About Us

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
  05/01/2025

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.

Purpose of the Internship:

• Support the initiatives of chemical safety and security management programme, including development of new tools and training materials.
• Support the effective coordination of the OPCW Africa Programme and International Cooperation Programme within ICA Division.
• 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 intern will be trained on and tasked with the following:

• 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.
• Maintenance of the Africa Programme database (contacts, alumni of capacity-building, etc.).
• Support maintaining the pool of resource person for the Chemical Safety and Security Management Programme.
• Assist the maintenance of the social media pages of 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.

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 and editing skills is desirable;
• 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.

According to article 8 paragraph 44 of the Chemical Weapons Convention the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible.

OPCW is committed to maintaining a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. OPCW recruits and employs staff regardless of disability status, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, language, race, marital status, religious, ethnic, cultural and socio-economic backgrounds, or any other personal characteristics.

OPCW General Terms and Conditions