Grade: Internship
Publication date: 27 February 2026
Application deadline (midnight local time): 8 March 2026
Vacancy no.: INTERN/NEWDELHI/2026/01
Job ID: 13479
Department: RO-Asia and the Pacific
Organization Unit: DWT/CO-New Delhi
Location: New Delhi
Duration of contract: Six months
ILO Internship Programme provides an opportunity for talented individuals to:
(a) increase understanding of relevant issues at the international level by involving them directly in the work of the Office and the application of ILO principles, programmes and strategies;
(b) gain practical experience with the ILO directly related to their field of study.
The internship programme is not intended to lead to a career in the ILO. There should be no expectation of further employment at the end of the internship.
The ILO values diversity. We welcome applications from qualified women and men, particularly those with disabilities and from non- or under- represented member States. If you are unable to complete our online application form due to a disability, please send an email to ilojobs@ilo.org
IMPORTANT:
Please only apply for an internship if you fulfil the following two criteria:
(1) You have no close relative serving in the ILO.
(2) This is your first internship with the ILO (only one internship is permitted).
Learning areas
As an intern in social protection team of ILO DWT/CO-New Delhi (hereafter, “social protection team”), you will contribute directly to the implementation of the Promoting and Building Social Protection in South Asia (SPSA) project in India. The SPSA project focuses on extending inclusive, sustainable, and gender-transformative social protection to informal workers, platform workers, care workers, and migrant workers, in alignment with the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India’s ongoing labour reforms under the Code on Social Security, 2020.
The social protection team under the aegis of the Senior Specialist on Social Protection, ILO DWT South Asia and CO-India, you will be engaged in activities related to social protection financing, digitalization, and strategies for extending social protection to workers in new and informal forms of employment—ensuring all outputs align with SPSA project deliverables.
Required profile
• Desk Review & Analysis: Conduct a comprehensive desk review of social protection schemes benefiting gig and platform workers, domestic workers, care workers, and construction workers in India, in line with SPSA outcome indicators. This will include examining the Code on Social Security, 2020, contributory/social insurance/assistance collection mechanisms, employer/employee contributions, and identifying gaps in effective utilization.
• International Good Practices: Research and compile international practices for extending social protection to various categories of informal workers, contributing to SPSA’s knowledge-sharing and South–South cooperation components.
• Technical Inputs: Provide inputs to support the drafting by ILO staff of Terms of Reference (TORs) for research and consultancy contracts under the SPSA project, as well as preparatory work for events, research workshops, and capacity-building initiatives.
• Policy Brief Development: Draft and support the preparation of briefs/policy briefs to inform SPSA-related advocacy, policy dialogue, and technical cooperation activities.
• Editing & Quality Assurance: Edit reports, ensuring compliance with ILO style guidelines, for use in SPSA project outputs and publications.
• Capacity-Building Support: Assist in designing and organizing capacity-building activities, training sessions, and social dialogue forums related to SPSA project objectives.
• Administrative & Communication Support: Provide administrative, logistical, and communication support for SPSA project deliverables, including stakeholder engagement activities.
Education
Completing Master’s programme or pursuing PhD in Economics, Law, Public Policy, Development Studies or relevant educational fields related to social protection. For those with a Master's degree, the candidated should have completed such a programme no later than December, 2024.
Experience
Relevant experience in research on social protection, understanding gig and platform work, financing of social protection schemes, gender-transformative social protection, good understanding of public policy in the Indian context.
Languages
Fluency in English with good policy/reseearch drafting skills. Knowledge of local languages will be as an asset.
Competencies
Adaptable to an international, multicultural and multilingual environment, good communication skills and be able to work in a team.
• Additional requirements: Knowledge of statistical softwares would be an added asset. Experience in research, data analysis and public policy analysis.
How to apply:
1. Search for an internship profile via the page on ILO Jobs
2. Select the internship profile you would like to apply for, and create a profile on ILO Jobs
3. Complete your candidate profile and apply to the internship profile
4. Be sure to attach a cover letter in the last section of the application, as applications without a cover letter will not be considered and you cannot attach a cover letter after the deadline.
Selection process:
If shortlisted, you may be contacted by the field office for a written test and/or interview. The ILO may use communication technologies such as Skype, Video or teleconference, e-mail, etc for the assessment and evaluation of candidates.
Stipend:
As an intern in the field, you will receive a monthly stipend from the ILO based on the cost of living in the area of the duty station, unless you receive funding through another institution (for example your university or a foundation). If you receive partial funding, ILO will cover the difference to ensure you receive the appropriate stipend per month. Your travel to the duty station will be at your own expense.
Insurance:
Please note that the ILO does not take responsibility for any costs arising from accidents and/or illness incurred during the internship. You will be responsible for your own insurance coverage for illness and accidents for the duration of the internship at the duty station (whether Geneva or the field).
Fraud warning:
The ILO does not charge any fee at any stage of the recruitment process whether at the application, interview, processing or training stage. Messages originating from a non ILO e-mail account - @ilo.org - should be disregarded. In addition, the ILO does not require or need to know any information relating to the bank account details of applicants.