Intern: NGO Liaison Unit, Political Affairs and Partnerships Section

Position description

The internship is to take place in the NGO Liaison Unit, Political Affairs and Partnerships Section, Office of the Director-General, United Nations Office at Geneva.

The NGO Liaison Unit maintains liaison with non-governmental organizations in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations (ECOSOC) and facilitates their engagement with the United Nations in Geneva. It is the focal point for all matters relating to NGOs in the Office of the Director-General.

The selected intern is expected to start on 22 June 2026, for a period of 6 months. All UNOG internships are unpaid and full-time. Interns work five days per week.

This position is under the supervision of the head of the NGO Liaison Unit and the NGO Liaison Assistant and the incumbent will perform the following duties:

• Undertake research and draft / update NGOs profiles and other background in preparation for meetings with NGOs in Geneva.
• Take notes at various meetings, including covers NGO meetings held at the Palais des Nations. Follow NGO participation at the UN meetings in Geneva, in particular, the sessions of the Human Rights Council and its mechanisms. Take notes during side events.
• Participate in meetings which are of strategic interest for the NGO Liaison Unit and attend public meetings with NGO participation and prepare summaries.
• Support the Unit in preparing communication tools such as the monthly newsletter to NGOs. Draft guidelines and materials to facilitate the engagement of civil society actors with the UN including flyers and updates for the UNOG website.
• Research themes which are of interest to the Office of the Director-General and support the preparation of talking points and speeches for the Director-General or the Chief of the Unit.
• Draft correspondence for the Director-General’s signature.
• Draft annual report articles and other communication materials.
• Support the Unit while performing a combination of administrative and substantive tasks and carry out any other ad hoc tasks, as may be required by the Chief of the Unit.

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).

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 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.

While no prior work experience is required to apply for the United Nations Internship Programme, please list any experience you may have with programme management and social innovation; research and policy analysis; communications and stakeholder engagement; and collaboration and multi-stakeholder partnerships. Please include details.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Fluency in English and in French (both oral and written) is required for the Internship Programme.

Application instructions

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