About Us
The OPCW internship programme is aimed at motivated students with an interest in gaining experience in international organisations. The programme normally provides work placements in the Technical Secretariat for a three to six month period. The objective of the internship is to provide you with first-hand experience in the day-to-day working environment of an international organisation. You will work with our international experts towards the OPCW mission to achieve a world permanently free of chemical weapons.
As part of our team, working directly with outstanding and inspiring career professionals, you will be exposed to high-profile conferences, participate in meetings, and contribute to our analytical work as well as the organisational policy of the OPCW.
General Information
- Contract Type
Intern - Remuneration
540 Eur - Closing Date
14/08/2025Responsibilities
Job Summary
The Assistance and Protection Branch provides States Parties with expert advice and programmes to develop and improve their emergency response capacity against the use or threat of use of chemical weapons.
The Branch supports States Parties to develop chemical emergency response plans, training programmes, procedures and standards, and appropriate dispatching and receiving mechanisms for assistance. It also supports the development of expertise of first responders and emergency management personnel to properly deal with chemical incidents.
The Branch is also responsible for the maintenance of a state of readiness within the Organisation to respond rapidly and effectively to a request of assistance made by a State Party pursuant to Article X and to coordinate and deliver assistance to the requesting State Party. States Parties can request this assistance from the OPCW if chemical weapons are used against them or they are threatened by such use.
Main Responsibilities
1) Purpose of Internship:
(a) deliverable for the branch and
(b) learning objective for the intern
(a) The intern will provide operational, analytical, and administrative support to ongoing projects and programmes under the APB. This position offers practical experience in capacity building, project coordination, and international disarmament mechanisms.
(b) By the end of the internship, the intern will have: Gained practical knowledge of Article X implementation within the CWC framework; Enhanced their skills in project coordination, international documentation, and intergovernmental processes, and developed experience working in an intergovernmental, multicultural, diplomatic environment.
2) Terms of Reference for the Internship:
Under the supervision of the Head of Assistance & Protection Branch, and in collaboration with other APB members, the intern will
- Support analysis and evaluation of state party submissions under Article X
Tentative Start Date: 01 September 2025
Qualifications and Experience
Education
Essential:
Enrolled in and have completed at least one year of a degree programme in a university (or equivalent tertiary institution) or;in a graduate school programme (second university degree or higher) or;Have graduated from a university or a graduate school within a year prior to the commencement of the internship and;Be a citizen of an OPCW Member State and fluent in both written and spoken English.Desirable:
Enrolled in and/or have completed or nearing completion of a masterโs degree in International Relations, Law, Political Science, Public Policy, International Security, or a related field.Skills and Competencies
Strong research and analytical skills.Attention to detail and ability to manage multiple tasks.Team player with good interpersonal and communication skillsInterest in disarmament, humanitarian work, or international cooperation.Ability to work fulltime for the time period of the internshipLanguagesFluency in English is essential and a good working knowledge of one of the other official languages (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, and Spanish) is desirable.
Additional Information
Acceptance for the programme shall not carry with it any expectation of employment with the OPCW. Interns may not apply for, or be appointed to, any posts or positions at the OPCW within six months of the internship agreement end date. The internship programme is run in accordance with the applicable internal rules and where applicable the OPCW Staff Regulations and Interim Staff Rules.
Participants in the Internship Programme receive no financial remuneration from the OPCW for expenses that they incur in relation to the programme. Costs and arrangements for travel, visas, taxes, accommodation, living expenses and repatriation, etc. are the responsibility of the intern. The intern has to enter and exit the country in accordance with the applicable immigration procedures in The Netherlands.Participants will be asked to provide proof that they have sufficient financial means for living expenses for the period of their internship.Interns will work with the normal working pattern of the OPCW which will amount to no more than 40 hours a week.Participants who are citizens of non-EU countries should agree not to undertake other work in the Netherlands during their internship other than as an intern at the OPCW, notwithstanding whether such other work is compatible with the discharge of their functions with the OPCW.
Only fully completed applications submitted before the closing date and through OPCW CandidateSpace will be considered.
Only applicants under serious consideration will be contacted.
According to article 8 paragraph 44 of the Chemical Weapons Convention the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible.
OPCW is committed to maintaining a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. OPCW recruits and employs staff regardless of disability status, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, language, race, marital status, religious, ethnic, cultural and socio-economic backgrounds, or any other personal characteristics.
OPCW General Terms and Conditions