Political Affairs Intern

Work LocationHybrid (a few days per week in-person in New York, USA, and a few days per week remote) Expected duration3-6 months. The desired start date is 1 December 2025 or sooner. Duties and ResponsibilitiesThe Political Affairs Intern will support the work of the Northern Africa Division (NAD) within the joint regional structure of the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA) and Peace Operations (DPO). The Division is tasked with monitoring and reporting on major developments in the countries and situations under its purview, and recommending actions for addressing the related challenges, risks and threats. It covers Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Tunisia and Western Sahara. The Division provides headquarters back-stopping support to one peace operation, the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO), and two special political missions, the Office of the Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General for Western Sahara (OPESG) and the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL). The duration of the internship is three (3) months with a possibility of extension up to six (6) months. The duration of the internship is for three (3) months with a possibility of extension. This internship is UNPAID in person and full-time (35 hours per week), in a hybrid working arrangement, working both in-person at the United Nations premise in New York, and a few days per week remote. The Intern will report to a Political Affairs Officer in the Northern Africa Division. Responsibilities Within the delegated authority the Political Affairs Intern will perform the following duties: • Monitor and analyze key political and security developments in the region, including as they relate to the implementation of mandate of one or more of the field missions supported by the Division; • Based on situation reports, press clippings, and media reports from the mission area, contribute to reporting and other products and activities of the Division; • Undertake social media monitoring; • Monitor general issues and summarize key public and academic articles, correspondences relating to the Division's files; • Assist in the preparation of communication materials, including presentations; • Participate in meetings and draft minutes/meeting summaries; • Carry out individual research assignments and contribute to briefing materials; • Contribute to the Division’s innovation mainstreaming; • Perform any other duties as required. Qualifications/special skillsApplicants must be enrolled in, or have completed, a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher). 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. Please describe how you meet the criterion. 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. Applicants should have good knowledge of standard software applications, especially MS Word, MS PowerPoint, and MS Teams. Ability to undertake political analysis is required. Ability to summarize news articles and/or social media posts is desirable. LanguagesEnglish and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Fluency in spoken and written English is required for the internship. Knowledge of Arabic or French is desirable. Additional InformationThe United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance and geographical diversity in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. 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 from 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 Common Systems 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 Common System cannot be engaged as an intern. In your Motivational Statement, please indicate when you would like to start your internship. Please note that the start and end dates are flexible. A complete online application is required. The Motivational Statement must also include: • Title of degree you are currently pursuing. • Graduation Date (When will you be graduating/have graduated from the programme?) • Explain why you are the best candidate for this specific internship. • Explain your interest in the United Nations Internship Programme. In your online Personal History Profile, be sure to include all past work experiences, IT skills, and three references. Intern Specific textInterns 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 FeeTHE 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.