Remote Voluntary Internship in Research, Communication, and Humanitarian Knowledge Management at Shelter Centre|Apply by 23 Aug 2026
If you’re looking to build a career in the humanitarian sector while gaining valuable international experience from home, Shelter Centre is offering an exciting Remote Voluntary Internship in Research, Communication, and Humanitarian Knowledge Management. This opportunity is designed for students, recent graduates, and aspiring humanitarian professionals who want to develop practical skills while contributing to global humanitarian initiatives.
The internship is fully remote, providing participants with the flexibility to work from anywhere while collaborating with an international team of humanitarian experts. Successful applicants will gain hands-on experience in research, communications, project coordination, fundraising, and knowledge management over a period of four to six months.
About Shelter Centre
Founded in 2004, Shelter Centre is an international humanitarian non-governmental organization registered in Switzerland. Rather than implementing emergency operations directly, the organization works closely with humanitarian agencies worldwide to strengthen collaboration, improve technical capacity, and support effective humanitarian responses.
Shelter Centre serves the global humanitarian community by producing research, facilitating professional events, developing technical resources, and promoting knowledge sharing that helps improve shelter responses for people affected by disasters and conflict.
About the Internship
The Remote Voluntary Internship offers an excellent opportunity for individuals who are passionate about humanitarian action and eager to gain practical experience in a global NGO environment.
Interns will work alongside experienced professionals while supporting projects that contribute to humanitarian research, communication strategies, fundraising, and knowledge management.
The internship accommodates both full-time and part-time participants, making it suitable for university students and graduates seeking flexible professional experience.
Key Responsibilities
Depending on their interests, skills, and organizational needs, interns may contribute to several important areas, including:
Humanitarian Library Support
Interns will help strengthen Shelter Centre’s Humanitarian Library by:
- Developing and organizing resource collections
- Curating humanitarian guidance materials
- Supporting project coordination
- Following up on project action points
- Understanding the needs of humanitarian practitioners and affected communities
Research and Project Support
Participants will contribute to research projects through activities such as:
- Conducting literature reviews
- Performing background research
- Designing research methodologies
- Collecting and analysing qualitative and quantitative data
- Drafting research reports and policy briefs
- Preparing presentations and project proposals
- Ensuring compliance with ethical and data protection standards
Communications and Fundraising
Interns may also support communication and fundraising initiatives by:
- Creating engaging content for LinkedIn, Facebook, and X
- Supporting conference presentations
- Researching funding opportunities
- Assisting with proposal development
- Promoting Shelter Centre’s impact and humanitarian work
Who Should Apply?
Shelter Centre is looking for motivated individuals who are committed to pursuing a career in humanitarian action.
Applicants should ideally have:
- A university degree in Social Sciences, Humanitarian Studies, International Development, Communications, Media Studies, or a related discipline
- Strong research and analytical skills
- Excellent written and spoken English (minimum C1 proficiency)
- Strong organizational and time management abilities
- Good knowledge of Microsoft Office applications
- A genuine passion for humanitarian work
Current Master’s students whose academic programmes require an internship placement are also encouraged to apply.
Preferred Qualifications
While not mandatory, the following skills will strengthen an application:
- Experience working in multicultural teams
- Knowledge of social media management
- Proposal writing experience
- Familiarity with Canva or Adobe Photoshop
- Interest in humanitarian knowledge management
- Strong communication skills
Internship Benefits
Although this is a voluntary internship, participants receive significant professional development opportunities that can strengthen their future careers.
Benefits include:
- Fully remote working arrangement
- Flexible full-time or part-time schedule
- Individual mentoring sessions
- Professional career guidance
- Recommendation letter upon successful completion
- Access to online professional development sessions
- Networking opportunities with humanitarian professionals worldwide
- Exposure to international humanitarian research and projects
These experiences provide valuable practical skills that can help participants secure future roles within NGOs, United Nations agencies, research institutions, and international development organizations.
Internship Duration
The internship lasts six months, with a minimum commitment of four months and the possibility of extension.
Participants may choose between:
- Full-time: 35 hours per week
- Part-time: 20 hours per week
All internships begin with a one-month probationary period.
Because the internship is entirely virtual, applicants must have legal permission to reside and undertake an internship in their country of residence. Successful interns are responsible for their own insurance and living expenses.
How to Apply
Interested candidates should prepare the following documents:
- An updated CV
- A motivation letter (combined with the CV into one English-language document)
Applications should be emailed to:
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, so early submission is highly recommended.
Application Deadline: 23 August 2026 (23:59 CEST)
Final Thoughts
For aspiring humanitarian professionals, this internship offers an outstanding opportunity to gain international experience without relocating. From humanitarian research and communications to project coordination and fundraising, participants will develop highly transferable skills while contributing to meaningful global initiatives.
Whether you are a recent graduate, a master’s student, or someone determined to begin a career in humanitarian assistance, Shelter Centre’s Remote Voluntary Internship provides the experience, mentorship, and professional exposure needed to take the next step toward a successful career in international development.
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Disclaimer: Remote Job Opportunities (RJO) is not the organization offering this opportunity. For any inquiries, please contact the responsible organization directly. Please do not send your applications to RJO, as we are unable to process them. Due to the high volume of emails we receive daily, we may not be able to respond to all inquiries. Thank you for your understanding.
