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Policy and Research Intern

The Organisation

The Nobel Peace Prize winning International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) is a dynamic and energetic campaign coalition consisting of over 600 non-governmental organisations in 108 countries. The ICAN staff team coordinates a global network of committed and passionate activists to make the world safer, more equal and just by prohibiting and eliminating nuclear weapons.

Since its founding in 2007, ICAN has worked to build a powerful global groundswell of public support for the abolition of nuclear weapons. ICAN organise public awareness-raising events, and engage in advocacy at the United Nations and in national parliaments. The campaign work with survivors of the US atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and of nuclear testing, helping share their testimonies and stories with the public and decision makers.

The campaign led the groundbreaking efforts to achieve the first ever multilateral treaty to prohibit nuclear weapons, and was awarded the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize for these efforts.

ICAN opened its international headquarters in Geneva in 2011 and has since then employed a small but effective staff team. Today the team consists of 13 staff members, the majority in Geneva, Switzerland and the rest spread out around the world.

The Position

The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) is looking for a student to join our team as a policy and research intern to support our research on the humanitarian impacts of nuclear weapons and the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW).

The policy and research intern will assist the Policy and Research Coordinator, including with research and advocacy to implement the Vienna Action Plan, outreach and coordination with academics working on the TPNW and the humanitarian impacts of nuclear weapons, tracking nuclear policy developments including at the UN General Assembly First Committee and sending out a newsletter on relevant research and policy developments. The intern will also work with the team to support ICAN’s preparations for the TPNW 2nd Meeting of States Parties from 27 November - 1 December.

This role provides the opportunity for a student to gain expertise on nuclear weapons policy and international law and hone research and writing skills while contributing to the full implementation of a ground-breaking international treaty and learning about the inner workings of a small, successful NGO. The internship period is 10 weeks. The intern may work in the Geneva office, if they have the right to live and work in Switzerland, or remotely. Applicants of colour, indigineous applicants, applicants that identify as LGBQTI+SB, applicants who identify as women or non-binary, applicants with disabilites and applicants from communities harmed by nuclear weapons are particularly encouraged to apply. .

See the job description as a PDF here.

Main activities

  • Conduct targeted research to support the implementation of the TPNW, as directed by the Policy and Research Coordinator
  • Assist with tracking international meetings, such as the UN General Assembly First Committee
  • Assist with drafting materials, such as the policy and research newsletter and briefing resources for campaigners, diplomats and the media
  • Track academic articles on the TPNW and general nuclear weapons policy
  • Assist with coordination calls, meetings and other events
  • Work on other assignments as needed.

Qualifications

  • Experience conducting and summarising policy research
  • Ability to write clearly and concisely in a variety of formats
  • Ability to work quickly, precisely and autonomously
  • Strong interest in international law and nuclear disarmament and desire to learn more
  • Some pre-existing knowledge of international law and/or nuclear weapons policy, including the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, is strongly preferred

Renumeration

360 CHF per week for 10 weeks, for 15 hours of work per week.

How to apply

Please send us your CV, a cover letter and a writing sample in PDF format named as SURNAME_Name_CV-CL-Writing to [email protected] under the subject line: Application research intern SURNAME NAME by 2 October 2023.