UN internships in political affairs, peace and security do not open in clusters like this often. Six roles are live right now, five at UN Headquarters in New York and one at UN OCHA in Geneva, and together they are a rare inside look at how the United Nations actually does diplomacy. If you are a student or recent graduate aiming for a career in international relations, this is exactly the kind of first step an internship abroad is meant to be. You could be helping choose the UN's top field leaders with the Leadership Support Section, analysing Middle East politics with the DPPA-DPO, working inside the UN's peacebuilding hub, coordinating global humanitarian response with OCHA in Geneva, or building the data and security infrastructure that keeps UN operations running. Each one puts you next to senior diplomats and policy professionals doing work that shapes headlines.
Whatever draws you to this field, there is a fit here. Fascinated by diplomacy and political analysis? The Leadership Support, DPPA-DPO and Peacebuilding roles are built around exactly that. Drawn to humanitarian coordination? OCHA in Geneva sits at the heart of it. More technical, into data, security policy or resilience? The two Department of Safety and Security roles cover data engineering and policy analysis. A clear note on pay: UN internships are typically unpaid, and none of these list a stipend, so treat them as experience-first, CV-defining opportunities. The deadlines are the pressure point, all falling between 22 and 26 August, so if one speaks to you, apply today.
In This Batch
- 🇺🇸 New York · UN Leadership Support Section · Political Affairs Intern · 📅 22 Aug
- 🇨🇭 Geneva · UN OCHA · Humanitarian Affairs Intern · 📅 24 Aug
- 🇺🇸 New York · UN DPPA-DPO (Middle East Division) · Political Affairs Intern · 📅 24 Aug
- 🇺🇸 New York · UN Peacebuilding Support Office · Political Affairs Intern · 📅 25 Aug
- 🇺🇸 New York · UN Dept of Safety & Security · Data Engineering Intern · 📅 26 Aug
- 🇺🇸 New York · UN Dept of Safety & Security · Policy Analysis & Resource Mobilization Intern · 📅 26 Aug
6 UN Internships · Political Affairs, Peace & Security · New York & Geneva
🕊️ Internship Opportunities
1. 🇺🇸 Political Affairs Intern 🕊️ UN Leadership Support Section Internship in New York, United States 🌐
📅 Deadline: 22 August 2026
Curious how the UN chooses its top field leaders? The Leadership Support Section is offering an internship in New York, supporting the identification and appointment of Special Representatives, Deputy Representatives and Special Envoys across UN missions, from candidate research and country profiles to leadership news monitoring. Apply here →
2. 🇨🇭 Humanitarian Affairs Intern 🌍 UN OCHA Internship in Geneva, Switzerland 🤝
📅 Deadline: 24 August 2026
Do you want to work at the heart of global humanitarian coordination? UN OCHA in Geneva is offering an internship supporting humanitarian policy studies, research, and the Global Cluster Coordination Group, with flexible in-person, remote or hybrid options. Apply here →
3. 🇺🇸 Political Affairs Intern (Middle East Division) 🕊️ UN DPPA-DPO Internship in New York, United States 🌍
📅 Deadline: 24 August 2026
Interested in Middle East politics and diplomacy? The UN's Middle East Division in New York is offering a 4-month internship monitoring regional developments, drafting analysis and background papers, and supporting the UN's peace and security work. Apply here →
4. 🇺🇸 Political Affairs Intern 🕊️ UN Peacebuilding Support Office Internship in New York, United States 🌍
📅 Deadline: 25 August 2026
Want to work at the heart of the UN's peacebuilding work? The Peacebuilding Support Office in New York is offering an internship with its Peacebuilding Impact Hub, covering stakeholder coordination, policy research, background papers and data-driven analysis. Apply here →
5. 🇺🇸 Data Engineering Intern 💻 UN Department of Safety and Security Internship in New York, United States 🛰️
📅 Deadline: 26 August 2026
Are you into data pipelines, cloud and geospatial tools? UN DSS in New York is offering a data engineering internship with its Operational Resilience Section, working on Azure data pipelines, cloud services, automation and web applications. Apply here →
6. 🇺🇸 Policy Analysis and Resource Mobilization Intern 🛡️ UN Department of Safety and Security Internship in New York, United States 🌍
📅 Deadline: 26 August 2026
Interested in security policy and international affairs? UN DSS in New York is offering an internship in its Policy, Intergovernmental and Partnerships Section, covering policy research, security briefings, knowledge products and donor engagement. Apply here →
Six UN internships, one field that shapes the world, and a genuine door into international relations. If you scrolled this far, one already fits: political analysis and diplomacy with the Leadership Support, DPPA-DPO and Peacebuilding offices, humanitarian coordination with OCHA in Geneva, or the data and security work at the Department of Safety and Security. Two things should shape your shortlist: location and focus. Five sit at UN Headquarters in New York and one in Geneva, so factor in where you can realistically be based, and be clear-eyed that these are experience-first, unpaid roles. On timing, this list is ordered soonest-first for a reason: every deadline falls between 22 and 26 August, so waiting is not an option when places at the UN fill fast. Do one concrete thing today: pick the role that fits you, open its link, check the requirements, and start your application. And if you want opportunities like these to reach you the moment they land, rather than scrolling dozens at once, join our broadcast channel through the link in our bio, where we share every new batch first.
