Internship: Humanitarian Affairs

Position description

This internship is designed to be full-time or part-time and may be conducted in person, remotely, or in a hybrid format, with the modality adjustable based on the request of the successful candidate.

Expected duration

Internship is offered for a maximum period of six (6) months between March – August 2026 beginning at a mutually agreed time, and is preferably full-time, based in person in Istanbul (Türkiye), though remote or hybrid arrangements may also be explored.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is the part of the UN Secretariat responsible for bringing together humanitarian actors to ensure a coherent response to emergencies. OCHA’s mission is to mobilize and coordinate effective and principled humanitarian action in partnership with national and international actors in order to alleviate human suffering in disasters and emergencies; advocate the rights of people in need; promote preparedness and prevention and facilitate sustainable solutions. The Strategic Prioritization and Practices Branch (SPPB) helps OCHA and partners deliver more effective joint responses using innovative, state of the art coordination tools and services. The work of the Branch focuses on the key activities which enable effective coordination: needs assessment and analysis, humanitarian response planning and continuous response monitoring. SPPB aims to ensure OCHA and partner staff have the skills, tools and technical support needed to meet the needs of people affected by crises through a well- coordinated collective response effort, within the framework of a rigorous Humanitarian Programme Cycle (HPC).

The intern will be located in the Humanitarian Programme Cycle Section (HPCS) within SPPB. Daily responsibilities will depend on the individual’s background and duties may include but are not limited to providing assistance with the design and preparation of studies on humanitarian response, emergency relief and other related issues and in various follow-up activities; researching, analyzing and presenting information gathered from diverse sources on assigned topics/ issues; assisting with the preparation of various written documents, e.g. drafts sections of studies, background papers, policy guidelines, parliamentary documents etc.; assisting in the maintenance of reference/ resource information on specific topics or policy related issues; providing support with the organization of meetings, seminars, conferences, work-shops, etc., and serving as note-taker to such events; maintains awareness of current humanitarian affairs and related issues, to include relevant political, policy, gender considerations or other developments in specific subject area and/or country or region concerned and; performs other tasks requested by supervisor, as appropriate. In addition, the intern shall be given specific tasks related to Strategic Prioritization and Practices Branch (SPPB)’s work on response monitoring.

This internship is designed to be full-time or part-time and may be conducted in person, remotely, or in a hybrid format, with the modality adjustable based on the request of the successful candidate. It is offered for a maximum period of six (6) months, beginning at a mutually agreed time, and is preferably full-time, based in person in Istanbul (Türkiye), though remote or hybrid arrangements may also be explored.

Qualifications/special skills

Applicants must meet one of the following requirements:

• Be enrolled in, or have completed, a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher);
• Be enrolled in, or have completed, the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum bachelor’s level or equivalent) Preferably in areas related to political science, social science, humanitarian affairs, international studies, public administration, economics, engineering, earth sciences or in a related field. Please note that you will have to provide an official certificate or proof of university enrollment at a later stage, if selected.

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. Your training, education, advance course work or skills should benefit the United Nations during your internship. Excellent writing and communication skills are required. Skills in information management, data analysis and data visualization desirable. Demonstrates strong attention to detail and a commitment to precision. Keen interest in humanitarian coordination architecture is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this internship fluency in English (both oral and written) is required. Knowledge of French and/or Spanish is desirable. Knowledge of another United Nations official language is desirable.

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.

Application instructions

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