Humanitarian Data Science Intern

Job Description

Work Location

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 Geneva (Switzerland), though remote or hybrid arrangements may also be explored.

Expected duration
April - September 2026

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 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.

In general, the intern shall support OCHA in fulfilling mandated activities and projects in the respective area of assignment. 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, disaster, 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, workshops, etc., and serving as note-taker to such events;
• Maintaining 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;
• Performing other tasks requested by supervisor, as appropriate.

In addition to the general responsibilities outlined above, the intern shall be given specific tasks related to the Strategic Planning and Prioritization Branch (SPPB). The intern, under the general guidance of a primary supervisor, shall be assigned to the Humanitarian Programme Cycle Section (HPCS). The internship is being offered for a period of six (6) months, beginning at a mutually agreed time.

Qualifications/special skills

• 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, digital communication, earth sciences or in a related field.

Do you meet any of the above-mentioned required criteria? If yes, please indicate which one. 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.

• Experience with common data science frameworks: Numpy, and creating CLI tools with industry-standard packages, is desirable.
• Experience in Python scripting, as well as in other scripting languages such as R, is desirable.
• Practical experience applying artificial intelligence across multiple domains, preferably its use in support of humanitarian action, is desirable.
• Practical experience in developing infographics and data visualizations using tools such as Adobe Illustrator, Power BI, and other relevant platforms 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.

DEADLINE: March 29, 2026

About the Organization

In December 1991, the General Assembly adopted Resolution 46/182, designed to strengthen the United Nation's response to both complex emergencies and natural disasters. In addition it aimed at improving the overall effectiveness of the UN's humanitarian operations in the field. The resolution also created the high level position of Emergency Relief Coordinator (ERC). This new function would combine into a single UN focal point the functions carried out by representatives of the Secretary-General for major and complex emergencies, as well as the UN's natural disaster functions carried out by the UN Disaster Relief Coordinator, UNDRO. Soon after, the Secretary-General established the Department of Humanitarian Affairs (DHA) and assigned the ERC the status of Under-Secretary-General (USG) for Humanitarian Affairs with offices in New York and Geneva to provide institutional support. Resolution 46/182 also created the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC), the Consolidated Appeals Process (CAP) and the Central Emergency Revolving Fund (CERF) as key coordination mechanisms and tools of the ERC. As part of the Secretary-General's programme of reform in 1998, DHA was reorganized into the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, OCHA. Its mandate was expanded to include the coordination of humanitarian response, policy development and humanitarian advocacy. OCHA carries out its coordination function primarily through the Inter-Agency Standing Committee, which is chaired by the ERC. Participants include all humanitarian partners, from UN agencies, funds and programmes to the Red Cross Movement and NGOs. The IASC ensures inter-agency decision-making in response to complex emergencies. These responses include needs assessments, consolidated appeals, field coordination arrangements and the development of humanitarian policies.