Each year the OAS Secretary General publishes a proposed Program-Budget for the coming calendar year. The OAS General Assembly meets in a Special Session to approve the Program-Budget. Find these documents from 1998-2013 here.
Each year in April, the OAS Board of External Auditors publishes a report covering the previous calendar year’s financial results. Reports covering 1996-2016 may be found here.
Approximately six weeks after the end of each semester, the OAS publishes a Semiannual Management and Performance Report, which since 2013 includes reporting on programmatic results. The full texts may be found here.
Here you will find data on the Human Resources of the OAS, including its organizational structure, each organizational unit’s staffing, vacant posts, and performance contracts.
The OAS executes a variety of projects funded by donors. Evaluation reports are commissioned by donors. Reports of these evaluations may be found here.
The Inspector General provides the Secretary General with reports on the audits, investigations, and inspections conducted. These reports are made available to the Permanent Council. More information may be found here.
The OAS has discussed for several years the real estate issue, the funding required for maintenance and repairs, as well as the deferred maintenance of its historic buildings. The General Secretariat has provided a series of options for funding it. The most recent document, reflecting the current status of the Strategy, is CP/CAAP-3211/13 rev. 4.
Here you will find information related to the GS/OAS Procurement Operations, including a list of procurement notices for formal bids, links to the performance contract and travel control measure reports, the applicable procurement rules and regulations, and the training and qualifications of its staff.
The OAS Treasurer certifies the financial statements of all funds managed or administered by the GS/OAS. Here you will find the latest general purpose financial reports for the main OAS funds, as well as OAS Quarterly Financial Reports (QFRs).
Every year the GS/OAS publishes the annual operating plans for all areas of the Organization, used to aid in the formulation of the annual budget and as a way to provide follow-up on institutional mandates.
Here you will find information related to the OAS Strategic Plan 2016-2020, including its design, preparation and approval.
We offer you a unique opportunity to acquire experience in different areas of expertise, in an international and multicultural environment enhancing your networking possibilities. In addition, you will have the chance to acquire significant knowledge of the Organization of American States (OAS), its mission, pillars, structure and projects in the hemisphere.
The Organization of American States (OAS) is the main political forum of the Region that promotes and supports Democracy, Human Rights, Multi-dimensional Security and Integral Development in the Americas. The OAS seeks to prevent conflicts and to bring political stability, social inclusion and prosperity to the region through dialogue and collective actions.
Work and college are very different realities. At work, your supervisors will not give you an opinion about your performance as often as you are used to, and do not regularly ask for your opinion. Most likely you will not be asked to solve vital issues during an internship. The internship is an opportunity to observe and learn.
Introduce yourself to your co-workers and share your aspirations with them. Socialize during lunch. Participate in activities outside the office. Create friendly relationships during the internship.
Apply the theories you learned in college. Your input can help improve processes and create change. What makes a process efficient? In what way can you positively influence the work of the Organization? How has this experience changed your life?
Ask yourself how you can help and improve the work in your department. You can make a difference. Give and ask for feedback and contribute.
Important to know
The OAS Internship Program does not offer any payment or stipend. Interns are responsible for all costs associated with travel, housing, maintenance and health insurance.
All interns are required to participate in a weekly orientation program coordinated by the Department of Human Resources. A certificate of completion of the internship will be awarded to interns who have attended at least 80% of these activities.
As part of the OAS Internship Program, interns are required to fulfill a performance evaluation. This evaluation is done at the end of the internship session.
All interns are required to submit valid proof of insurance before starting the internship.
If you have participated in the OAS Internship Program once, you cannot apply again or be accepted in any future internship sessions at the OAS.
The information handled by interns during the performance of their duties is confidential; it belongs to the General Secretariat of the OAS and cannot be used for personal or professional gain.
Calendar 2021
Our Application System is currently open.
Applications: Feb 1 – 15
Considering the disruptions caused by the COVID-19, the OAS Internship Program is offering only virtual internships. In-person internships are expected to resume according to the evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic.
2021 Virtual Summer Session (Washington, D.C.) & Virtual Session II (Country Offices):
Applications: Feb 1 – 15, 2021
Internship sessions: June 10 – Aug 20, 2021
If your internship will be accredited by your academic institution, please include an official letter from your institution with the corresponding indications (Official statement).
Resume with Cover Letter(Resume without photo).
Incomplete applications will be on hold until all the requirements are sent to the OAS Department of Human Resources. They will be accepted until the last day of the applications period at 23:59 EST (Washington, D.C. time)
Because the Organization of American States (OAS) is a multilateral organization that will allow you to have a real experience within the international scenario. Additionally, it is the most important political forum in the Western Hemisphere.
Because the Internship Program is the adequate environment for learning and acquiring professional experience. Specific objectives are defined between the intern and the supervisor during the first week of the internship, which are monitored and evaluated at the end of the session.
Because the organization offers a weekly orientation program that will strengthen your professional and personal skills.
Because the OAS Internship Program has 30 years of experience, which has enabled us to improve the processes so that it fits the evolving needs of the interns.
Students at the undergraduate and graduate level as well as young professionals, regardless of their nationality (it is not required to be a national of an OAS member state). Undergraduate students must be completing their second year of studies.
The Internship Program has no age limit; however, it is aimed at undergraduate, graduate students and young professionals. The average age of participants is 24 and the work assigned corresponds to this profile.
The OAS Internship Program is unpaid. Its purpose is to provide interns with a professional experience and to meet academic provisions when required. Interns are responsible for all costs associated with housing, health insurance, and any other costs for the duration of the internship.
All areas or departments within the General Secretariat of the OAS have the potential to bring in at least one intern per session. The areas for which you can apply are visible in the electronic form you must complete for applying.
These meetings are about different topics of interest within the OAS. Each meeting has a different speaker who offers an overview of a particular subject or project that is relevant to the Organization.
As part of the weekly meetings, the interns also have the opportunity to visit other international organizations in the area such as the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO), among others.
Interns in National Offices will participate in an online complementary program of weekly activities related to the OAS, focusing on its different projects and pillars.
No. In order to participate in the OAS Internship Program in Washington DC, a special visa is required that may be requested upon official acceptance into the program.
It is determined by the candidate’s grading scale in his/her country. It means being in the top 25% of the corresponding scale. For example, if the grading scale is 100, the candidate should have an average of at least 75.
Part of the requirements to apply for the Internship Program is to have knowledge of at least two of the four official languages of the Organization (English, Spanish, French and Portuguese). However, most of the activities/ meetings are conducted in English or Spanish.
The online activities for the Country Offices are available in both English and Spanish, so it is necessary to be proficient in at least one of these two languages.
It is also necessary to have command of the language of the country where the internship will take place.
Certifying a second language is not a prerequisite for applying to the internship. However, the area that is interested in having you as an intern can seek certification if they wish, or conduct an interview in that language to evaluate the individual’s proficiency level.
The form is designed in English but may be answered in any of the four official languages of the Organization (English, French, Spanish, and Portuguese). However, it is recommended to complete the application in English or Spanish.
You should indicate if you currently have a valid visa for the United States (tourist, student F-1, or J-1). If you have no visa you can respond N/A (Not Applicable).
All selected interns should have received their letter of acceptance issued by the OAS Internship Program approximately one month before the official start date of the session.
The number of interns allowed per session is limited based on the headcount of the Organization. The number may vary but on average there are 60 to 80 interns per session.
We strongly recommend joining our Facebook Group where you can find other future interns that are also looking for a place to stay or share, and former interns that could offer recommendations about where to live in Washington DC.
Here you can find some housing options that have been used by interns in the past:
WINTER in D.C. lasts from December to the beginning of March. Average temperatures range from 20º to 50º Fahrenheit (between -6º and 10º Celsius).
SPRING in D.C. lasts from late March through late May. Temperatures during the spring are often between 40º and 70º Fahrenheit (between 4º and 21º Celsius).
SUMMER in D.C. lasts from June through August. Temperatures are generally between 60º and 90º Fahrenheit (between 16º and 32º Celsius).
FALL in D.C. lasts from September through November. Temperatures are generally between 40º and 70º Fahrenheit (between 4º and 15º Celsius).
Airports
RONALD REAGAN WASHINGTON NATIONAL AIRPORT (DCA) This airport is located in Arlington County, Virginia, and it is the closest airport to the Washington D.C. area. The airport is connected to the metro system and offers taxi and shuttle services. For this airport's location click here.
DULLES INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (IAD) This airport is located in Dulles, Virginia, 26 miles (42 kilometers) from Washington, DC. It offers shuttle and taxi services and there is a close metro station (silver line). For the location of this airport, click here.
BALTIMORE WASHINGTON INTERNATIONAL THURGOOD MARSHAL AIRPORT (BWI) This airport is located just outside of the city of Baltimore in Maryland, 32 miles (52 kilometers) from Washington, DC. It offers shuttle and taxi services and there is a train station close to the facilities of the airport. For the location of this airport, click here.
Health Insurance
All interns working at the General Secretariat of the OAS must acquire medical insurance with coverage in the country where they will do their internship and for the entire session. Valid proof of insurance should be sent to the Department of Human Resources before the beginning of the internship.
GPA of at least 3.0 out of 4.0 in the American scale or equivalent. This means to be in the 25% top of the class.
Students at the undergraduate and graduate level as well as young professionals can apply. However, undergraduate students must have at least finished their second year of studies.
Be proficient in two of the four languages of the Organization (Spanish, English, French and Portuguese).
Two letters of recommendation addressed to the OAS Internship Program, one preferably (not mandatory) from a professor within your area of expertise. The second letter from an employer or another professor. Please include contact information (phone number and email) of the person signing the letter. If your employer/professor prefers to send the letter directly to the Program instead of to the applicant, they email the letters directly to internships@oas.org, only during the applications period.
Academic transcripts issued by the academic institution.
Please DO NOT send copies of your degree certificate or other courses. Must include the detail of courses taken and grades.
If your internship will be accredited by your academic institution, please include an official letter from your institution. with the corresponding indications (Official statement). This document is not mandatory, you should only recommended it if applicable to your case.
Resume with Cover Letter (Resume without photo). Please attach your CV and cover letter in a single PDF document:
Resumes with photos will not be accepted and will disqualify your application.
Resumes without cover letter will not be accepted and will disqualify your application.
Resumes should not exceed two pages, and the cover letter should not exceed one page.
The cover letter must be addressed to the OAS Internship Program.
Languages: all supporting documents may be submitted in any of the four official languages of the OAS (English, French, Spanish, and Portuguese). However, it is recommended to complete the application in English or Spanish.
Incomplete applications will be on hold until all the requirements are sent to the OAS Department of Human Resources. Applications and supporting documents will be received until the last day of the applications period at 23:59 EST (Washington, D.C. time).
Before applying, carefully review the information in our website and Frequently Asked Questions section.
Tener un promedio de notas de 3.0 sobre 4.0 en escala americana (o equivalente según cada país. Esto significa estar en el 25% superior de su curso).
Si bien no es requisito ser estudiante al momento de postular, aquellos que lo sean deben haber terminado al menos su segundo año de estudios de pregrado.
Dominar dos de los cuatro idiomas oficiales de la OEA (español, inglés, francés, y portugués).
Dos cartas de recomendación dirigidas al Programa de Pasantías de la OEA, una preferiblemente de un profesor dentro de tu área de especialización. La segunda carta de un empleador u otro profesor. Incluir información de contacto (teléfono y correo electrónico).
Historial de calificaciones emitidos por la universidad o institución de educación superior. (Notas académicas). Debe incluir la totalidad de materias cursadas y calificaciones.
Por favor NO enviar copia de tu certificado de grado u otros cursos.
Si la pasantía será acreditada o validada como práctica profesional por tu institución académica, adjuntar un documento oficial de dicha institución en la que quede constancia de ello (Official statement). Este documento no es obligatorio, solo recomendable si es tu caso.
Currículum Vitae (CV) con Carta de Presentación (cover letter). Por favor adjunta tu CV y la carta de presentación en un solo documento en formato PDF:
CV con foto no será aceptado y descalificará tu aplicación.
CV sin carta de presentación (cover letter) no será aceptado y descalificará tu aplicación.
El CV no debe exceder dos páginas, y la carta de presentación no debe exceder una página.
Dirigir la carta de presentación al Programa de Pasantías de la OEA.
Idiomas: todos los documentos indicados pueden presentarse en cualquiera de los cuatro idiomas oficiales de la OEA (español, inglés, francés o portugués). Sin embargo, se recomienda completar el formulario en inglés o español.
Aplicaciones incompletas no serán revisadas hasta que el Departamento de Recursos Humanos de la OEA cuente con todos los documentos requeridos. Las aplicaciones y documentos serán recibidos hasta el último día del periodo de aplicaciones a las 23:59 EST (hora de Washington D.C.)
Antes de aplicar, revisa cuidadosamente la información de nuestra página web y sección de Preguntas Frecuentes.