IR career starters - February 2025
We're delighted that Alexander Borum, a Policy Leader Fellow for the European University Institute in Florence, Italy, has kindly agreed for us to reproduce his periodical list of internships, traineeships, fellowships and entry-level positions in IR on our website.
We have reached the first Thursday of February, and once again, it is time for another iteration of the #IRCareerStarters newsletter. This newsletter is issued amid massive international turmoil that is bound to impact the entire global international affairs sector for years to come.
This month has only a meagre haul of opportunities, and to the best of my ability, I can only explain this by two key events; first of all, January is typically a big intake month, so the job market usually dwindles a little bit in the wake of this, and secondly, the US job market imploded overnight with the immense shifts in policy since President Trump took office. Much of the international affairs domain is interconnected, and with the US historically being the largest individual donor, it has significant ramifications worldwide.
I wish I could bring better news, but I can only imagine that the foreseeable future will present more challenges for anyone pursuing a career in this domain. This is troublesome because, under normal circumstances, it is already incredibly competitive.
Legend:
ACA - Academia and Research
DEV - International Development
DIP - Diplomacy and Policy
ECO - Economic Affairs and Trade
EDU - Education and Culture
ENV - Environment and Climate
HEA - Global Health
HUM - Human Rights / Humanitarian Affairs
LAW - International Law and Justice
PUD - Public Diplomacy, Communication and Media
SEC - Peace and Security
TEC - Technology, AI and Cyber
ππ§ππ«π², Junior Policy Analyst(s) - Structural and Industry Policy, Paris (2) [ENV] [ECO]
ππ§πππ«π§, Transport and Climate Change, Bonn [ENV]
ππ§πππ«π§, Communication internship in the Sustainable Energy Project Development, Berlin or Bonn [ENV] [PUD]
ππ§πππ«π§, Communications in the International Power-to-X Hub on climate action with green hydrogen and Power-to-X, Berlin or Bonn [ENV] [PUD]
ππ§πππ«π§, Technical Internship in the Sustainable Energy Project Development, Berlin or Bonn [ENV]
ππ§πππ«π§, Transport and Climate Change, Bonn [ENV]
π International Crisis Group π
ππ§πππ«π§, Video & Photography, Brussels [PUD] [SEC]
ππ§ππ«π², Junior Project Officer - Operations Department [SEC] [HUM]
ππ§πππ«π§, Board Operations, Beijing [DEV] [PUD]
ππ§πππ«π§, Strategic Planning and Membership, Beijing [DEV] [PUD]
ππ§πππ«π§, Ethics, Beijing [LAW] [ACA]
ππ§πππ«π§, Information Management, Beijing [PUD] [ACA]
ππ§πππ«π§, Financial Institutions and Funds Clients, Beijing [ECO]
ππ§πππ«π§, Financial and Data, Beijing [ECO]
ππ§πππ«π§, AI, Beijing [TEC] [ECO]
ππ§πππ«π§, Counterparty Data, Beijing [ECO]
ππ§πππ«π§, Project and Corporate Finance, Beijing [ECO] [ACA]
ππ§πππ«π§, Investment - Transport, Beijing [ECO] [ACA]
ππ§πππ«π§, Investment - Urban & Water, Beijing [DEV]
ππ§πππ«π§, Investment - Urban, Beijing [DEV] [TEC]
ππ§πππ«π§, Capital Markets Risk and Quantitative Analytics, Beijing [ACA] [TEC]
ππ§πππ«π§, Compliance, Beijing [TEC] [ECO]
ππ§πππ«π§, Investment Solutions, Beijing [ACA] [DIP] [ENV]
ππ§πππ«π§, Environment and Social, Beijing [ENV] [DEV]
ππ§πππ«π§, Budget, Beijing [ECO]
ππ§πππ«π§, Corporate Strategy, Beijing [ECO]
ππ§πππ«π§, Communications Department Collaborative Project, Beijing [PUD]
ππ§ππ«π², Portfolio Associate (Data Analytics), Beijing [ECO]
ππ§ππ«π², Portfolio Associate (Financial Institution Finance), Beijing [ECO]
ππ§ππ«π², Portfolio Associate (Project & Corporate Finance), Beijing [ECO]
ππ§ππ«π², Portfolio Associate (Middle Office), Beijing [ECO]
ππ§ππ«π², Budget Associate - Strategic Staffing, Beijing [ECO]
π Caribbean Development Bank π
ππ§ππ«π², Project Assistant, EU-CDB Food Security Programme, St. Michael [DIP]
https://www.caribank.org/work-with-us/careers/open-positions
ππ§πππ«π§, Desk research on the humanitarian implications of the use of AI in warfare, Geneva [TEC] [HUM]
ππ§πππ«π§, Manson Unit Resources, London [HEA] [HUM]
ππ§πππ«π§, Recruitment Support & Marketing, Brussels [PUD]
ππ§ππ«π², Community Fundraising Assistantβ―, London [HUM]
ππ§πππ«π§, Development & Outreach, Amsterdam [PUD] [HUM]
ππ§ππ«π², Associate, Los Angeles [PUD] [HUM]
π European Council on Foreign Relations π
ππ§πππ«π§, Programme Support - Events & Advocacy, Sofia [PUD]
ππ§πππ«π§, Event & Communication, Paris [PUD]
π European Institute of Peace π
ππ§ππ«π², Grant & Finance Assistant, Brussels [ECO]
π Council on Foreign Relations π
π ππ₯π₯π¨π°, Fellow/ Senior Fellow for Climate Change Policy, New York or Washington DC [ENV] [ACA]
π ππ₯π₯π¨π°, Stanton Nuclear Security Senior Fellow, Washington DC [SEC] [ACA]
ππ§ππ«π², Executive Assistant, Global Communications, New York [PUD]
ππ§ππ«π², Executive Assistant, Human Resources, New York [PUD]
ππ§ππ«π², Program Assistant, Corporate Affairs, New York [PUD] [ECO]
ππ§ππ«π², Research Associate, History and Foreign Policy, New York [ACA]
ππ§ππ«π², Research Associate, Digital and Cyberspace Policy, Washington DC [ACA] [TEC]
ππ§πππ«π§, Defence & Security Research, Brussels [ACA] [SEC]
ππ§πππ«π§, Legal Research, Brussels [ACA] [LAW]
ππ§πππ«π§, Communications, Brussels [PUD]
ππ§πππ«π§, Editor, Brussels [PUD] [ACA]
π Brookings Institution π
π ππ₯π₯π¨π°, Fellow/Senior Fellow, Center on Health Policy [HEA] [ACA]
ππ§ππ«π², Research Assistant, Center for Economic Security and Opportunity [ACA]
ππ§ππ«π², Research Assistant, The Hutchins Center on Fiscal and Monetary Policy [ACA] [ECO]
ππ§ππ«π², Administrative Assistant (Security Clearance), Washington DC [SEC]
ππ§ππ«π², Administrative Assistant (Service Desk/Floater), - [ACA]
ππ§ππ«π², Administrative Assistant, Boston [ACA]
π Carnegie Endowment for International Peace π
ππ§πππ«π§, Communication, Beirut [PUD]
ππ§πππ«π§, Security Studies, New Delhi [ACA] [SEC]
ππ§πππ«π§, Research, Beirut [ACA]
ππ§πππ«π§, Global Health Policy Center (Spring 2025), Washington DC [HEA] [PUD]
ππ§πππ«π§, Renewing American Innovation Project (Spring 2025), Washington DC [TEC]
ππ§πππ«π§, Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program (Spring 2025), Washington DC [ACA] [DIP]
ππ§πππ«π§, Project on Trade and Technology (Spring 2025), Washington DC [ACA] [ECO]
ππ§πππ«π§, Hidden Reach/ iDeas Lab (Spring 2025), Washington DC [ACA]
ππ§πππ«π§, Multimedia Production - iDeas Lab (Spring2025), Washington DC [PUD]
ππ§πππ«π§, The Critical Minerals Security Program (Spring 2025), Washington DC [ACA]
ππ§πππ«π§, Economic Security and Technology Department (Spring 2025), Washington DC [ACA]
ππ§πππ«π§, Aerospace Security Project (Spring 2025), Washington DC [ACA]
ππ§πππ«π§, Project on Prosperity and Development (PPD) (Spring 2025), Washington DC [PUD] [ACA]
ππ§πππ«π§, Data Visualization - iDeas Lab, Washington DC [PUD] [ACA]
ππ§πππ«π§, Communications (Spring 2025), Washington DC [PUD]
ππ§πππ«π§, Arleigh Burke Chair in Strategy / Defense & Security Department (Spring 2025), Washington DC [SEC]
π ππ₯π₯π¨π°, Critical Minerals Security Program, Washington DC [ACA] [PUD]
ππ§ππ«π², CRM Associate - External Relations/ Information Technology, Washington DC [PUD]
π Geneva Centre for Security Policy π
ππ§ππ«π², Junior Professional Officer Community Engagement and Communications, Brussels [PUD]
π Asian Development Bank π
ππ§ππ«π², Strategy and Policy Assistant, Manila [DIP]
ππ§πππ«π§, Economics, London [ECO] [ACA]
ππ§ππ«π², Associate Treasury Accounting, London [ECO]
ππ§ππ«π², Associate, Optimization Process Improvement, London [ECO]
ππ§ππ«π², Associate, Cost Management FP&A, London [ECO]
ππ§ππ«π², Assistant, Banking, Istanbul, London [ECO]
ππ§ππ«π², Program Associate, Kazakhstan,- [SEC] [DEV]
ππ§πππ«π§, Senior Operations and Administration Officer, Fort Dauphin [DEV]
ππ§πππ«π§, Conservation Research Coordinator, Fort Dauphin [ENV] [ACA]
ππ§πππ«π§, Senior Conservation Research Assistant, Fort Dauphin [ENV] [ACA]
ππ§πππ«π§, Programmes Manager - Schools, WASH and Solar, Fort Dauphin [EDU]
ππ§πππ«π§, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Project Lead, Fort Dauphin [HUM] [DEV]
ππ§πππ«π§, Development, Brussels [ECO]
π ππ₯π₯π¨π°, Visiting, Brussels [ACA]
ππ§ππ«π², Micro-economist with expertise in trade policy, Brussels [ACA] [ECO]
ππ§πππ«π§, Africa Programme, Brussels [PUD]
ππ§ππ«π², Doctoral Researchers for the Europe in the World Programme, Brussels (2) [ACA] [SEC]
π European Patientsβ Forum π
ππ§ππ«π², Capacity Building Assistant, Brussels [HEA]
ππ§πππ«π§, HR Support, Athens or Lesvos [HUM]
ππ§πππ«π§, Humanitarian Aid, Athens or Lesvos [HUM]
ππ§πππ«π§, Community Empowerment Mobilization, Athens or Lesvos [HUM]
ππ§πππ«π§, Integration Support, Athens or Lesvos [HUM]
ππ§πππ«π§, Voluntary Fieldworker, Athens or Lesvos [HUM]
π Civil Rights Defenders π
ππ§ππ«π², Press and Communications Officer (temporary position), Stockholm [PUD]
ππ§ππ«π², European Policy Officer, Lorraine [ACA] [ENV]
π Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum π
ππ§ππ«π², Finance Assistant, Brussels [ECO]
π Environmental Justice Foundation π
ππ§ππ«π², Oceans Research Assistant - Taiwan, Taipei [ENV]
π Consortium on Gender, Security & Human Rights π
ππ§πππ«π§, Research and Administrative, Boston [ACA]
ππ§πππ«π§, Social Media and Communications, Boston [PUD]
ππ§πππ«π§, Graphic Design, Boston [PUD]
ππ§πππ«π§, Volunteer, -
ππ§ππ«π², Project Associate - Thailand, Bangkok [PUD]
ππ§ππ«π², Project Associate, Indo-Pacific Media Resilience Project, Jakarta [PUD]
ππ§ππ«π², Accounting, Finance, and Administration Officer, Bangkok [ECO] [HUM]
ππ§πππ«π§, Law Student, Remote [LAW] [ACA]
π Adam Smith International π
ππ§ππ«π², Junior Audit Expert: Junior Non-Key Expert - ToR, Garowe [ECO] [DEV]
π International Center for Transitional Justice π
ππ§πππ«π§, Programs, New York [HUM] [DEV]
ππ§πππ«π§, Communications, New York [PUD] [HUM]
ππ§πππ«π§, Design, Monitoring and Evaluation, New York [HUM] [DEV]
ππ§πππ«π§, Executive Office, Geneva [HUM] [DIP]
ππ§πππ«π§, Audio Visual Archives, Geneva [HUM] [PUD]
ππ§πππ«π§, Paper Archives, Geneva [HUM]
ππ§ππ«π², Business Development Associate, Professional Subscription [ECO]
π Open Society Foundation π
ππ§πππ«π§, Masters Associate, New York (2) [ECO]
ππ§ππ«π², Program Associate, - (32) [DEV]
ππ§ππ«π², Data Management Associate, Bangkok [TEC] [HUM]
π United Nations University π
ππ§πππ«π§, Research Fellow β Generative AI and Education Research, Macao (remote) [TEC] [EDU]
π ππ₯π₯π¨π°, Government Fellow, Guimaraes (8) [TEC] [DIP]
ππ§ππ«π², Communication Design Associate, Bonn [PUD] [ACA]
ππ§ππ«π², Communications and Project Assistant, Maputo [PUD]
π Stockholm Environment Institute π
ππ§πππ«π§, Climate Adaptation and Resilience, Tallinn [ENV] [ACA]
ππ§πππ«π§, Student Assistant Measuring Success, Bonn [ACA]
ππ§πππ«π§, Student Assistant Data Ambassador, Bonn [ACA]
ππ§πππ«π§, Volunteer Video Editor & Translator, Bangkok [PUD]
ππ§πππ«π§, Account and Finance, Bangkok [ECO] [HUM]
ππ§πππ«π§, Health Literacy Empowerment Program, Bangkok [HEA] [DEV]
ππ§πππ«π§, Community Empowerment Program, Bangkok [PUD] [DEV]
ππ§πππ«π§, Project Development, Beirut [DEV] [ACA]
ππ§πππ«π§, General, Dublin or UK [HUM]
ππ§πππ«π§, Volunteer, Dublin [HUM]
π Search for Common Ground π
ππ§πππ«π§, Communication, Brussels [PUD]
ππ§πππ«π§, Global Programmes, Washington DC [SEC]
ππ§πππ«π§, Program Development Asia Regional Team, Bishkek [SEC] [DIP]
π Global Center on Adaptation π
ππ§πππ«π§, Infrastructure and Nature-based Solutions, Rotterdam [ENV]
π Hague Centre for Strategic Studies π
ππ§ππ«π², Data Scientist & Software Developer, The Hague [ACA]
ππ§ππ«π², Regional Program Assistant β AMPLIFY, WPS, San Francisco [DEV] [DIP]
ππ§πππ«π§, Partnerships, Nairobi [DEV]
ππ§ππ«π², ICT Support Assistant, Suva (3) [TEC]
ππ§ππ«π², Finance Assistant [ECO] [HEA]
ππ§πππ«π§, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning, Geneva [ACA] [HUM]
ππ§πππ«π§, Junior Research Officer (Mixed Methods), Geneva [ACA]
ππ§πππ«π§, Data Management, Geneva [ACA] [ECO]
ππ§πππ«π§, Data, Geneva [ACA] [HUM]
ππ§ππ«π², Junior Data Officer based, Geneva [ACA]
ππ§πππ«π§, Democratic Republic of Congo: Country Finance Volunteer β Kinshasa [ECO] [HUM]
ππ§πππ«π§, France: AML/CFT Vetting Intern β Paris [ECO] [ACA]
ππ§ππ«π², Mozambique: Country Security Officer β Pemba [ACA] [SEC]
ππ§ππ«π², Chad: Country Finance Officer β NβDjamena [ECO] [HUM]
ππ§ππ«π², Democratic Republic of the Congo: Country Finance Officer β Kinshasa [ECO] [HUM]
ππ§ππ«π², Uzbekistan : Project Development Officer β Tashkent [DEV]
ππ§ππ«π², Bangladesh: Country Transparency & Compliance Officer β Coxβs Bazar [ECO] [DEV]
ππ§ππ«π², Ukraine: Country Logistics Officer β Kyiv [DEV]
ππ§ππ«π², Lebanon : Project Development Officer β Beirut [DEV]
ππ§ππ«π², Sudan: Information Management Officer β Port-Sudan [ACA] [HUM]
ππ§ππ«π², Syria : Project Development Officer β Amman [DEV]
ππ§ππ«π², Sudan: Country Finance Officer β Gedaref [ECO] [HUM]
ππ§ππ«π², Democratic Republic of the Congo : Area Finance Officer β Bukavu [ECO] [HUM]
ππ§ππ«π², Mali : Country Finance Officer β Bamako [ECO] [HUM]
ππ§ππ«π², France : Security Officer β Paris [SEC] [ECO]
ππ§ππ«π², Burkina Faso: Country Transparency & Compliance Officer β Ouagadougou [ECO] [DEV]
ππ§ππ«π², Mali : Country Security Officer β Bamako [SEC] [DEV]
π Danish Refugee Council π
ππ§πππ«π§, Peacebuilding, Tripoli [SEC] [ACA]
ππ§ππ«π², Economic Recovery Assistant, Sanurfa (2) [DEV] [ECO]
ππ§ππ«π², Economic Recovery Assistant, Kilis (2) [DEV] [ECO]
ππ§ππ«π², Economic Recovery Assistant, Hatay (2) [DEV] [ECO]
ππ§ππ«π², Humanitarian Mine Action Assistant, Mocha (4) [HUM]
ππ§ππ«π², Humanitarian Mine Action Assistant -Interpreter, Mocha [HUM]
ππ§ππ«π², Protection Assistant, Dnipro [HUM]
ππ§πππ«π§, Cyber Power and Future Conflict Programme, IISS-Asia, Singapore [SEC] [TEC]
ππ§πππ«π§, 2025 Research Specialists, Washington DC [ACA]
ππ§πππ«π§, 2025 Young Professionals Program, Washington DC [ACA]
ππ§πππ«π§, 2025 Publication Fellows, Washington DC [ACA]
π ππ₯π₯π¨π°, 2025 International Affairs Fellows, Washington DC [ACA]
ππ§πππ«π§, Monitoring and Evaluation, Shoreline [ACA] [DEV]
ππ§ππ«π², Project Officer, Abuja [DEV]
ππ§ππ«π², MEL Officer, Islamabad [DEV] [ACA]
ππ§ππ«π², Team Assistant, Tunis [DEV]
ππ§ππ«π², Project Management Assistant, Vienna [DEV]
ππ§ππ«π², Project Officer, Baghdad [DEV]
ππ§ππ«π², Junior Project Officer, Abuja [DEV] [HUM]
ππ§ππ«π², Project Officer, Istanbul [DEV]
ππ§ππ«π², Project Management Assistant, Istanbul [DEV]
ππ§ππ«π², Risk Management and Internal Controls Officer, Vienna
ππ§ππ«π², MEL Officer, Vienna [DEV] [ACA]
ππ§ππ«π², Junior ICT Officer - Service Desk, Brussels [TEC]
ππ§πππ«π§, Nordic Atlantic Cooperation, Torshavn (2) [DIP]
Photo by Kyle Glenn on Unsplash