Trainee/Associate (800789)

What we do

Since 1863, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has worked to preserve human dignity and relieve suffering caused by war and armed violence.

In collaboration with our Red Cross and Red Crescent partners around the world, we do everything we can to deliver life-saving aid, reconnect families and locate missing people – helping those who need it most, regardless of who they are and what side of the front line they are on.

We engage with authorities and armed forces on all sides, often confidentially, pressing for access to detainees to improve their living conditions and urging compliance with international humanitarian law to protect non-combatants, including from digital threats.

Purpose

Representing the ICRC to the EU, NATO and Belgium, the ICRC Brussels Delegation aims at, inter alia, understanding and influencing the European Union and NATO’s policy environment and operational priorities in contexts affected by armed conflict and other situations of violence. The ICRC Brussels Delegation is therefore recruiting an EU Policy Associate (Internship) to support the delegation in its humanitarian diplomacy engagement on policy and operational matters. The delegation will offer the selected candidate the opportunity to learn within a dynamic environment and skilled team, as well as to be exposed to various areas of the ICRC’s humanitarian diplomacy work, including with external interlocutors.

Main assignments

• Monitors relevant EU (and NATO) developments (contexts affected by armed conflict, , Fragility, International Humanitarian Law, AI, Digitalization, EU Budget…) in areas of interest to the ICRC and reports internally;
• Supports Humanitarian Affairs Advisors in conducting ad hoc research and drafting analysis on policy developments of relevance to the ICRC across the EU, (NATO) and Belgium landscapes;
• Attends meetings, conferences and events independently or in support of colleagues or alongside delegation management, and provides internal reporting on key developments and takeaways.
• Supports the organisation and coordination of events as required, such as the 2027 European Humanitarian Forum;
• Follows the EU, (NATO) and ICRC publications and updates the Delegation Policy Filing System.

What we offer

• Rewarding work in a humanitarian and multicultural environment
• 6 month employment contract under Belgian legislation, with possibility of extension with 6 additional months ( 12 months in total)
• Annual salary around EUR 30k

Additional information

• Working rate: 100%
• Starting date: January 2027
• Location: Brussels
• Application deadline: 23 November 2026

Our values

• At the ICRC, we value impact, collaboration, respect, and compassion. We seek candidates who demonstrate behaviors based on these shared values. For more information on the ICRC values, please visit this page.

Certifications / Education required

• Master’s degree in International Relations, Humanitarian Affairs, Political Sciences, European Studies, or another relevant field;

Professional experience required

• Knowledge of EU and the functioning of EU (and NATO )institutions is an asset;
• Excellent knowledge of English and French, oral and written (incl. drafting skills);
• Excellent analytical and writing skills;
• Good communication skills and computer skills;
• Commitment to the mandate and mission of the ICRC;
• Well-organised, with a capacity to work alone and in a team.
• Authorisation to work in Belgium