Organization profile
Every year, millions of people around the world go missing as a result of conflict, human rights abuses, disasters, organized crime, irregular migration, and other causes.
The International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP) is an international organization with its Headquarters situated in The Hague, the Netherlands. ICMP’s mandate is to secure the cooperation of governments and others in locating missing persons. ICMP works globally, with field programs across the world. To learn more about ICMP click here.
Internship Setting
The Office of the Head of the Western Balkans Program includes the Senior Civil Society Initiatives Officer who is responsible for the strategic planning, design, leadership, and the implementation of ICMP initiatives that engage and strengthen the involvement of families of the missing, civil society organizations, and public engagement in all relevant processes and efforts to account for missing persons.
The Senior CSI Officer oversees the strengthening of capacities of associations of families of the missing to claim their rights, operate independently of political influence, and be recognized as credible partners by state institutions responsible for the search and identification of missing persons. Provides guidance on the design of victim-sensitive events, commemorative initiatives, and public awareness campaigns to ensure broad engagement and inclusivity.
Furthermore, the Western Balkans Program engages closely with domestic institutions (DIs), regional and international bodies responsible for addressing missing persons issues, including government authorities, justice institutions, forensic and specialized bodies and international organizations. Government Relations activities within the WBP, run by the Government Relations Coordinator, focus on facilitating institutional cooperation, supporting capacity-building efforts, and strengthening multilateral and regional frameworks for collaboration. This includes maintaining regular dialogue with partner institutions, coordinating joint initiatives and expert-level engagements, and supporting platforms for regional cooperation, such as the Missing Persons Group (MPG). The function also contributes to strategic analysis and informed decision-making within the Program by monitoring political, institutional, and policy developments that may affect the implementation of ICMP activities.
Main duties and responsibilities
The Intern will work closely with the Senior Civil Society Initiative Officer to support selected associations of families of missing persons and civil society organizations (CSOs) in implementing projects supported through ICMP’s Small Grants Programs in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with financial support from the European Union and the Embassy of Switzerland in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The intern will assist in activities aimed at empowering these associations and CSOs, including advocacy, awareness-raising, networking and outreach. Through this role, the Intern will gain exposure to ICMP’s third-party supporters and partners, contributing to initiatives that help families of the missing exercise their rights and promote accountability, justice and importance of civil engagement.
Under the guidance of the Government Relations Coordinator (Western Balkans), the Intern will provide administrative, analytical, and coordination support to ongoing government relations activities and initiatives. The Intern will assist in day-to-day tasks related to engagement with partner institutions, preparation of meetings and events, and internal coordination within ICMP, while gaining hands-on experience in policy-oriented and programmatic work.
The internship offers an opportunity to develop practical experience in project coordination, civil society engagement, and international program management within dynamic human rights and post-conflict context.
- Attend and prepare minutes of meetings
- Assist with preparing reports
- Assist with other tasks depending on the organization’s needs
- Other related duties, as assigned
- Supporting the preparation of background materials, briefing notes, correspondence, and talking points for meetings with government officials and international partners
- Assisting in the organization and logistical preparation of meetings, workshops, and events involving institutional stakeholders
- Conducting basic desk research and compiling information on relevant institutions, policies, and initiatives related to missing persons, justice, and rule of law
Key skills and qualifications required for the internship are the following:
- Be enrolled in or have recently completed a university degree program in international relations, political science, law, social sciences, or a related field.
- Fluency in English (written and spoken)
- Commitment to the underlying objective of helping families of the missing and the authorities to account for missing persons in an impartial and transparent manner.
- Strong interest in issues related to human rights, missing persons, transitional justice, or international cooperation
- Good research, writing, and organizational skills
- Possess strong research, analysis, and drafting skills;
- Be capable of carrying out tasks with attention to detail;
- Have excellent organizational and communication skills;
- Be capable of working independently, with a strong sense of initiative and responsibility while also being able to work as part of a team; and
- Be able to adapt to a multicultural working environment, and interact positively with colleagues regardless of culture, nationality, or gender.
- Proficiency in Microsoft applications, including Word, Access, Excel, Power Point, Outlook and Teams.
BEFORE APPLYING FOR THIS INTERNSHIP PLEASE CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING:
Starting date and duration: from 1 May 2026 for a period of three months.
Minimum age: The intern should be at least 21 years of age at the date of application.
Working hours: This is a full-time position (40 hours/per week; Monday to Friday). As agreed with their supervisor, the intern must provide written notice in case of illness or other unavoidable circumstances that prevent them from observing these working hours.
Flexible work arrangement: The intern will be able to arrange a flexible schedule alternating in-office and remote work upon agreement with the supervisor. ICMP is not in a position to provide the intern with office equipment for remote work arrangements.
Visa and travel: Interns are responsible for obtaining any necessary visas. If required, ICMP may request the host state to assist a selected intern in obtaining visas. Costs and arrangements for travel, accommodation, and living expenses are the responsibility of intern.
Insurance: Interns are responsible for obtaining valid medical insurance coverage and providing proof of the same to ICMP prior to the start of the internship placement.
Conduct and confidentiality: Interns are required to sign and abide by the ICMP Code of Ethical Conduct. ICMP has the authority to terminate any internship due to unsatisfactory performance or conduct.
Privileges and immunities: In the Hague, the Netherlands – unless Dutch nationals or otherwise entitled to residency in the Netherlands – interns will be registered with the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs for a maximum period of six months and are obliged to leave the Netherlands within 15 (fifteen) days after the end of their internship with ICMP.
Renumeration: This is an unpaid internship.
VN end date: 18 February 2026
ICMP is committed to maintaining an environment of mutual respect, where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants. ICMP believes that diversity and inclusion among our staff are critical to our success as a global organization, and we seek to recruit, develop, and retain the most talented individuals from a thoroughly diverse range of candidates. ICMP is proud to be part of the International Gender Champions network.
There should be no expectation of employment by the International Commission on Missing Persons upon completion of the internship.