Women, Peace & Security Intern
The International Peace Institute (IPI) is an independent, non-profit organization working to strengthen inclusive multilateralism for a more peaceful and sustainable planet. Through its research, convening, and strategic advising, IPI provides innovative recommendations for the UN System, member states, regional organizations, civil society, and the private sector.
IPI is seeking qualified applicants for a full-time internship position as part of IPI’s Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Program. The initial contract will be for three months with the possibility to extend. The start date will be August 2026. The selected candidate must be based in the New York area for the duration of the internship and will be expected to work in a hybrid in-office/from-home fashion full time during standard IPI working hours (9am-5pm EST).
This internship is situated in IPI’s WPS Program, which works toward the holistic integration of gender into policy and programming to achieve a more gender equitable and peaceful world. A key objective of the work of the WPS program is to identify and propose solutions to the barriers facing women peacekeepers. This includes in-depth research on how to mitigate the taboos and stigmas that women peacekeepers encounter and prevent sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment of both peacekeepers and members of host communities. This work is undertaken with support from Canada’s Elsie Initiative. The intern will focus primarily on supporting completion of deliverables for this workstream.
The intern will report directly to the Head of the WPS Program. The successful candidate will work with all members of the WPS team and will interact regularly with other IPI programs. The intern will gain knowledge and skills from on‐the‐job experience, with the WPS Team providing guidance and feedback to facilitate the learning process.
Responsibilities
- Support with completion of deliverables under IPI’s workstream on advancing women’s meaningful participation in peace operations.
- Identify, analyze and monitor political developments and trends in relation to women, peace and security with a focus on women and peacekeeping;
- Compile academic and policy sources, annotated bibliographies, and literature reviews;
- Assist with the administrative, substantive, and technical preparation of in-person and virtual meetings, workshops, policy forums, and retreats;
- Interact with a broad range of international and regional actors working on these topics at the multilateral level;
- Support the social media processes for the program;
- Edit and review publications from the WPS team;
- Support collaboration with other Elsie research partners;
- Contribute WPS analysis to IPI’s policy blog, The Global Observatory; and
- Perform various administrative tasks in support of WPS programming.
Qualifications
- Graduate-level coursework in international affairs, political science, gender, or a related field, with a focus on issues related to gender/women’s rights and international peace and security;
- Knowledge of UN institutions and multilateral policy processes;
- Outstanding editing, research, analytical, and English writing skills;
- Fluency in English; proficiency in an additional official UN language is an added value;
- Excellent team player with strong interpersonal skills and ability to work in a multicultural environment, with demonstrated sensitivity and respect for diversity and gender;
- Demonstrated ability to prioritize multiple tasks and meet deadlines;
- Ability to work independently and take initiative in ensuring team meets goals and deadlines;
- Excellent interpersonal and oral communication skills; and
- Exceptional organizational skills, attention to detail, and willingness to learn.
- Familiarity with the Elsie Initiative and with IPI’s existing work on advancing uniformed women’s meaningful participation in peace operations is highly desirable.
Compensation
The WPS internship is a full-time position (40 hours a week), paid at a rate of $17.00 per hour. *Applicants must be eligible for employment in the United States. Please note that IPI cannot sponsor work visas for internships. Applications that do not explicitly indicate authorization to work in the USA will not be considered.
To Apply
The closing date for applications is Sunday, July 5, 2026.
To apply, please visit: Job Openings & Internships | International Peace Institute and upload the following documents in PDF format:
- Cover letter
- Current résumé /CV
- A short writing sample (no more than 2-3 pages) on a relevant subject; and
- Contact information for three professional references.
Only short-listed candidates will be contacted and invited to take the written assessment.
IPI is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly committed to hiring and retaining a diverse and internationally representative staff.