Localisation and Accountability Intern

Job Description

Your mission

Background

War Child defines localisation as “a process of power shifting within humanitarian response and development cooperation by recognizing, respecting and strengthening the leadership and decision-making of national and local actors, including communities, marginalised groups and traditional forms of organisation.” War Child believes that localising the humanitarian response will strengthen the delivery of timely, effective, accountable, appropriate and relevant services to children, youth, caregivers and communities affected by conflict.

War Child is also committed to the participation and Accountability to Affected People (AAP). It emerges from the principle that individuals affected by crises deserve not just aid but to be a central role in decisions that impact their lives. War Child adopts the widely recognised definition of AAP, including within the Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS), as “an active commitment to use power responsibly by taking account of, giving account to, and being held to account by the people humanitarian organisations seek to assist.”

In 2026, the work on both Localisation and AAP becomes a unit that has a system-wide mandate to drive organisational transformation around localisation, partnership standards, CHS/AAP integration, policy influence, and shifting power to local actors.

With this background, comes the need to have a highly motivated Intern who can support key processes and has a strong interest in capturing the learning of translating value commitments into practice.

You

You are motivated by shifting power within the humanitarian and development sector, with a strong interest in localisation and accountability to affected people. You are excited by the opportunity to contribute to organisational change at a pivotal moment and to be part of shaping how the organisation works in practice. You are flexible, eager to learn and comfortable adapting to different tasks.

You bring a creative mindset and are keen to support the collection of case studies, as well as the development of communication and knowledge-sharing materials that help capture learning and impact across programmes.

Your Challenge

A key part of the role will involve supporting the collection of case studies and examples of best practice, contributing to wider efforts to demonstrate progress on shifting power, localisation and accountability to affected people. The role will support in collecting evidence and best practice as to how War Child and partners meet the Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS). You will help capture insights from colleagues globally and support the production of these into usable learning and communication materials.

You will provide support to internal and project coordination. This includes providing administrative support such as organising meetings and following up on action points. You will work closely with colleagues across different regions and teams to support effective coordination and knowledge sharing.

You will also contribute to internal communications and knowledge management by helping set up and maintaining internal SharePoint sites, ensuring that key resources, documents and tools are up to date, well organised and easily accessible for staff and partners. This is a hands-on role for someone who enjoys working with people, organising information and supporting collaborative ways of working.

Your Activities:

Case Study Collection Support

• Liaise with colleagues and partners globally
• Collect stories, evidence and translate into case studies and learning materials
• Align with sector best practice and standards, including the Core Humanitarian Standard

Internal Communications

• Support in the design of internal SharePoint (Localisation & CHS) sites
• Support in adding and ensuring key resources, documents and tools are up to date, well organised and easily accessible to staff and partners
• Coordinate with the translation of materials and checking for accuracy and consistent formatting

Logistics Support

• Actively taking part in various internal meetings
• Edit Meeting Notes and support in follow up actions
• Provide flexible support during peak periods

Your profile

• You are master’s student in Communications, International Relations, Development Studies or similar related subject area. The key is that you’re interested in how international NGOs work in practice.
• You are enrolled in a Dutch higher education institute for the whole duration of the internship.
• You are organised, accurate and able to prioritise your work.
• You are pro-active, independent and flexible.
• You are creative and comfortable sharing your ideas.
• You have knowledge of the sector and bring an interest in localisation and accountability to affected people.
• You have knowledge of, or an interest in, the Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS) for Quality and Accountability.
• Interested to work and communicate with people from various backgrounds.
• Excellent command of English language. Additional languages are a plus.
• Proficient in Excel and knowledge of SharePoint (desirable).

Our conditions

We are looking for an intern who will join from February 2026, for a period of minimum 5 months and maximum 6 months, with a minimum of 2 days in the Amsterdam office. As intern in War Child you can count on an interesting internship, with an opportunity to learn a lot. You will receive an internship allowance of € 300, - gross per month, based on 40 hours per week.

How to apply

Please submit your CV (in English, max 2 pages) and a short cover letter (max 1 page) by 18 January 2026. You’re welcome to use AI for grammar or structure, but your motivation should be written in your own words.

About the Organization

War Child International is a network of independent organisations, working across the world to help children affected by war. War Child was founded upon a fundamental goal: to advance the cause of peace through investing hope in the lives of children caught up in the horrors of war.