Funded traineeships for young graduates at the EU Delegation to The United Nations in New York

Traineeships of up to 6 months within the following sections of the EU Delegation to The United Nations in New York, starting in March2026, start date and duration subject to budget availability:

Section 1 - Traineeship in the Political Affairs and Security Council:

Dealing with these subjects including the activities of the United Nations relating to international peace and security, including peacekeeping, peacebuilding, and non-proliferation/disarmament issues, in particular at the Security Council and General Assembly, and coordinates as appropriate the position of the EU and its Member States in these fora.

Section 2 - Coordination, Press and Information:

The section ensures policy coordination across thematic issues (including contacts with the UN Secretariat, EU Headquarters, and partners; for the Delegation’s briefings and reports), organises the EU Ambassadors meetings and diplomatic outreach with the wider UN membership, coordinates EU positions and negotiates processes at the General Assembly plenary (including on the UN80 Reform process and the Revitalization of the GA, and notably the coordination of the EU presence during High-Level Week in September), organizes EU events, and conducts all press, information and public diplomacy activities of the EU at the UN.

Section 3 – International Partnerships and Sustainable Development:

This section works on the achievement of Agenda 2030 and its Sustainable Development Goals. It covers issues structured in four clusters: (i) social, (ii) economic, (iii) green and blue and (iv) digital and infrastructure. These issues – and their geopolitical context - are discussed within the UN General Assembly and specifically its 2nd Committee and the UN Economic and Social Council. In 2026, this Section will coordinate several processes such as the High-Level Meetings on HIV/AIDS, Pandemic Preparedness Prevention and Response and Sea-Level Rise and the International Migration Review Forum – in addition to the annual processes such as the Commission for Social Development, the Commission on Population and Development and of course the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development which will be crucial ahead of the 2027 SDG Summit. The Section will also focus on the sustainable development pillar of the UN80 process. Specific interest/qualification in one or more of the four clusters will be greatly appreciated.

Section 4 - Human Rights and Social Affairs

Dealing with human rights and social affairs, through the work of the 3rd Committee, the Commission on the Status of Women, the Commission on Social Development and other UN processes and events covering a wide range of issues in the area of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights.

Section 5 - UN Horizontal Issues, UN Budgets, Management and Reform

The Fifth Committee (5C) is the main committee of the UN General Assembly responsible for the implementation of mandates and the proper functioning of the UN. This session will be dedicated to peacekeeping.

The EU Member States collectively are the largest financial contributor to the UN (±24%). The role of the EU in the 5C consists in coordinating the EU Member States to promote a common position in 5C negotiations and representing the 27 Member States in the 5C. 5C provides a unique platform for close contact with all UN officials, and the EU plays a major role in ensuring that all mandates gets the necessary funds to be fully implemented, and in supporting UN managers and other Member States in building a more effective Organization.

Section 6 – Legal and Institutional Affairs, Counter-terrorism and Sanctions:

The Legal Section follows developments on:

UN legal affairs, in particular the work of the UNGA 6th Committee, as well as Law of the Sea, international courts and tribunals;

Accountability issues (state responsibility for internationally wrongful acts, individual criminal responsibility, investigation mechanisms etc.);

UN sanctions, in particular the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and their implementation in the EU legal system;

UN counter-terrorism activities;

The Legal Section also provides legal advice to the Delegation on all EU and UN legal and institutional matters.

Section 7 - Humanitarian Affairs

The Humanitarian Section:

Represents the EU in international dialogues on humanitarian issues, including on the normative frameworks for humanitarian action (UNGA and ECOSOC);

Attends operational and donor briefings and reports on their contents, and expresses on these occasions EU priorities, concerns and views on the operational activities and policies of the humanitarian organisations;

Engages in humanitarian advocacy and diplomacy vis-a-vis UN bodies and UN Member States;

Maintains contacts with representatives of the EU’s key humanitarian partners at the UN Secretariat (OCHA), international organisations (ICRC, IFRC) and other relevant actors in New York;

Follows discussions on thematic issues and relevant country situations in the different UN bodies, including at the Security Council.