Work Location

Flexible (Hybrid, all remote, or in-person)

Expected duration

6 months. Desired start date: 5 October 2026 or sooner.

Duties and Responsibilities

This full-time internship is UNPAID. It should be noted that full-time internship working hours are 35 hours per week. The internship will be undertaken either remotely outside the duty station or in a hybrid working arrangement at the UN Premise, New York, United States. This position is located in the Strategic Communications Section of the Office for Coordination and Shared Services (OCSS) serving the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA) and Peace Operations (DPO). The incumbent will report to the Chief of the Strategic Communications Section. The Office for Coordination and Shared Services enables, directs and coordinates departmental efforts to ensure the effective integration and management of both Departments. The Department of Peace Operations (DPO) provides political and executive direction to UN peacekeeping operations around the world and maintains contact with the Security Council, troop and financial contributors, and parties to the conflict in the implementation of Security Council mandates. The Department works to integrate the efforts of UN, governmental and nongovernmental entities in the context of peacekeeping operations. DPO also provides guidance and support on military, police, mine action and other relevant issues to other UN political and peacebuilding missions. The Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA) focuses primarily on five action areas in international peace and security, ensuring sound analysis and early warning, preventing conflict and engaging in peacemaking, managing political crises and violent conflicts, sustaining peace, and enhancing partnerships. The Department's mandate is to prevent and resolve conflict through inclusive political solutions. Responsibilities: - Assist the Strategic Communications Section with strategic communications and public outreach specifically on issues related to gender including the Women, Peace and Security mandate, gender parity and the prevention of misconduct including sexual exploitation and abuse; - Assist in developing design, multimedia products, stories and content for digital platforms including the UN and UN Peacekeeping websites and intranet, X, Facebook, LinkedIn, TikTok and Instagram and assist in monitoring social media related to the issues highlighted above; - Assist with drafting and editing UN Peacekeeping publications (e.g. fact sheets, brochures, newsletters, correspondences, pitches and donor-related updates) for internal and external sources related to the issues highlighted above; - Support planning and live coverage of events; - Assist with the planning, preparation and implementation of campaigns and public events related to gender and misconduct such as exhibitions, events, screenings, workshops and others related to the issues highlighted above; - Assist with monitoring social media and media to determine trends and to inform communications efforts on gender and misconduct including sexual exploitation and abuse; - Proactively contribute ideas for projects and media stories and pitches that will help to promote communications and build narrative on the work of UN peacekeeping in the area of gender, Women, Peace and Security and the prevention of misconduct; - Prepare internal summaries and reports and support external presentations; - Perform any other duties as requested by the supervisor.

Qualifications/special skills

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 degree or equivalent). 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 be a student in the final year of the first university degree (bachelor or equivalent), Master’s or Ph.D. Programme or equivalent, or have completed a Bachelor’s, Master’s or PH.D. Programme. Do you meet any of the above criteria? If yes, please indicate which one and attach proof to the application. Please note that you will have to provide an official certificate at a later stage. Have demonstrated keen interest in the work of the United Nations and have a personal commitment to the ideals of the United Nations Charter. 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.

Languages

Fluency in English (both oral and written) is required; knowledge of French is strongly desirable. Knowledge of another UN official language is an advantage.

Additional Information

The United Nations does not financially remunerate interns. Costs and arrangements for travel, visas, accommodation, and living expenses are the responsibility of interns or their sponsoring institutions. For internships in the United States of America, interns who are not United States citizens, permanent residents, or not currently in the United States on a nonimmigrant visa status will be required to obtain a G-4 visa. If already in the United States of America on another non-immigrant visa status other than G-4, interns will be responsible for ensuring that they have a valid visa and, if required, employment authorization, allowing them to undertake the internship. For internships outside the United States, interns who are not citizens of the country, permanent residents, or not currently in the country's nonimmigrant visa status will be required to obtain a valid visa and work permit, allowing them to undertake the internship. The United Nations must ensure all applicants for an internship, regardless of citizenship or national origin, are authorized to work in the country where the internship will be undertaken, either remotely, hybrid, or on the UN-premise duty station. Before resuming an internship, the applicant must submit proof of visa and/or work authorization. Applicants who have previously served six months, in total, as an intern in one or more UN Entities in the UN Secretariat cannot be engaged as an intern. Applicants who are children, siblings, and sons or daughters-in-law (including stepchildren, half-siblings, or stepsiblings) of an active staff member in a UN Secretariat cannot be engaged as an intern.

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.

Strategic Communications Intern - Public Advocacy on Gender and Conduct