At Youth Works Hub, we reviewed this Politico-Military Dimension internship at the OSCE Secretariat in Vienna, Austria (additional location: Prague, Czechia). It is a full-time unpaid internship of 2 to 6 months for nationals of OSCE participating States and Partners for Co-operation aged 30 or younger, open until 31 December 2026.
About the OSCE Secretariat
The OSCE, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, is the world's largest regional security organization, with 57 participating States in North America, Europe and Asia. It works for stability, peace and security for more than a billion people, through political dialogue and through practical work to build and sustain peace and stability. Its activities are organized into three dimensions: politico-military, economic-environmental and human.
The Politico-Military Dimension
The Politico-Military Dimension traces its origins to the Helsinki Final Act (1975), where it was introduced under the heading "Questions Relating to Security in Europe". The Act established two core pillars, the Decalogue and the "Document on Confidence-Building Measures and Certain Aspects of Security and Disarmament", which formed the basis of the OSCE's work on military security and, subsequently, the broader politico-military dimension.
Historically, the OSCE played an important role in easing military tensions in Europe through confidence-building measures. These measures enhanced military transparency and developed a comprehensive verification regime, including inspections, at a time when decades of mistrust had eroded the East-West relationship. The first dimension has also produced a broad range of risk reduction and arms control instruments, for example the OSCE Code of Conduct on Politico-Military Aspects of Security, a Document on Small Arms and Light Weapons, and a Document on Stockpiles of Conventional Ammunition.
The Internship
The OSCE Secretariat is looking for qualified candidates to carry out internships for 2 to 6 months in the programmatic areas within the Politico-Military Dimension. As part of this dimension, the OSCE seeks to create greater openness, transparency and co-operation and has developed the world's most advanced framework of arms control and confidence- and security-building measures. Areas of work include reforms in the security sector, arms control, border management, conflict prevention and resolution, countering terrorism, cyber/ICT security and policing.
🏢 Issued by: OSCE Secretariat
🆔 Requisition ID: SEC001014
📍 Location: OSCE Secretariat, Vienna (additional location: OSCE Secretariat, Prague)
📄 Contract type: Intern, no grade, short-term, full-time
👥 Number of posts: Multiple
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What the OSCE Internship Programme Offers
🏛️ The chance to learn about the day-to-day working environment of the OSCE and about the Organization's mandate.
🛠️ The opportunity to develop your professional skills and gain practical working experience in a multi-national environment.
🤝 The chance to meet many professionals and benefit from their knowledge and mentorship.
🔗 The opportunity to meet and link up with like-minded young professionals.
Typical Tasks and Responsibilities
The OSCE lists typical day-to-day duties that interns perform in its departments:
📝 Drafting research papers, policy reports, concept papers and other written materials such as briefing papers, memos, talking points, speeches, documents, newsletters and presentations.
📊 Assisting in project management and implementation, such as preparing project proposals and budgets and compiling project progress reports for donors.
🔎 Conducting thematic research, assisting with the revision of legal documents and the preparation of legal opinions, assisting with media monitoring, or conducting surveys and financial analyses.
📣 Supporting communication-related events and outreach activities, such as website updates, booklets and leaflets, and audio-visual content for social media.
🎤 Supporting the organization of events, meetings, regional workshops, press conferences, round-tables and other conferences.
🗂️ Attending meetings of the OSCE decision-making and OSCE-related bodies, taking minutes, drafting official records and writing reports.
🏢 Supporting daily operational work in administrative departments such as human resources, financial services, supply chain, travel management, procurement and information and communication technology.
🧳 Assisting senior managers in preparing for trips, bilateral meetings and country visits by compiling background documents, handling logistics and communicating with internal and external OSCE stakeholders.
Necessary Qualifications
🎂 You should not be older than 30 years on the deadline of this vacancy.
🎓 You should have completed two years of full-time post-secondary education or graduated within two years prior to the deadline of this vacancy.
📚 You should have education in a relevant field, such as international relations, political science, security studies, military science, international law or similar fields.
🗣️ You should be professionally fluent in English, both oral and written, with the ability to communicate clearly and concisely (interviews will be conducted).
💪 You should bring high motivation, open-mindedness and flexibility.
🌐 You should be able to establish and maintain effective working relations with people of different national, cultural and religious backgrounds while maintaining impartiality and objectivity.
⚖️ You should be aware of the importance of integrating a gender perspective into tasks and activities.
💻 You should be able to operate a computer, with familiarity with Microsoft Office applications (Excel spreadsheets, PowerPoint, word processing and e-mail).
Assets
💼 Previous work experience in a relevant field.
🧩 Experience of working in a multilateral or multicultural environment.
🧠 Organizational, multi-tasking and analytical skills, research and drafting skills.
🌍 Working knowledge of at least one other language from the OSCE region.
Who Can Apply
OSCE internships are offered only to nationals of the OSCE participating States and Partners for Co-operation. Applicants holding dual or multiple nationalities must be nationals of at least one OSCE participating State or Partner for Co-operation. The full list of participating States and Partners for Co-operation is published on the OSCE website, and vacancies are open for competition only among their nationals.
Conditions of the Internship
⏱️ OSCE internships are full-time (a 40-hour week), but a flexible part-time arrangement can be approved in special cases.
📅 Start dates for selected candidates depend on the needs of the hiring offices.
🔒 The cumulative duration of internship at the OSCE is limited to 6 months for any individual. Once this duration has been served, regardless of the OSCE duty station, further internship applications from the same person are not considered.
✋ The internship lasts 2 to 6 months and does not constitute a commitment to future employment with the OSCE.
Remuneration, Insurance and Visa
In line with other international and multilateral organizations, the OSCE does not provide remuneration to interns or reimbursement for their travel expenses for relocation to or from the duty station. In lieu of remuneration, the receiving office contributes towards the cost of living of international and national interns who are non-residents at the duty station. If the receiving office cannot contribute towards the cost of living, it may accept interns who are residents at the duty station.
🩺 If the selected intern does not already have health insurance applicable to the duty station, they participate in the group health insurance scheme at their own expense, while the OSCE covers life and disability insurance.
🛂 Some nationals may require a D-visa to work at the OSCE Secretariat. If selected, the OSCE assists with a support letter.
🚫 The OSCE does not request payment at any stage of the application and review process.
How to Apply
Apply through the OSCE's online application link on the OSCE vacancies website, and mention your availability dates in your cover letter. Only candidates selected for the subsequent stages of recruitment are contacted. A clear Europass CV helps you present your education and experience.
The OSCE retains the discretion to re-advertise or re-post the vacancy, to cancel the recruitment, or to offer an internship with modified terms of reference or a different duration. The OSCE is committed to diversity and inclusion and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all religious, ethnic and social backgrounds to apply. OSCE officials conduct themselves at all times in a manner befitting the status of an international civil servant, and the OSCE applies the highest ethical standards in carrying out its mandate.
For more detail, the OSCE points candidates to its Secretariat page, its fields of work page, and the internships page with a video created by former interns and a recent webinar, all listed under Links below.
Browse all internship opportunities on Youth Works Hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the OSCE Politico-Military Dimension internship paid?
No. The OSCE does not remunerate interns or reimburse relocation travel. In lieu of remuneration, the receiving office contributes towards the cost of living of interns who are non-residents at the duty station, and it may instead accept interns who are residents there.
Who can apply for the OSCE Politico-Military Dimension internship?
Nationals of the OSCE participating States and Partners for Co-operation can apply. You must be no older than 30 on the deadline and must have completed two years of full-time post-secondary education or graduated within the two years before the deadline. No work experience is required, although previous experience in a relevant field is an asset.
How long does the internship last?
The internship lasts 2 to 6 months and is full-time (a 40-hour week). A flexible part-time arrangement can be approved in special cases. Total internship time at the OSCE is capped at 6 months per person.
Which education fields fit this internship?
The OSCE names relevant fields such as international relations, political science, security studies, military science and international law, or similar fields.
Where is the internship based?
The main location is the OSCE Secretariat in Vienna, Austria, with an additional location at the OSCE Secretariat in Prague, Czechia.
Deadline
⏳ 31 December 2026
Links
🔗 Apply: https://vacancies.osce.org/jobs/internship-%E2%80%93-politico-military-dimension-4824
🌐 OSCE vacancies: https://vacancies.osce.org/
📧 Questions or problems applying: internships@osce.org
🌍 Participating States and Partners for Co-operation: https://www.osce.org/participating-states
🏛️ OSCE Secretariat: https://www.osce.org/secretariat
🧭 OSCE fields of work: https://www.osce.org/fields-of-work
🎬 OSCE internships (video and webinar): https://jobs.osce.org/internships
