Intern for Security Institutions

Job Posting Organization:
The internship is located within the Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) Branch of the Peacebuilding and Peace Support Office (PBPSO) in the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations (DPPA-DPO). The PBPSO was established in late 2025 with the mission to enhance the United Nations' capacity to prevent conflict and sustain peace. This includes supporting prevention, peacebuilding, and peace support across the full conflict continuum, which encompasses early warning, crisis response, peace operations, political missions, mission transitions, and post-mission engagement. The DDR Branch specifically provides planning and operational support to DDR processes, including community violence reduction (CVR) and weapons and ammunition management (WAM) in various peacekeeping operations such as MINUSCA, MONUSCO, and UNMISS. The organization aims to strengthen global peace efforts and is involved in various international missions and initiatives.

Job Overview:
The internship position is designed to provide practical experience in the field of disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration. Interns will be expected to assist in various tasks that support the DDR Branch's mission. This includes drafting briefing notes, reports, and other internal documents, conducting research on current developments related to DDR in assigned countries, and participating in the organization of events, conferences, and meetings. Interns will also support the work of the Inter-Agency Working Group on DDR and assist in the development and dissemination of communication materials. The role is crucial for gaining insights into the workings of the United Nations and the specific challenges faced in peacebuilding and conflict resolution.

Duties and Responsibilities:
Interns will have a range of responsibilities, including: assisting in drafting briefing notes, reports, and other internal documents; conducting specific research on current developments related to DDR in assigned countries; participating in organizing events, conferences, and meetings; supporting the work of the Inter-Agency Working Group on DDR, including the review process of the Integrated DDR Standards; assisting in the development and dissemination of communication and public information material; maintaining fact sheets and other information repositories on peacekeeping missions; attending conferences and meetings of interest to the DDR Branch and providing verbal or written briefings; assisting in any administrative work of the DDR Branch, including the organization of meetings; and performing other duties as requested by the supervisor.

Required Qualifications:
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). While professional work experience is not required, a field of study closely related to the internship is necessary. Applicants should have good knowledge of standard software applications, particularly MS Word, MS PowerPoint, and MS Teams. The ability to draft news articles and/or social media posts is desirable, as is the ability to design surveys and polls.

Educational Background:
Candidates should be students in the final year of their first university degree (bachelor or equivalent), or enrolled in or have completed a Master’s or Ph.D. Programme. Proof of enrollment or completion will be required at a later stage of the application process.

Experience:
While no professional work experience is required for this internship, applicants should have relevant academic experience or coursework that aligns with the responsibilities of the internship. This could include studies in international relations, political science, peace studies, or related fields that provide a foundation for understanding the complexities of disarmament and peacebuilding.

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

Additional Notes:
The internship is unpaid and can be either full-time or part-time. Full-time interns are expected to work 35 hours per week, while part-time interns will work 20 hours per week. The internship is hybrid, requiring four days in the office and one day of remote work. The initial duration of the internship is three months for full-time and four months for part-time, with the possibility of extension up to a maximum of six months based on the needs of the Branch. Interns are responsible for their own travel, visa, accommodation, and living expenses. The United Nations does not charge any fees during the recruitment process.