Intern – Political Affairs

Position description

Work Location

• In-Person, New York, United States

Expected Duration

• Up to six (6) months

Duties and Responsibilities
The United Nations Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) is responsible for providing leadership, operational support, and oversight of the United Nations Security Management System (UNSMS) globally. This internship offers a unique opportunity to gain valuable experience in security risk management and contribute to the UN’s mission.
Key details include:

• UNDSS enables safe and effective delivery of UN programmes in challenging environments.
• The Department’s mission is to support UN activities through trusted security leadership and solutions.
• This internship is located within the Office of the Under-Secretary-General (OUSG), Strategic Planning Service (SPS), Strategic Partnerships and Policy Section (SPPS).
• SPPS serves as the secretariat for the Inter-Agency Security Management Network (IASMN), coordinates policy development, and supports strategic planning.

Internship Duration and Format

• Three (3) to six (6) months between January and June 2026
• UNPAID and full-time (35 hours/week); hybrid or part-time (minimum 20 hours/week) arrangements possible in exceptional cases
• Supervision by a designated staff member

Intern Responsibilities

• Produce minutes of IASMN working group meetings and discussions
• Compile weekly briefings on global security developments
• Conduct research for responses to security policy queries
• Assist in drafting a security guide for UNSMS personnel
• Perform other duties as assigned

Qualifications/Special Skills
To qualify, applicants must meet one of the following:

• Enrolled in a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent)
• Enrolled in final year of a Bachelor’s programme
• Recently graduated (Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Ph.D. level)

Application Requirements

• Completed online application including Cover Note and Personal History Profile
• Incomplete applications will not be reviewed

Cover Note must include:

• Title of your current degree programme
• Expected or actual graduation date
• IT skills and software proficiency
• Top three areas of interest
• Why you are the best candidate for this internship
• Your motivation for applying to the UN Internship Programme

Personal History Profile must include:

• All past work experience
• IT skills
• Three references

Application instructions

Please be sure to indicate you saw this position on geopolist.com