International Alert is a leading peacebuilding organisation with more than 30 years of experience supporting communities and working with governments, organisations and businesses to promote peace.
The organisation works in conflict-affected and threatened areas to support peacebuilding, improve international policies relevant to peace and strengthen the peacebuilding sector.
Internship Programme Overview
The Internship Programme is designed to provide qualified young Nigerian professionals with structured practical experience within an international peacebuilding organisation.
Following its previous internship programme, International Alert is expanding geographical representation by providing opportunities specifically for qualified applicants from the Northeast, Northwest and North-Central regions of Nigeria.
Successful interns will gain hands-on exposure to programme implementation, research, communications, advocacy and organisational processes while working alongside experienced professionals.
This opportunity is particularly relevant to candidates searching for International Development Internships in Nigeria, Peacebuilding Internship in Nigeria and NGO Internship in Abuja.
Purpose of the Internship Programme
The purpose of the Internship Programme is to provide young Nigerian professionals with practical workplace experience while enabling International Alert to benefit from their skills, perspectives and knowledge.
Interns will have opportunities to:
- Gain practical experience in programme implementation, communications and advocacy.
- Develop professional skills in a real-world organisational environment.
- Gain exposure to peacebuilding, conflict prevention, social cohesion and development programming.
- Participate in project activities and stakeholder engagements.
- Strengthen research, writing, documentation and analytical skills.
- Develop practical experience in communications, media engagement and digital advocacy.
- Understand how donor-funded programmes are designed, implemented, monitored and reported.
- Build professional networks relevant to future employment.
Internship Streams
International Alert will recruit interns under two streams:
1. Programmes Internship
Programme Interns will support programme teams with the planning, implementation, documentation, monitoring and coordination of peacebuilding and development projects.
2. Communications and Advocacy Internship
Communications and Advocacy Interns will support the Communications and Advocacy function in documenting and communicating International Alert’s work, engaging media and stakeholders, and developing content for organisational communication platforms.
Key Responsibilities
Programme Intern
- Support the planning and implementation of trainings, workshops, community dialogues, meetings and consultations.
- Assist with activity preparation and logistics, including agendas, participant lists, materials and stakeholder coordination.
- Support field-level project implementation and promote inclusive participation.
- Assist with monitoring and data collection using relevant monitoring tools.
- Support activity reports, meeting minutes, field visit reports and project updates.
- Document project results, lessons learned, good practices and stories of change.
- Maintain organised programme files and records.
- Support engagement and follow-up with communities, CSOs, government institutions and other stakeholders.
Communications and Advocacy Intern
- Support the development of content for International Alert’s website and social media platforms.
- Prepare or assist with posts, captions, programme updates, human-interest stories and other communications materials.
- Identify and document programme achievements, case studies and stories of change.
- Support media engagement and maintain relevant media contacts.
- Monitor media coverage and compile media mentions.
- Assist with social media content calendars, photography, activity documentation and basic engagement analytics.
- Conduct research and support the preparation of advocacy briefs, talking points and presentations.
- Monitor relevant policy and public discourse.
- Participate in selected programme activities to document International Alert’s work.
- Work with Programme and Communications teams to ensure evidence and impact are effectively documented and communicated.
Learning and Professional Development
The internship is structured to provide meaningful learning and professional development. Interns will have opportunities to:
- Learn from experienced International Alert staff.
- Participate in relevant meetings, learning sessions and field activities.
- Gain exposure to project management and programme processes.
- Strengthen writing, reporting, research and analytical skills.
- Develop communications and stakeholder engagement experience.
- Understand conflict-sensitive programming and peacebuilding approaches.
- Build professional networks within the development and peacebuilding sector.
Each intern will be assigned a supervisor who will provide guidance, support and periodic feedback throughout the internship.
Expected Outputs
Depending on the assigned internship stream, interns may contribute to:
- Activity reports and meeting documentation.
- Research and briefing notes.
- Programme documentation and monitoring information.
- Communications and advocacy materials.
- Social media content.
- Media monitoring reports.
- Media and stakeholder databases.
- Programme stories, case studies and stories of change.
- Event and activity documentation.
- Programme and communications presentations.
- Other outputs related to assigned responsibilities.
Eligibility and Minimum Requirements
Applicants must:
- Be a Nigerian citizen.
- Have completed the mandatory one-year National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme and provide evidence of completion.
- Hold a minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree from a recognised tertiary institution.
- Be from, or have strong ties to, the Northeast, Northwest or North-Central region of Nigeria.
- Demonstrate a strong interest in peacebuilding, conflict prevention, development, communications, advocacy or related fields.
- Have good written and verbal communication skills.
- Be proficient in basic Microsoft Office applications.
- Demonstrate willingness to learn and work collaboratively.
- Be available for the full six-month internship period.
- Demonstrate professionalism, integrity and commitment to International Alert’s values.
Desired Competencies
Successful candidates should demonstrate:
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
- Good writing and editing abilities.
- Research and analytical skills.
- Attention to detail.
- Good organisational and time-management skills.
- Creativity and initiative.
- Ability to work effectively within a team.
- Willingness to learn and receive feedback.
- Ability to work in a multicultural and multidisciplinary environment.
- Professionalism and integrity.
- Interest in peacebuilding and development.
- Sensitivity to conflict-affected and fragile contexts.
For Communications and Advocacy Interns, knowledge of social media platforms, basic graphic design, photography, videography or digital storytelling will be an added advantage.
Duration and Location
- Duration: Six months.
- Location: Abuja, Nigeria.
- Interns may be required to undertake field travel in accordance with International Alert’s security procedures and operational requirements.
Safeguarding and Professional Conduct
International Alert is committed to safeguarding children and adults at risk and maintaining high standards of professional conduct.
Interns will be expected to comply with the organisation’s:
- Safeguarding policies.
- Code of Conduct.
- Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) requirements.
- Anti-fraud and anti-corruption policies.
- Data protection and confidentiality requirements.
- Security and safety procedures.
- Conflict sensitivity and Do-No-Harm principles.
Interns must not independently represent International Alert externally, issue media statements, publish organisational information or post content on behalf of International Alert without appropriate authorisation.
Salary and Benefits
Stipend/Salary: Not Specified.
The programme provides structured practical experience, professional development, supervision and exposure to the peacebuilding and development sector.
Application Closing Date
17th September, 2026.
How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should send their CV and cover letter outlining their suitability for the internship to:
Email: nigeria@international-alert.org
Applicants should use one of the following as the email subject:
- Application for Programme Internship
- Application for Communications Internship
