About Us
The OPCW internship programme is aimed at motivated students with an interest in gaining experience in international organisations. The programme normally provides work placements in the Technical Secretariat for a three to six month period. The objective of the internship is to provide you with first-hand experience in the day-to-day working environment of an international organisation. You will work with our international experts towards the OPCW mission to achieve a world permanently free of chemical weapons.
As part of our team, working directly with outstanding and inspiring career professionals, you will be exposed to high-profile conferences, participate in meetings, and contribute to our analytical work as well as the organisational policy of the OPCW.
General Information
Responsibilities
Job Summary
The Budget and Finance Branch (BFB) applies best practice budgetary and financial support services to the OPCW. The Branch is responsible for developing and managing the OPCW Programme and Budget, supporting the management and reporting of extra-budgetary funding, preparation of the OPCW Financial Statements, collecting assessed State Party contributions and other income, and administering all payments for the organization. The Branch carries out its functions in accordance with the financial regulations and rules and decisions of the OPCW policy-making organs and serves as a key interlocutor with the Organization's External Auditor.
The Budget Section Intern will provide support in coordination with multiple offices, mapping the meeting participants and checking their availability or proposing alternate suitable options. They will also support with proof-reading of the documents, reviewing formats and matching the approved budget vs actual implementation. The above will be helpful for the Intern's career path to familiarize themselves with contributions management and how to review/analyze data to evaluate variance.
Tentative start date: March 2025
Main Responsibilities
During the Internship, the selected candidate will be involved in the following:
- Support the budget section in archiving the last few year's files and database;
- The budget section has multiple events in 2025 related to the next biennium programme and budget, for which close coordination and follow-ups are required with various offices. Therefore, the Intern will work closely with the Budget assistant to facilitate these arrangements;
- Assist in transitioning of last two years data to SharePoint;
- Assist in several budget analyses and forecasting, which are required for the budget review process;
- Assist in developing the cover sheets for future extra-budgetary contributions;
- Under the guidance of Head of Budget, assist in reviewing the extra budgetary contributions reports, to ensure they are aligned with the donor requirements.
Qualifications and Experience
Education
Essential:
- A recent university graduate with a degree in a relevant area, such as Economics, Accounting, Finance, Business Administration or related; or, enrolled in a current in a graduate school programme (second university degree or higher);
- Be a citizen of an OPCW Member State.
Skills and Competencies
Languages
Fluency in English is essential and a good working knowledge of one of the other official languages (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, and Spanish) is desirable.Additional Information
Acceptance for the programme shall not carry with it any expectation of employment with the OPCW. Interns may not apply for, or be appointed to, any posts or positions at the OPCW within six months of the internship agreement end date. The internship programme is run in accordance with the applicable internal rules and where applicable the OPCW Staff Regulations and Interim Staff Rules.
- Participants in the Internship Programme receive no financial remuneration from the OPCW for expenses that they incur in relation to the programme. Costs and arrangements for travel, visas, taxes, accommodation, living expenses and repatriation, etc. are the responsibility of the intern. The intern has to enter and exit the country in accordance with the applicable immigration procedures in The Netherlands.
- Participants will be asked to provide proof that they have sufficient financial means for living expenses for the period of their internship.
- Interns will work with the normal working pattern of the OPCW which will amount to no more than 40 hours a week.
- Participants who are citizens of non-EU countries should agree not to undertake other work in the Netherlands during their internship other than as an intern at the OPCW, notwithstanding whether such other work is compatible with the discharge of their functions with the OPCW.
Only fully completed applications submitted before the closing date and through OPCW CandidateSpace will be considered.
Only applicants under serious consideration for a post will be contacted.
According to article 8 paragraph 44 of the Chemical Weapons Convention the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible.
OPCW is committed to maintaining a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. OPCW recruits and employs staff regardless of disability status, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, language, race, marital status, religious, ethnic, cultural and socio-economic backgrounds, or any other personal characteristics.
OPCW General Terms and Conditions