GPF Summer 2011 Team with Executive Director James Paul

Global Policy Forum welcomes applications for internships. We encourage qualified undergraduates to apply, as well as graduate students and those between degrees. We welcome students who have studied the United Nations and international organizations, but we consider specialized academic training less important than intelligence, enthusiasm for learning and dedication to GPF's goals.

GPF is looking for applicants who are students of Political Science, International Relations, International Law, Political Economy or International Public Policy Studies. We especially encourage applications from those with broad international travel and work experience and those with a progressive, egalitarian and global outlook.


A Supportive Environment

GPF provides a very intern-supportive environment. Internships begin with a well-developed orientation process, in which interns learn about web posting, internet research, and GPF's program priorities. All interns participate as members of a team and interact closely with their supervisors.

Melissa, Lydia and Valerie update the GPF website

Staff meetings, feedback meetings and many opportunities for informal discussion help interns learn about GPF's programs and provide a perspective on the organization as a whole.

Interns attend a GPF luncheon series, taking place about every two weeks that puts them in touch with other professionals working within the UN system, at UN missions, in NGOs or within academia or journalism. Interns may also get a chance to attend receptions and other functions at the UN, including sessions of the General Assembly and the Security Council. All interns greatly expand their knowledge of the UN and its agencies.

In the office building, a community of many NGOs often cooperate and socialize together. Interns can network with these and other NGOs, as well as UN and mission staff. Interns can take advantage of New York's diverse cultural and entertainment offerings. They are able to obtain inexpensive tickets to the theater and concerts, low-cost exercise options, tours of the city and other advantages to optimize their life in New York. Interns often socialize outside the office and get to know people in the GPF community.

After leaving GPF, former interns join the GPF alumni network. Through an alumni forum, they can network with other GPF alumni. Interns take advantage of their GPF connections to reach employment and academic goals. GPF Director Jim Paul has written recommendations for jobs, graduate school applications and fellowships for many intern alumni.

Over 150 talented interns from more than sixty different institutions and forty different countries have joined GPF at some time since 1997.

Intern Responsibilities

Francois & Miriam consider a joint project

GPF interns are involved in an intensive process of learning and observing, which enriches their knowledge of international affairs, the UN, non governmental organizations, GPF, and the many issues we work on. Each intern specializes in one or more well-defined areas, known at GPF as "portfolios." There are a number of such portfolios -- Security Council, Social and Economic Policy, NGOs, UN Reform, International Justice, UN Finance, Nations & States, and Globalization.

While interns have a variety of different opportunities and experiences, they have a primary focus on the GPF website in their portfolio area(s). They devote the majority of their time to this activity, in which they learn about finding, selecting and posting information to the site. This may include attending and following UN meetings and negotiations. It is an intense learning experience, involving research, writing, CMS and HTML. Interns also gain deeper knowledge and understanding of the UN, global policy and GPF's priorities.

In addition to learning about GPF's program work, interns learn about administration of the office, giving them a sense of how GPF works and the team process that draws on many people cooperating. These administrative tasks include preparing mailings, helping organize meetings, ordering supplies, and generally keeping the office nice and tidy.

Depending on GPF's priorities and interns' capacities, interns may be asked to take on special projects in addition to their other responsibilities. These tasks can include updating texts on the website, researching for blog entries or policy papers, and preparing for NGO meetings.

Interns have made very Favorable Comments about their internship experience and some have considered their internship a defining moment in their search for a career path and life direction.

What We are Looking For

GPF gets many applications for internships and only well-qualified, highly-motivated applicants are chosen. As a result, the success-rate of the internships is very high.

We look for candidates who are highly talented but who are also ready to do more ordinary tasks with a spirit of enthusiasm and cooperation. We know that interns who are motivated, eager to learn and work hard, often have more successful internships. We value those who interact well in a team setting and who gladly lend a hand to fellow interns and staff when needed.

We also look for those who have shown the most active engagement on policy issues parallel to our interests. Those who have been involved in such campus issues as globalization, human rights, fair labor, anti-war movements and the like tend to catch our eye. We look for those who question received ideas and who look inquisitively at dominant institutions.

Time Commitment, Costs, Credit

Fatima and Evamaria strategize

GPF expects an intern to stay several months. Those who stay longer learn more and have a richer overall experience. We can provide out-of-town candidates with some information on how to find accommodation in New York. We estimate that monthly subsistence expenses (lodging, transport and food) run about $1,300-$1,500. In addition, some provision ($200?) should probably be allowed for miscellaneous expenses, including entertainment.

GPF internships are unpaid. Some interns arrange for subsistence funding from their universities. Some raise money from multiple sources by asking local people and institutions for support. Some rely on personal savings and family help. University credit can also sometimes be arranged.

For information on application procedures and deadlines, please consult our Application page.

We expect applicants to be thoroughly familiar with the site and to have read carefully many of the analytical essays. We appreciate applications that follow closely our application instructions.

We look forward to hearing from you!