The Dag Hammarskjöld Foundation is offering an internship position for active master level students and recent graduates in peace and conflict, international relations, political economy, public policy, economics, development studies, or other relevant thematic areas for the fall/winter semester of 2026. The intern will be an integral part of the Foundation’s programmatic work on UN funding and effectiveness and will contribute to other areas of the Foundation’s work as needed.
Internship period
The internship starts at in mid-August until mid January (approximately 18–20 weeks), on a full-time basis, or as otherwise agreed between the intern and the Foundation. The exact period and dates will be discussed with the accepted intern and the Foundation, in line with course requirements. Both parties have the right to terminate the internship period with two weeks’ notice if either feels that their expectations are not being met.
Description of the internship position
The intern will be part of the Foundation’s UN funding and effectiveness team and will contribute to its work through the Outcomes of
a)Enhancing UNs use of Quality Funding
b)Enhancing Member States Provision of Quality Funding.
In addition to supporting this work, the intern will engage with broader thematic areas under the UN Funding and effectiveness programme at the Foundation.
The position is designed to offer both focus and flexibility, allowing space for the intern to explore their own areas of interest while gaining meaningful exposure to the Foundation’s wider UN Funding and effectiveness agenda.
Duties and responsibilities
The intern will support the work of the Foundation’s UN Funding and Effectiveness programme, contributing to research, analysis, and knowledge-sharing activities related to improving the quality, predictability, and effectiveness of funding for the UN development system.
The intern’s responsibilities may include:
- Support research and analytical work related to UN funding trends, quality funding, and the financing of the UN development system, including background research, literature reviews, and preparation of analytical briefs.
- Assist with the distribution of the Financing the UN Development System report.
- Support ongoing research related to the UN Funding Compact and quality funding practices;
- Assist in monitoring developments related to UN financing reform processes, including the follow up on the UN80 initiative and discussions on UN system reform and effectiveness.
- Support engagement with Member States, UN entities, and partners, including preparing background notes, meeting summaries, and stakeholder mapping.
- Contribute to the preparation of events, consultations, and policy dialogues, including webinars, workshops, and roundtables organised by the Foundation.
- Support communications activities related to the programme, including drafting short policy summaries, blogs, event reports, and social media content.
- Assist with administrative and logistical tasks related to programme activities, including note-taking, documentation, and event coordination.
- Collaborate with other teams within the Foundation and contribute to cross-programme initiatives as required.
- Undertake additional tasks as needed to support the Foundation’s work on UN funding, multilateral cooperation, and development effectiveness.
Expectations and outputs
The intern is expected to develop a strong understanding of the stakeholder landscape related to UN funding and effectiveness. During the internship, they will gain hands-on experience in policy-oriented research and analysis, including exposure to debates and policy processes related to the UN Funding Compact and its commitments.
Through close collaboration with the Funding and Effectiveness team and other teams at the Foundation, the intern will acquire practical skills and a solid understanding of the Dag Hammarskjöld Foundation’s work on multilateral financing and UN system effectiveness.
The intern will also develop an understanding of the broader international development financing landscape, including the role of the UN system, Member States, and other key actors.
The Foundation does not offer renumeration for internships but is willing to complete any paperwork needed for interns to receive external grants or stipends, as well as academic credit, during their internship period.. Completion of an internship at the Foundation does not guarantee subsequent employment. Any hiring is conducted through a separate, competitive selection process, however, former interns may be considered for future opportunities, subject to the availability of positions.
Interns are expected to maintain confidentiality outside of the Foundation regarding the details of internal meetings, collaboration, etc. All work conducted by the intern at and for the Dag Hammarskjöld Foundation will remain the property of the Foundation. The intern must therefore ask permission before using this work for other purposes.
Qualifications and experience
- Currently completing or recently completed a master’s degree in international relations, development studies, political economy, public policy, economics, peace and conflict studies, or related fields.
- Demonstrated interest in multilateral cooperation, international development, and the UN system, including issues related to development financing, global governance, or international policy processes.
- Previous work experience, research experience, or internships related to international organisations, development policy, multilateral cooperation, or public policy analysis are considered an asset.
- Strong analytical and research skills, including the ability to review literature, synthesise information, and draft concise analytical texts.
- Excellent written and spoken English, including the ability to produce clear written materials. Knowledge of additional languages is considered an asset but is not required.
About the Dag Hammarskjöld Foundation
The Dag Hammarskjöld Foundation was established in 1962 in memory of the second Secretary-General of the United Nations. With a focus on United Nations related issues, the Foundation pursues a range of activities in the fields of peace and development to promote the inclusion of diverse voices, including those most affected by conflict and deprivation, in international policy fora. The intern will have the opportunity to gain exposure to the Foundation’s international network of representatives from UN agencies, civil society, governments and the research community.
Applications
Please send your completed applications to recruitment@daghammarskjold.se no later than 17 April 2026, with “Last Name, First Name: Internship Application, UN Funding and effectiveness” in the subject heading. The application should be in English and include a short letter of interest, a CV, and a writing sample (max 3 pages) – an essay or an excerpt from a thesis or report from your studies. Interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis.
International applicants must ensure that their student residence permit in Sweden allows them to undertake an internship. If the internship is not part of their formal studies in Sweden, a separate permit from the Swedish Migration Agency may be required before applying.
More about the Foundation: www.daghammarskjold.se.
Download the Terms of Reference here.
For questions, please contact Marijana Markotic Andric Programme Manager, UN funding and effectiveness: marijana.markotic@daghammarskjold.se