Internship – International Cooperation Branch

About Us

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The OPCW internship programme is aimed at motivated students with an interest in gaining experience in international organisations. The programme normally provides work placements in the Technical Secretariat for a three to six month period. The objective of the internship is to provide you with first-hand experience in the day-to-day working environment of an international organisation. You will work with our international experts towards the OPCW mission to achieve a world permanently free of chemical weapons.

As part of our team, working directly with outstanding and inspiring career professionals, you will be exposed to high-profile conferences, participate in meetings, and contribute to our analytical work as well as the organisational policy of the OPCW.

General Information

• Contract Type
  Intern
• Remuneration
  540 EUR
• Closing Date
  09/06/2024

Responsibilities

Job Summary

The International Cooperation Branch is part of the International Cooperation & Assistance Division and develops and runs a portfolio of international cooperation programmes, including capacity building projects aimed at fostering peaceful use of chemistry for the economic and technological development of OPCW States Parties. The programme is based on the provisions of Article XI of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC).

The portfolio of international cooperation programmes under Article XI is classified in three strategic areas: Integrated Chemicals Management, Enhancing Laboratory Capabilities and Chemical Knowledge Promotion and Exchange.

The International Cooperation Branch is looking for 2 interns:

Internship 1: 

• Support the effective coordination of the OPCW Africa Programme and International Cooperation Programme within ICA Division;
• Support the initiatives of chemical safety and security management programme, including development of new tools and training materials;
• Receive an effective on-the job training in areas of international public organisation, diplomacy and international relations, capacity building for developing nations, project management and administration.

Internship 2:

• Support the preparation and coordination of the Global Conference – The role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in advancing the implementation of Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC);
• Receive an effective on-the-job training in areas of international public organisation, diplomacy and international relations, capacity building for developing nations, project management and administration.

Main Responsibilities

The internship 1:

The intern will be trained on and assist with the following:

• Maintenance of the Africa Programme database contacts, alumni of capacity-building, etc.);
• Support the organisation of meetings with States Parties (consultations, Steering Committee, etc.);
• Assist with the preparation of presentations to States Parties and with compiling data/input for statements;
• Drafting relevant internal and external correspondence;
• Assist with the maintenance of Africa Network;
• Support maintaining the pool of resource person for the Chemical Safety and Security Management Programme;
• Assist the maintenance of the social media pages off various ICB programme alumni networks;
• Provide support in development of chemical safety and security tools, including editor supports for guidelines and other written materials;
• Assist the needs of chemical safety and security management in collection and analysing the survey results received;
• Support organisation of capacity building events organised by International Cooperation Branch (routine correspondence with applicants/participants/resource persons, arranging international travel, accommodations, facilitating issuance of visas where courses or trainings are located) and assisting on other tasks in support of ICB programme when requested.

The internship 2:

The intern will be trained on and assist with the following:

• Assist Programme Officer and Project Assistant in all administrative and logistical preparation of the conference (travel, accommodation, field coordination, visa, etc);
• Support official communication with host government preparation team in preparation of Al conference;
• Assist communication regarding the Al conference, including preparation of social medial posts, drafting of news items, and production of promotional materials Assist in designing of programme and booklet for the Al conference;
• Support in development and coordination of proceeding materials, meeting minutes, and other written input for the Al conference.

Qualifications and Experience

Education

Essential:

• Enrolled in and have completed at least one year of a degree programme in a university (or equivalent tertiary institution) or; in a graduate school programme (second university degree or higher) or;
• Have graduated from a university or a graduate school within a year prior to the commencement of the internship and;
• Be a citizen of an OPCW Member State.
   

Desirable:

• University Degree in one of the following areas: international relations, development studies, public administration, project management or any other relevant fields.

Skills and Competencies

• Fluency in English;
• Excellent writing skills is digirable;
• Experience in administrative work/volunteering is desirable.

Languages

Fluency in English is essential and a good working knowledge of one of the other official languages (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, and Spanish) is desirable.

Additional Information

Acceptance for the programme shall not carry with it any expectation of employment with the OPCW. Interns may not apply for, or be appointed to, any posts or positions at the OPCW within six months of the internship agreement end date. The internship programme is run in accordance with the applicable internal rules and where applicable the OPCW Staff Regulations and Interim Staff Rules.

1. Participants in the Internship Programme receive no financial remuneration from the OPCW for expenses that they incur in relation to the programme. Costs and arrangements for travel, visas, taxes, accommodation, living expenses and repatriation, etc. are the responsibility of the intern. The intern has to enter and exit the country in accordance with the applicable immigration procedures in The Netherlands.
2. Participants will be asked to provide proof that they have sufficient financial means for living expenses for the period of their internship.
3. Interns will work with the normal working pattern of the OPCW which will amount to no more than 40 hours a week.
4. Participants who are citizens of non-EU countries should agree not to undertake other work in the Netherlands during their internship other than as an intern at the OPCW, notwithstanding whether such other work is compatible with the discharge of their functions with the OPCW.

Only fully completed applications submitted before the closing date and through OPCW CandidateSpace will be considered.

Only applicants under serious consideration for a post will be contacted.

Applications from qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged.

OPCW General Terms and Conditions