Are you eager to start your professional career in an organisation advancing international peace mediation and dialogue efforts? Are you motivated to support meaningful global work as part of CMI’s team of supportive colleagues?  

CMI – Martti Ahtisaari Peace Foundation is an independent non-profit organisation that works to prevent and resolve conflicts through dialogue and mediation. Founded in 2000 by Nobel Peace Laureate and former President of Finland Martti Ahtisaari, we have since grown to be a recognized leader in the field of international peacemaking.  

CMI is now seeking interns from universities in Finland to join our project and support teams in Helsinki. We offer a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience in an international, mission-driven work environment. 

We will select interns for the upcoming fall with starting date as of 1.9.2026 at least for the following teams: Eurasia and Sub-Saharan Africa. The interns work with CMI for six months. In addition, there might be emerging needs in other CMI teams for the fall 2026, or early 2027, and we might use this candidate pool also for those positions. Interns report to their dedicated supervisors from different teams. Internship positions are based in Helsinki and require a work permit to work in the EU.

Depending on the needs of the specific team, your key responsibilities may include

• Support in administration and logistics related to project planning, implementation, and reporting 

• Support in programme level planning, monitoring and evaluation 

• Support in cross-programmatic learning tasks 

• Assisting with financial tasks such as data entry and budget tracking 

• Arranging travel and logistics for individuals and events 

• Coordinating team-level schedules and activities 

• Managing meetings, calendars, and contacts 

• Monitoring political and policy developments and preparing related analysis/reports  

• Communications-related task 

• Other relevant support duties 

What we are looking for

• University students in a relevant field such as, but not limited to, political, or social sciences, law, languages, administration or finance
  • Enrolled as a student at the start of the internship.

• Demonstrated interest in regions or themes relevant to our work 

• Strong organisational and planning skills 

• Willingness to take on practical administrative and logistical responsibilities 

• Good analytical, writing, and communication skills 

• A professional and proactive attitude as well as good teamwork skills 

• Fluency in spoken and written English 

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office tools 

• Commitment to CMI’s values and principles 

• Previous relevant experience (volunteering, internships or work) is considered as an asset

• Other language skills are an asset

The goal of CMI’s Internship Programme is to give young professionals the opportunity to get work experience and to grow and learn while supporting us in our international peace mediation and dialogue projects. As our needs in different project and support teams vary, we encourage students from different backgrounds to apply. The most important qualification is the drive and motivation to join us in contributing to our vision. As a part of the CMI team you will have the opportunity to contribute to CMI’s global vision – “Every conflict can be resolved.”  

What we offer

We offer you a six-month fixed-term employment agreement with Kela’s minimum salary (1.430 EUR/month), an opportunity to work in a unique organization in the peacemaking field, with benefits that support your wellbeing such as flexible working hours, occupational health care, lunch benefit and commuter/recreational benefits, as well as travel insurance that includes private travel and accident insurance that covers leisure time. CMI’s experts work in an international environment with our offices in central Helsinki, Brussels and with global outreach.

How to apply

Submit your application including a one-page CV and a one-page motivation letter through our online recruitment system latest on Sunday, 19 April 2026.  Please note that we accept applications through our online recruitment system only.

In your application, please indicate the areas which you would prefer to work in, listed in order of preference. When filling in the application form, we also ask for some background information regarding your studies, skills and preferences. When writing your motivation letter, please highlight your motivation and interest in the specific regions / themes that you have chosen.

The recruitment process

Candidates may be contacted already during the application period. CMI’s main working language is English, and the recruitment process will also be carried out primarily in English. The recruitment process will include a pre-recorded video interview and an interview with CMI colleagues. In addition, we will check references and study certificates for the final candidates.

If this sounds like you, we encourage you to apply and take the first step in your career in international peace work!

If you have questions regarding this recruitment, you can reach out to our recruitment team (recruitment(at)cmi.fi).  

Data Protection and Automation

As part of our recruitment process, we might use limited automation and AI‑based tools to support the initial review of applications and to streamline communication with candidates. These tools are used only to assist our recruitment team, they do not make any decisions. All assessments and final selections are always made by a human.

We treat all information you provide in your application with confidentiality, and your personal data is processed in compliance with applicable data protection legislation.