Duration: 4-6 months (ideal start, 1 September 2026)

Type: Paid internship

Hours: Full-time

ISDI is the leading international expert association on special dietary foods. It brings together national and international associations active in this food sector from more than 20 countries on over 6 continents.

ISDI is an industry platform for debate on regulatory, technical and scientific issues regarding special dietary foods.

Position overview:

We are seeking a motivated and detail-oriented Public Affairs Intern to join our team. This role presents a unique opportunity to work at the intersection of public health and food science and nutrition.

The intern will provide essential support for ongoing initiatives in the field of special dietary foods (including infant and young child nutrition policy at international level) and support advocacy efforts by ISDI members.

Key responsibilities:

• Support and monitoring on policy developments: Conduct monitoring with a focus on the UN system related to infant & young child nutrition, summarise key updates.
• Writing: Support the development of materials, including data trends and analysis for stakeholder engagement and advocacy.
• Stakeholder engagement: Collaborate with internal teams, external consultants and member organisations to support projects and initiatives and prepare advocacy efforts.
• Support for experts and the team: Active support with preparing materials for internal and external sector-specific meetings, and providing other operational support as needed.

Qualifications:

• A self-starter who can navigate complex issues and environments.
• Education: Recent graduate or nearing the completion of a degree in political science, public health, law, international relations or food and nutrition.
• Research skills: Strong research, analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to synthesise complex information.
• Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English with an emphasis on writing but also on articulating messages to different audiences. Other UN languages are a plus.

What we offer:

You will work within the ISDI team, composed of the Secretary-General, Communications Manager and Scientific & Regulatory Affairs Officer. You will also work closely with the chairs of our Public Policy Working Group and experts from within the ISDI membership.

Benefits of the internship:

• Gain hands-on experience in public affairs, food and nutrition policies and industry advocacy.
• Work alongside industry experts and expand your professional network.
• Build technical skills in policy research, technical writing and data analysis.

How to apply:

We encourage young professionals from all regions of the world to apply. The successful candidate can work out of our office in Brussels, but remote work is possible for the right candidate. Please note that we are not able to sponsor a work permit for Belgium.

Interested candidates should submit the following materials to secretariat@isdi.org:

• CV
• Cover letter outlining interest in the role and relevant experience
• Writing sample (e.g. research paper or technical document) that demonstrates analytical and writing skills

Application Deadline: 16 August 2026

Start Date: 1-15 September 2026 ideally

We invite passionate and driven individuals to apply for this opportunity. Join us in shaping the future of the specialised foods industry.