The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is recruiting Humanitarian Affairs Interns for its Approaches and Practices Section in Geneva. The internship is in person, runs for up to six months from January to June 2027, is unpaid and is open to graduate students and final-year bachelor students, with applications closing on 16 November 2026. At Youth Works Hub, we reviewed the full job opening and set out every duty, requirement and condition below.
About OCHA and Its Humanitarian Mission
OCHA is the part of the UN Secretariat responsible for bringing together humanitarian actors to ensure a coherent response to emergencies. Its mission is to mobilize and coordinate effective and principled humanitarian action in partnership with national and international actors.
🕊️ Alleviate human suffering in disasters and emergencies
📣 Advocate the rights of people in need
🛡️ Promote preparedness and prevention
🧩 Facilitate sustainable solutions
The Strategic Prioritization and Practices Branch
The Strategic Prioritization and Practices Branch (SPPB) helps OCHA and partners deliver more effective joint responses using innovative, state-of-the-art coordination tools and services. Its work focuses on the key activities that enable effective coordination: needs assessment and analysis, humanitarian response planning and continuous monitoring.
SPPB aims to ensure OCHA and partner staff have the skills, tools and technical support needed to meet the needs of people affected by crises through a well-coordinated collective response effort, within the framework of a rigorous Humanitarian Programme Cycle.
Where You Will Work: The Approaches and Practices Section
The selected interns will join the Approaches and Practices Section (APS) within SPPB. APS supports humanitarian policy and coordination practice globally and in the field, and works to translate policy into effective coordination approaches and capacities.
The interns will report to a Humanitarian Affairs Officer or Associate Humanitarian Affairs Officer and will regularly collaborate with colleagues within the Section and the Branch.
Daily Responsibilities of a Humanitarian Affairs Intern
Daily responsibilities depend on the intern's background and may include:
📝 Assisting in the design and preparation of studies on humanitarian response and coordination, and other related issues (localization, cash, AAP, etc.)
🔎 Researching, analyzing and presenting information gathered from various sources
✍️ Helping draft written materials such as study sections, background papers, presentations, policy notes and infographics
🗂️ Maintaining reference and resource materials on humanitarian policy and coordination
🎤 Supporting the organization of meetings, workshops and other events, including note taking
🖥️ Supporting the updating of data platforms and general planning in the section
📰 Following current humanitarian affairs and related political, policy and gender issues
📌 Performing other tasks requested by the supervisor
Two Possible Placements Within the Section
In addition to the general duties, the selected interns will either support the secretariat of the Global Cluster Coordination Group (GCCG) or the Coordination Mapping team.
Global Cluster Coordination Group Secretariat Intern
The GCCG promotes cross cluster collaboration and supports both operational coordination in crisis settings and global level guidance and policy development. Specific tasks for the GCCG secretariat intern include:
📅 Preparing and organizing GCCG hybrid (virtual and in person) meetings
📑 Drafting agendas and background materials
🧳 Managing meeting logistics
✅ Drafting summary notes and tracking follow up actions
💬 Communicating with cluster coordinators and other stakeholders
🌐 Maintaining the GCCG online collaboration platform
➕ Additional tasks related to other workstreams within APS, when appropriate
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Coordination Mapping Intern
For the Coordination Mapping Intern position, specific tasks include:
🧹 Reviewing and cleaning data in close collaboration with colleagues
🔍 Collating anomalies
📞 Liaising with country cluster and OCHA focal points on data anomalies
🗒️ Drafting meeting summaries from meetings with country operations and other stakeholders
📊 Working on a data wrapper to generate graphics for online presence
🎨 Proposing different infographics using coordination mapping data
📧 Monitoring the Coordination Mapping email, alerting colleagues and proposing action when needed
🔗 Additional tasks related to other workstreams within APS, when appropriate
Location, Duration and Start Date
The internship is based in Geneva, Switzerland, and is in person. It lasts a maximum of six months, from January to June 2027, beginning at a mutually agreed time.
Academic Requirements: 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)
📚 Be enrolled in, or have completed, the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum bachelor's level or equivalent)
The job opening says the field of study should preferably be in areas related to political science, social science, humanitarian affairs, international studies, public administration, economics, engineering, earth sciences or a related field.
Proof of Enrollment and Eligibility
In the application you are asked whether you meet any of the criteria above and, if yes, which one. If selected, you will have to provide an official certificate or proof of university enrollment at a later stage.
Do You Need Work Experience?
Applicants to the UN Internship Programme are not required to have professional work experience. However, a field of study closely related to the type of internship you are applying for is required. Your training, education, advanced course work or skills should benefit the United Nations during your internship.
Skills That Are Desirable
📝 Excellent written and oral communication skills, including the ability to draft clear and concise background papers, presentations, meeting summaries and other research products
🧠 Demonstrated ability to research, analyse and synthesize information from multiple sources, with attention to accuracy, relevance and detail
🗓️ Skills in meeting coordination and administrative support, including preparing agendas and background materials, taking notes, tracking follow-up actions and communicating effectively with stakeholders from different sectors, organizations or backgrounds
📈 Intermediate proficiency in Microsoft Excel, demonstrated through academic or professional experience using Excel to organize, analyse or present data
📉 Data analysis and visualization skills, including the ability to synthesize and present information clearly through tables, charts, infographics or presentations
Language Requirements
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this internship, fluency in English (both oral and written) is required. Knowledge of another United Nations official language is desirable.
Is the UN Internship Paid? Costs and Visa Arrangements
🧾 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 or employment authorization
💬 Successful candidates should discuss their specific visa requirements before accepting the internship offer
Because the placement is unpaid, it helps to plan your funding early. Our guide to how internships abroad for students really work explains the main routes and how funded and unfunded placements differ. You can also browse more internship opportunities on Youth Works Hub.
No Fee at Any Stage
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.
How to Apply
Submit your application through the UN careers portal before the deadline. In the application, state which academic requirement you meet. Proof of university enrollment or an official certificate will be requested at a later stage if you are selected.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a Humanitarian Affairs Intern at OCHA do?
The intern works in the Approaches and Practices Section in Geneva, supporting studies on humanitarian response and coordination, research and analysis, drafting papers and notes, and meeting organization. Each intern also supports either the Global Cluster Coordination Group secretariat or the Coordination Mapping team.
Is the OCHA internship paid?
No. Interns are not financially remunerated by the United Nations, and travel, visa, accommodation and living costs are the responsibility of the intern or the sponsoring institution.
How long is the internship and when does it start?
It lasts a maximum of six months, from January to June 2027, and begins at a mutually agreed time. The work location is Geneva, in person.
Who is eligible to apply?
You must be enrolled in or have completed a graduate programme, or be enrolled in or have completed the final academic year of a first university degree (minimum bachelor's level or equivalent). A field of study related to humanitarian affairs, political science, social science, international studies, public administration, economics, engineering, earth sciences or a related field is preferred.
Do I need work experience?
No. Professional work experience is not required, but a field of study closely related to the internship is.
Which languages do I need?
Fluency in English, both oral and written, is required. Knowledge of another United Nations official language is desirable.
What are the two possible placements?
Interns either support the secretariat of the Global Cluster Coordination Group (meeting preparation, agendas, summary notes, stakeholder communication and the online collaboration platform) or the Coordination Mapping team (data cleaning, anomalies, meeting summaries, graphics and infographics).
Does the UN charge an application fee?
No. The United Nations does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process.
Deadline
⏳ 16 November 2026
Links
🔗 Job opening: https://careers.un.org/jobSearchDescription/287588?language=en
📝 Application (Apply): https://inspira.un.org/psp/PUNA1J/EMPLOYEE/HRMS/c/UN_CUSTOMIZATIONS.UN_JOB_DETAIL.GBL?Action=A&UNAction=Apply&JobOpeningId=287588&languageCd=ENG
