Work Location

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

Expected duration

3 to 6 months

Duties and Responsibilities

This UNPAID internship is for an initial period of three (3) months with a possibility of extension to up to six (6) months depending on the needs of the Division. The DRC IOT is looking for candidates interested in filling vacancies available between August 2026 and December 2026. This internship is designed as a full-time (35 hours per week) position; however, limited flexibility may be considered in exceptional cases to accommodate a part-time schedule (20 hours per week). The internship will be undertaken either remotely outside the duty station or in a hybrid working arrangement at the United Nations premise in New York City, United States. Our interns work as members of our team in the Office and will perform the following duties:

Monitor and analyze key political and security developments, including as they relate to the implementation of the mandate of MONUSCO;
Provide regular updates for principals based on situation reports, press clippings, and media reports from the mission area;
Monitor general issues and summarize key public and academic articles, correspondences relating to peacekeeping;
Draft weekly reports on the political and security situation for the Security Council;
Assist in the preparation of communication materials, including presentations;
Participate in meetings and draft minutes/meeting summaries;
Carry out individual research assignments, support data-driven approaches, and contribute to briefing materials on political economy in the respective area of responsibility, cross-cutting peacekeeping related issues, and other topics relevant to the team’s work;
Perform any other duties as requested.

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. Familiarity with the African context is desirable

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Fluency in spoken and written English is required for the internship. Knowledge of an additional official UN language is an advantage. Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish are the official languages of the United Nations Secretariat.

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.

Political Affairs Intern/Support the work of the DRC IOT