🇺🇸 Political Affairs Intern (Middle East Division) 🕊️ UN DPPA-DPO Internship in New York, United States 🌍

The United Nations is offering an internship with the Middle East Division (MED) of the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Department of Peace Operations Shared Structure (DPPA-DPO). This internship sits at the heart of the UN's political work on one of the world's most complex regions, giving the intern direct exposure to how the UN monitors developments, produces analysis, and supports peace and security efforts across the Middle East.

What You Will Do

The intern shall undertake the following duties, which may include but are not limited to:

🗺️ Monitor political, socio-economic, humanitarian and other relevant developments in the Middle East region

📊 Provide research analysis on policy issues related to the nexus of peace and security with development

📝 Contribute to the drafting of notes, background papers, talking points, speeches and other materials on peace and security issues relevant to the Middle East region, including for MED leadership

🤝 Participate in working groups, meetings, conferences and consultations with other DPPA-DPO divisions and other UN entities, as relevant, and take notes of the proceedings

📋 Provide support for meetings convened by the Middle East Division

🌍 Provide support to Special Political Missions and/or UN Country Teams in non-mission settings in the Middle East region, as appropriate

✅ Perform other related duties, as required

🌐 Also based in the United States and worth a look: Asylum Seeker Program Support Internship at a humanitarian organisation in 🇺🇸 the United States → https://youthworkshub.org/20535

Who Can Apply

Applicants must meet one of the following requirements: be enrolled in, or have completed, a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher); or be enrolled in, or have completed, the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum bachelor's degree or equivalent). In addition, interested candidates must be computer literate in standard software applications including MS Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), have a demonstrated keen interest in the work of the United Nations and a personal commitment to the ideals of the Charter, and 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. No working experience is required to apply for the United Nations Internship Programme. Your training, education, advanced course work or skills should benefit the United Nations during your internship.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this job opening, English is required.

🎯 Another United States internship in the humanitarian field: Refugee Youth Education Programming Internship in 🇺🇸 the United States → https://youthworkshub.org/20544

The Details

🗓️ Duration: 4 months, with a possibility of extension

📅 Desired start date: 26 September 2026, or sooner

🕘 Schedule: unpaid, 30 hours per week, in person on United Nations premises

📍 Location: New York, United States

Funding and Visa

The United Nations does not provide financial remuneration to 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 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 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. 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, or sons or daughters-in-law (including stepchildren, half-siblings, or stepsiblings) of an active staff member in the UN Secretariat cannot be engaged as an intern.