Security and Political Risk Research Intern at Aga Khan Foundation

The position

• The Security Analysis Unit (SAU) supports the AKDN’s safety, security, and resilience of operations across various geographies through structured security and political risk analysis reporting. The SAU provides periodic and bespoke assessments on political and security trends across Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. The SAU is seeking a motivated intern to support its analytical and research functions, offering an opportunity to gain practical experience in risk analysis within both humanitarian and corporate contexts.
• The internship aims to provide support in research, information management, and report production, while also enabling the intern to gain substantive knowledge in political and security risk assessment. The intern will be mentored by experienced analysts and contribute directly to ongoing projects and publications.

The requirements

Key Responsibilities

• Provide research assistance for the development of routine and bespoke SAU reports.
• Assist in collecting and integrating security risk-related information and datasets.
• Support SAU analysts in producing tailored risk assessments.
• Help maintain, update, and ensure consistency of the SAU’s internal report databases.
• Edit and proofread reports prior to client dissemination.
• Uphold high standards of operational security, ensuring that sensitive information is protected.
• Attend and contribute to internal and external security meetings, workshops, and presentations as appropriate.
• Assist in the production of the SAU Business Threat Intelligence (BTI) Report.
• Perform any other tasks assigned by the SAU Lead.

Supervision and Learning Objectives
The intern will be directly supervised by the SAU Lead and work closely with AKDN analysts. Over the course of the internship, the intern is expected to:

• Develop a stronger understanding of political and security risk trends across Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.
• Enhance their analytical writing skills tailored to humanitarian and corporate audiences.
• Gain practical experience in political and security research methodologies.
• Build skills in managing sensitive information securely and ethically.

Candidate Position Requirements
Education and Background

• A Bachelor’s degree in International Relations, Political Science, Conflict Studies, Law, or a related field is required.
• A Master’s degree (completed or in progress) with a focus on Peace and Conflict Studies, Public Policy, or related fields is an advantage.

Skills and Competencies

• Excellent written English and editing skills.
• Strong analytical and lateral thinking abilities.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Publisher.

Languages

• Fluency in English (written and spoken) is required.
• Proficiency in Arabic and/or French is an asset.