Disaster Risk Reduction Governance - Internship

Job Description

Work Location
UNDRR Regional Office for the Americas and the Caribbean in Panama.

Expected Duration
The internship is for a duration of 2 months, in person and full time. The desirable date is January 12, 2026.

Background
Created in December 1999, the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) is the designated focal point in the United Nations system for the coordination of efforts to reduce disasters and to ensure synergies among the disaster reduction activities of the United Nations and regional organizations and activities in both developed and less developed countries. Led by the United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction (SRSG), UNDRR has over 160 staff located in its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, and in regional offices.

Specifically, UNDRR guides, monitors, analyses and reports on progress in the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, supports regional and national implementation of the Framework and catalyses action and increases global awareness to reduce disaster risk working with U.N. Member States and a broad range of partners and stakeholders, including civil society, the private sector, parliamentarians and the science and technology community.

The intern will support the organization of the regional dialogues around the priority two of the Regional Action Plan (Disaster Risk Reduction Governance) by conducting background research, supporting the organization of two regional online dialogues and produce the systematization of the results.

Duties and Responsibilities

• The internship is for a duration of two (2) months.
• The internship is UNPAID and designed to be full-time and in person.
• This internship is located in the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), Regional Office for the Americas and the Caribbean.
• Under the supervision of the Deputy Chief of UNDRR ROAC, the intern will:
  • Support our Disaster Risk Reduction Governance efforts across the region by fostering exchange and collaboration among member states.
  • Support the implementation of the Regional Action Plan priority two work plan defined by member states.
  • Promote south south collaboration across the region.

Qualifications/Special Skills
To qualify for an internship with the United Nations, 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);
• (b) be enrolled in, or have completed, the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum bachelor’s level or equivalent).

Interested candidates must be pursuing or pursued their degree in areas related to this Job Opening. Applicants must have good knowledge of standard software applications, especially MS Word, Power Point and MS Teams.

Applicants must have a demonstrated ability to successfully interact with individuals of different cultural backgrounds and beliefs, which include willingness to try and understand and be tolerant of differing opinions and views.

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 either be students in the final year of their first university degree (Bachelor’s or equivalent), currently enrolled in a Master’s or Ph.D. program (or equivalent), or have already completed a Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Ph.D. program. Do you meet any of the above criteria? If yes, please indicate which one and attach proof to your application. Please note that you will be required to provide an official certificate at a later stage.

Languages
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Fluency in English and Spanish is required for this internship.

Additional Information
Due to the high volume of applications received, only successful candidates will be contacted.

*FEMALE CANDIDATES ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY*. UNDRR values diversity among its staff. We welcome applications from qualified women, men, and people with disabilities.

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 : Dec 18, 2025