Location: remote/home-based with missions to the field and reliable internet connection
Contractual modality: 6-month curricular internship
Remuneration: unpaid (non-remunerated)
Deadline for applications: 2 March 2026
Background of the Institute
The International Institute of Humanitarian Law is an independent, non-profit, humanitarian association founded in 1970 in Sanremo, Italy. The Institute organizes training courses in international humanitarian law, human rights, refugee law, and related issues. It promotes dialogue by organizing international conferences, meetings, and seminars for high-level government officials, scholars, and practitioners.
The mission of the Department of International Refugee Law and Migration Law is to enhance the knowledge and skills of government officials, international organizations, civil society representatives, and academics involved in working with individuals in need of protection, including refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs), stateless individuals, and migrants. Through its capacity-building initiatives and the exchange of experiences, the Department advocates for preserving human rights, thus complementing and augmenting the efforts of various stakeholders in the protection field.
The Institute enjoys a consultative status at ECOSOC, a participatory status at the Council of Europe, and observer status at the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) ExCom, and with the International Organization for Migration.
Working within the Executive Unit (Office of the Director), the Intern will support the institutional engagement activities of the Director of the Department of international Refugee Law and Migration Law (the Department) of the International Institute of Humanitarian Law (the Institute).
The Intern is assigned to deliver to the Executive Unit daily briefings on salient international developments in the field of refugee protection and forced displacement in general, including those resulted from armed conflicts and disasters. The Intern will also provide ad-hoc briefings on specific regions or countries, including political and situational analysis, and on international events or meetings, particularly those of the United Nations.
The Intern is expected to support in the drafting of the Department´s newsletter and assisting in the organization of events for alumni of the Institute.
This role offers a unique opportunity to gain first-hand experience in working with the senior management of a globally recognized organization and gain knowledge and skills needed to pursue a career in the international sector.
Primary duties and Responsibilities
- Conducts daily monitoring of global and regional news outlets, and reports from international organizations to provide concise briefings on relevant developments in the field of refugee protection and forced displacement, including those generated as the result of armed conflicts and disasters;
- Delivers ad-hoc briefings on specific regions or countries, including the political and situational analysis;
- Presents briefings on positions/statements of States and organizations at international and regional fora pertinent to the institutional engagement of the Department;
- Closely follows the launching of reports and other document by international organizations and expert bodies that can be used in the Online Learning Platform of the courses of the Department;
- Regularly monitors and maps new grant and funding opportunities from institutional and private donors relevant to the department’s mandate;
- Contributes to the drafting of the Department´s newsletter and the organization of events involving former participants (alumni) and lecturers of the Institute.
Qualifications, Experience, and Skills
- Currently enrolled in a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree program in Social Sciences, International Relations, Political Science, Communications or a related field;
- Fluent in English with exceptional professional writing, editing, and proofreading skills;
- Ability to monitor global, regional and local developments and synthesize information into executive briefings;
- Ability to manage multiple tasks under tight deadlines, maintaining high levels of accuracy and attention to detail;
- Ability to work effectively within a multicultural, international team and adapt to a fast-paced environment.
- Working knowledge of additional UN languages;
- Experience in developing content for diverse media outlets, including the drafting of articles, op-eds, and thematic reports for an international audience;
- Proficiency in digital collaboration tools and newsletter/website management software;
- Motivation and passion for working in an organization supporting the protection of refugees, internally displaced people, stateless persons, and migrants.
This International Internship is an unpaid and full-time remote position. To support the candidate’s academic success, the Department offers flexible scheduling to accommodate the academic institution timetables and examination periods.
Please note that completion of this contract does not guarantee a transition to a position within the Institute; however, interns who have excelled performed their duties are given priority consideration for future relevant vacancies within the Department. In recognition of their contribution, the Intern will be granted complimentary scholarships to the Department’s online learning courses.
How to apply and selection process
- Please submit your CV and the motivation letter through: https://iihl.peopleforce.io/careers.
- Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for interviews and other relevant assessments.
- The Institute may choose to begin the interview process before the application deadline should suitable candidates be identified.
The Institute is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply, irrespective of gender, nationality, religion, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, or other status. Applications of persons with forced displacement and statelessness backgrounds are particularly welcome.
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