCPCRB tools and outputs. Key responsibilities include:
Conduct research on political developments, especially those related to Security Council agenda items
Assist with documentation and cataloguing of information on evolving Council practices and working methods
Conduct research, analysis, and drafting of studies for the Repertoire of the Practice of the Security Council
Support outreach efforts, including preparation of social media content
Assist in developing and updating databases on Security Council practices and subsidiary bodies
Perform other 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). 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 should have strong research and drafting skills are required. Applicants should have good knowledge of and proficiency in standard software applications, especially MS Word, MS PowerPoint, MS Teams, and MS PowerBI. Applicants should have knowledge of Canva and other data visualization tools.
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
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.