🇨🇭 Internship in Switzerland ⚖️ Environmental Law and Treaty Support at the UN Economic Commission for Europe 🌍

The intern is expected to contribute to the work of the Environment and Forests Division of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, in Geneva. The role sits under the supervision of the officers of the secretariats of the Aarhus Convention and its Protocol on Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers, and the Espoo Convention and its Protocol on Strategic Environmental Assessment.

⚖️ Duties and Responsibilities

🏛️ Support the preparation, organisation and servicing of the intergovernmental meetings under the Espoo Convention and its Protocol on SEA, including the Bureau meeting in Geneva in December 2026, the 10th session of the Meeting of the Parties to the Espoo Convention and the 6th session of the Meeting of the Parties to the Protocol on SEA from 1 to 4 December 2026, and any other intersessional activities

📚 Support the preparation, including through legal and policy research and drafting of relevant documents, organization and servicing of the meetings of the Compliance Committees under the Aarhus Convention and the Protocol on PRTRs, as well as meetings of other bodies under the Convention and the Protocol such as the Task Forces and the Working Groups of the Parties, and of any other intersessional activities

✍️ Assist in the preparation of outreach materials for publication and drafting short articles on the Aarhus Convention and Espoo Convention and their Protocols, including drafting content for the Conventions' websites, social media accounts and related updates

🗄️ Assist with updating the databases of the Aarhus Convention and the Espoo Convention and their Protocols, including the Aarhus Clearinghouse for Environmental Democracy and PRTR.net, through research, drafting and editing of entries

📊 Carry out other tasks as required in the section, such as desk research, meeting support, drafting of reports, processing of data, and assisting the officers of the secretariat with day-to-day tasks required to implement the work programmes of the two Conventions and their Protocols

🏗️ Another Swiss placement, this one out on site with an engineering office and paid monthly: Internship in 🇨🇭 Switzerland 🪨 Geotechnical Site Investigation at an Engineering Office 🏗️ (CHF 2,500/month + allowance) → https://youthworkshub.org/20447

✅ Qualifications and Special Skills

🎓 Be enrolled in or have completed a graduate school programme, meaning a second university degree or equivalent or higher, or be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree programme, meaning minimum bachelor's level or equivalent

💻 Be computer literate in standard software applications and CMS such as Drupal

⚖️ For this internship, studies in law, preferably including international law, human rights law or environmental law or equivalent, are required

🇺🇳 Have a demonstrated keen interest in the work of the United Nations and a personal commitment to the ideals of the Charter

🌍 Have a demonstrated ability to successfully interact with individuals of different cultural backgrounds and beliefs, which includes willingness to try to understand and be tolerant of differing opinions and views

📌 Applicants from all countries are accepted, and candidates from under-represented or un-represented countries in the UN are encouraged to apply

💼 No professional work experience is required for participation in the Internship Programme

🗣️ Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this internship, fluency in English is required, and working knowledge of French or Russian is an asset.

🕊️ A related placement in another country, around peace studies and library work: Internship in 🇩🇪 Germany 🕊️ Peace Studies & Peace Library Assistant 🕊️ → https://youthworkshub.org/20335

📋 The Details

📍 Work location: UNECE, Palais des Nations, Geneva, Switzerland

📅 Expected duration: two internships are offered, one from 1 October 2026 to 15 February 2027, and one from 16 February to 15 August 2027, and you indicate your preference in the cover note

🏢 Department or office: Economic Commission for Europe

🗂️ Job family: Legal Affairs

📌 Category and level: Affiliate Personnel, Internships, I-1

🆔 Job opening ID: 281336

⚠️ Conditions of the UN Internship Programme

💶 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 work five days per week

🚫 Interns are not eligible to apply for, or be appointed to, any post in the Secretariat for a period of six months following the end of their internship

🩺 The United Nations accepts no responsibility for the medical insurance of the intern or costs arising from accidents and illness incurred during an internship, and applicants must show proof of valid medical insurance coverage and provide a medical certificate of good health

👨‍👩‍👧 A person who is the child or sibling of a staff member is not eligible to apply for an internship at the United Nations, and an applicant with any other family relationship to a staff member may be engaged provided they are not assigned to the same work unit nor placed under that staff member's direct or indirect supervision

🛂 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 or employment authorization, and successful candidates should discuss their specific visa requirements before accepting the offer

📜 The Internship Programme is guided by Administrative Instruction ST/AI 2020/1, and interns are considered type I gratis personnel and are not staff members

📩 How to Apply

A completed online application, meaning a cover note and Personal History Profile, is required, and incomplete applications are not reviewed. The cover note must include the title of the degree and graduation date, or the title of the degree you are currently pursuing and the expected graduation date, the IT skills and programmes you are proficient in, your top three areas of interest, why you are the best candidate for the internship position, and your interest in the United Nations Internship Programme. Indicate your preferred internship period in the cover note.