Intern - Humanitarian Affairs

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
May - November 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.

The intern will join the Approaches and Practices Section (APS) within SPPB. APS supports humanitarian policy and coordination practice globally and in the field, and works to translate policy into effective coordination approaches and capacities. The intern will report to the Humanitarian Affairs Officer/Associate Humanitarian Affairs Officer leading the secretariat of the Global Cluster Coordination Group (GCCG) and will regularly collaborate with colleagues within the Section and the Branch.

Daily responsibilities will depend on the interns background and may include:

• Assisting in the design and preparation of studies on humanitarian response and coordination, and other related issues (localization, cash, AAP, etc.).
• Researching, analyzing, and presenting information gathered from various sources.
• Helping draft written materials such as study sections, background papers, presentations, policy notes, infographics and presentations.
• Maintaining reference and resource materials on humanitarian policy and coordination.
• Supporting the organization of meetings, workshops, and other events, including note taking.
• Supporting the updating of data platforms and general planning in the section.
• Following current humanitarian affairs and related political, policy, and gender issues.
• Performing other tasks requested by the supervisor.

In addition, the intern will support the secretariat of the GCCG. The GCCG promotes cross cluster collaboration and supports both operational coordination in crisis settings and global level guidance and policy development. Specific tasks include:

• Preparing and organizing GCCG hybrid (virtual and in person) meetings.
• Drafting agendas and background materials.
• Managing meeting logistics.
• Drafting summary notes and tracking follow up actions.
• Communicating with cluster coordinators and other stakeholders.
• Maintaining the GCCGs online collaboration platform.
• Additional tasks related to other workstreams within APS, when appropriate.

This internship shall be based in Geneva (Switzerland), for a maximum period of six (6) months, beginning at a mutually agreed time.

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.

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. Your training, education, advance course work or skills should benefit the United Nations during your internship.

• Excellent writing and communication skills are desirable.
• Skills in information management, coordination, administration, translation are desirable.
• Experience and confidence using MS Excel is desirable.
• Data analysis and visualization skills are desirable.
• Ability to demonstrate practical academic or professional experience requiring attention to details 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 is desirable. Knowledge of another United Nations official language is desirable.

Additional Information
Not available.

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.

Deadline : Mar 25, 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.