Conflict and Humanitarian Fellow

Role: The Conflict and Humanitarian unit are seeking two fellows to support with policy solutions development work. During this position the fellows will primarily support the Conflict and Humanitarian unit to drive forward IRC’s developing policy agenda on humanitarian access and diplomacy, with a focus on the intersection of rising powers and contexts ruled by non-state armed groups and de facto authorities. The fellow may also support the Conflict and Humanitarian unit in other areas of work, particularly on civilian protection, accountability for international humanitarian law, and food insecurity.

Through this work, the fellows will have opportunities to learn about the humanitarian sector through exposure to a wide range of colleagues across the IRC, since much of their work will involve learning from – and close collaboration with – colleagues in different parts of IRC. The fellows will also gain practical experience in applying qualitative analysis skills within the humanitarian sector and developing policy solutions to global humanitarian problems.

Potential deliverables:

• Support the development of IRC’s humanitarian access policy agenda.
  • Support a multi-country desk research project that investigates the influence of rising state and non-state powers on humanitarian access in conflict affected countries. This project will be a foundational piece of analysis that will inform IRC’s wider access agenda.
  • Support the access project team to advance existing policy projects on humanitarian
    access by undertaking additional research and desk-based literature reviews.
  • Help plan, deliver, and participate in internal and external discussions on humanitarian
    access and the role policy can play in improving the effectiveness of humanitarian aid
    delivery.
  • Support the development of policy materials such as policy reports and briefs related to
    humanitarian access for public or private distribution to key stakeholders.
• The fellow will produce a weekly tracker of press articles, reports and upcoming meetings,
  events, and UN meetings related to humanitarian access, food insecurity, and emerging crises
• The fellow may be assigned additional research and gain exposure to other emerging and
  existing priorities of the policy and solutions team, including on the conflict in Sudan, occupied
  Palestinian Territory, IRC’s Emergency Watchlist 2027, and other country crisis and thematic
  priorities.

Desired Skills:

• Strong research, writing, and editing skills
• Interest in and familiarity with humanitarian policy in conflict affected countries
• Interest in humanitarian access and diplomacy, and/or in non-state armed groups and de facto
  authorities in humanitarian contexts
• Ability to multi-task and prioritize various tasks in a fast-paced work environment
• Outstanding ability to write clear and accurate prose.
• Ability to summarize long reports and articles concisely and quickly
• Ability to work effectively and accurately with MS Outlook, Word, Excel, and internet
  applications
• Ability to work productively in a team environment as well as under minimal supervision, taking
  the initiative to ask questions as needed
• Ability to communicate and work effectively with a multi-cultural and diverse team.
• Curiosity and willingness to take on new or different tasks as they come up.
• Commitment to advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion in the humanitarian field.
• Lived experience with conflict or crisis-driven displacement is an asset in this role.

Requirements: Students must be a matriculated graduate or Ph.D. student at The New School. Fellows are hired as Research Associates by The New School.

Work Environment: This fellowship will work with the Crisis Analysis team at the the IRC. While this fellowship is remote, all Fellows must be physically located in the US.

Fellowship Length: This fellowship carries a maximum of 20 hours/week during the Spring 2026 semester (January 5 – May 17, 2026). Continuation into Summer 2026 is potentially available.

How to apply: The deadline to apply is October 22, 2025. Please submit one PDF document containing a cover letter, CV/resume, and two work samples (writing and/or design portfolio – 5 pages maximum per sample) to Catherine McGahan, McGahanC@newschool.edu.

Interviews will be conducted in November via Zoom.

Team: The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover, and gain control of their future.  

The Airbel Impact Lab designs, tests, and scales life-changing cost-effective solutions for people affected by conflict and disaster. By applying the IRC’s deep technical expertise and field experience with a range of skills from the behavioral sciences, human-centered design, research, and multi-disciplinary problem-solving in humanitarian contexts, we work to develop breakthrough solutions that combine creativity and rigor, openness and expertise, and a desire to think afresh with the experience of a large-scale implementing organization.

The Conflict and Humanitarian unit are a dynamic component of IRC’s new Global Policy and Solutions team that leverages the power of the IRC’s ideas to develop policy solutions to address the biggest challenges facing IRC clients and operational teams in conflict-affected countries. From combating the drivers of conflict to addressing the needs of those affected by conflict, the unit partners with innovative thinkers, experts, and those with lived experience to identify global policy solutions and bring them to life.

We take pride in being solutions-oriented and creative. We are precise in our goals, tactics, and messages. We drive change year over year, knowing that system change takes dedicated focus while maintaining the flexibility to respond to emerging needs across the globe. Finally, we are collaborative, constantly seeking new ideas and perspectives from others in our sector and beyond as we work side by side with programs, strategy, communications and research and innovation teams across the IRC.