2026 Summer Intern: Localization and Refugee Leadership

We're happy you are here. If you are looking to be part of a vibrant, inspiring, mission-driven organization full of thinkers and doers, then read on. If you aspire to apply your research, writing, organizational, communication, and administrative skills to a transformational organization, apply for this internship.

When you join us, you will be an integral contributor to RI’s growing Refugee Leadership and Power-Shifting agenda. This portfolio is dedicated to ensuring that displaced people are leaders of advocacy, not not just subjects of it.   As an intern you will primarily support two flagship initiatives: the Refugee Fellows Program and the R-Space Refugee-Led Advocacy Platform.

Refugees International (RI) seeks great people from a wide variety of backgrounds, and we specifically encourage members of refugee, immigrant, asylum-seeking, or other displaced to apply for the internship.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Refugee Fellows Program 

• Assist in the development of fellowship training curricula by identifying and vetting expert trainers tailored to the specific needs of the cohort.
• Map potential partnerships with academic institutions, NGOs, and private sectors to expand the suite of services (scholarships, certifications, and funding) available to fellows.
• Conduct initial outreach to prospective partner organizations to initiate relationship-building and resource-sharing.

R-Space: Refugee-Led Advocacy Platform

• Provide end-to-end logistical support for R-Space events, including agenda setting, speaker coordination, and digital or in-person delivery.
• Help manage the platform’s online engagement efforts.

Research and Writing

• Monitor global trends in power-shifting and "localization" within the humanitarian sector.
• The intern will have the opportunity to research, draft, and potentially publish original content on RI’s website regarding refugee leadership and the power-shifting agenda
  

Support other tasks as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS/EXPECTATIONS

• Be enrolled as an undergraduate or graduate student, or have graduated within the past year;
• Be seeking the internship as part of an educational experience related to the program in which you are enrolled;
• Have a strong interest in advocating for refugee led work, and the powershifting agenda
• Have strong research, writing, organizational, communication, and administrative skills;
• Be based within the United States;
• Work at least 250 hours/roughly 20 hours per week, as guided by the initiatives manager;
• Begin in late May 2026 and end no later than late August 2026.

COMPENSATION

Summer Interns receive a modest stipend of $5,000.

TO APPLY:

Please include your résumé, cover letter, and a one - to two - page writing sample and  submit your application by May 22, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. ET.

Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted by Refugees International.

ABOUT REFUGEES INTERNATIONAL

Refugees International advocates for lifesaving assistance, human rights, and protection for displaced people and promotes solutions to displacement crises. We do not accept any government or UN funding, ensuring the independence and credibility of our work.

Refugees International is an equal-opportunity employer committed to promoting a workplace reflective of the people it serves. Refugees International welcomes applications from all qualified individuals regardless of race, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, religion, physical or mental disability, marital status, veteran status, or other factors.