IASC Secretariat Intern

Work location

New york. In-person, remote, hybrid, under full-time or part-time internship

Expected duration

March - august 2026

Duties and responsibilities

The inter-agency standing committee (iasc) was established in 1992 in response to general assembly resolution 46/182 calling for strengthened coordination of humanitarian assistance. The iasc secretariat provides support to the emergency relief coordinator, and deputy emergency relief coordinator, in their leadership of the iasc, including in their chairing of key meetings and processes of the iasc, facilitating communication by and between iasc members and with the broader humanitarian community, in developing policy and providing strategic guidance for humanitarian response operations.

This includes support to key inter-agency groups such as the emergency directors group (edg), humanitarian working group (hwg), and thematic task teams and reference groups. Much of this work is currently supporting the operationalization of the humanitarian reset that aims to strengthen leadership, effectiveness and accountability in humanitarian response. The candidate, under the supervision of the iasc edg coordinator in ny (new york.

In-person, remote, hybrid, under full-time or part-time internship), will contribute to a wide range of tasks in support of the iasc secretariat's priorities, with a particular focus on the humanitarian reset agenda. Tasks include:
• support planning and documentation of regular and ad hoc edg meetings, in which senior leaders of humanitarian organizations (un and ngos) discuss the best way to respond to current humanitarian emergencies and strengthen inter-agency attention and support. This includes drafting background documents and supporting follow-up on action points.
• support research, documentation and coordination related to the humanitarian reset. This may include tracking progress, mapping institutional positions, compiling feedback from stakeholders, and assisting with synthesis and analysis for follow-up actions.
• support preparations for the biannual in-person edg meetings, including drafting talking points, creating presentations, and following up on action points, as well as for edg missions to crisis operations, including drafting programme, briefing book, mission outcomes
• support the monitoring of good practices and lessons learned in crisis contexts related to the humanitarian reset.
• maintain up-to-date planning matrices to support strategic forward planning.
• support the iasc secretariat daily business and management.

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). The university degree must be in the area of political science, social science, international studies, public administration, economics, engineering, earth sciences or in a related field.

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. Your training, education, advance course work or skills should benefit the united nations during your internship. Applicants should have good knowledge of standard software applications, especially ms word, ms power point, and ms teams.

Languages

English and french are the working languages of the united nations secretariat. Fluency in spoking, writing, reading and understanding english is required for this internship. Knowledge of an additional official un language is desirable, arabic, chinese, french, russian and spanish are the official languages of the united nations secretariat.

Additional information

Not available.

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.