H (no hardship) Family Internship 2025-01-15 November 4, 2024 Background information/Organizational Context
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is offering a full-time internship within the Community-Based Protection (CBP) Unit of the Division of International Protection (DIP) at UNHCR Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.
Established in December 1950, UNHCR is a global organization dedicated to saving lives, protecting rights and building a better future for asylum seekers, refugees, returnees, internally displaced persons and stateless people. Every year, millions of men, women and children are forced to flee their homes to escape conflict and persecution. UNHCR currently operates in over 130 countries, using its long expertise to protect and care for millions.
The CBP Unit leads the work of DIP to advance community-based approaches in engaging with people of concern to UNHCR, promote meaningful participation of forcibly displaced and stateless people and their organisations, and monitor and support the implementation of the Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) Policy. The CBP Unit has particular focus on advancing the inclusion of older persons, persons with disabilities, LGBTIQ+ persons, and persons belonging to national, ethnic, linguistic, and religious minorities and indigenous groups.
As a member of the CBP Unit, the intern will provide valuable assistance to the work of the unit in all aspects of the unit’s areas of work and will be able to gain an understanding of applying a community-based protection approach to delivering protection and assistance and gain insights on working with different age, gender, and diversity groups.
UNHCR provides protection to refugees and other persons of concern across the globe to ensure that they are able to live a dignified life while, fully and freely exercising their fundamental human rights.
The Division of International Protection (DIP) leads the progressive development of international law and protection policy relating to forced displacement and statelessness. The Division provides guidance on the legal and operational complexities of displacement, migration, refugees, asylum, and resettlement with regard to protection of persons and populations of concern to the Organisation.
The Community-Based Protection Unit is situated within the Field Protection Support Service (FPS) in DIP and assists UNHCR country operations to apply community-based protection approaches, to advance the goals of the Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) Policy, with a particular emphasis on accountability to affected people and AGD-inclusive programming.
Duties and Responsibilities
The CBP Unit develops guidance and tools to advance a people-centered approach and provides technical support through field missions and training, as well as remote support. In doing so, the CBP Unit collaborates closely with the regional offices in developing staff and partner capacity in their efforts to ensure accountability to affected people and that populations of concern to UNHCR have equitable and non-discriminatory access to protection services.
You will work closely with all members of the Community-Based Protection Unit, and report primarily to the Associate Protection Officer (Community-Based). You will support the development and dissemination of guidance, learning materials and tools for the implementation of community-based protection and AGD approaches in operations and will support global analysis and reporting.

• Support research and development of guidance documents, reports etc. on the various thematic areas falling under the CBP Unit’s responsibility.
• Support the work of UNHCR inter-divisional task team on partnership and meaningful participation with organizations led by forcibly displaced people.
• Support the collection and update of promising practices on CBP, AAP and AGD mainstreaming.
• Support the revamping and daily administration of the CBP Unit filing system, Community of Practice, relevant internal and external UNHCR webpages, and Share Point platforms.
• Support drafting of reports and talking points on CBP and AGD relevant topics.
• Support the organization of initiatives and development of communication related to international events such as IDAHOT.
• Support regular and ad hoc analysis of protection data, including the global Protection Dashboard, regional situational reports, or in support of the High-Level Officials Meeting 2025.
• Assist with conference/meeting preparations as required and provide support to the CBP unit with any other administrative tasks as necessary.

Minimum qualifications required

• Strong research skills, including a good understanding of research methods, and the ability to analyze large amounts of information;
• Have a good oral and written English skills with the ability to draft documents in English up to publication standards;
• Professional and appropriate demeanor in communication with various stakeholders;
• Have good communication skills and experience working in a diverse team;
• Strong attention to detail;
• Excellent communication skills;
• Present proven experience in working with Microsoft Office programmes. Preference will be given to candidates with advanced skills in Excel, Share Point, and Adobe.
• Ability to multi-task and prioritize appropriately.
• Be able to work independently, be proactive and adapt quickly to fast changing requirements; and
• Display professional and personal integrity.

Desirable:

• Knowledge of French, Spanish, or Arabic is an asset; and
• Previous experience of working for forcibly displaced and stateless people is an asset.

Interested applicants with lived experience of forced displacement or statelessness are encouraged to apply.

Eligibility
In order to be considered for an internship, candidates must meet the following eligibility criteria:

• Recent graduate (those persons who completed their studies within one year of applying) or current student in a graduate/undergraduate school programme from a university or higher education facility accredited by UNESCO; and
• Have completed at least two years of undergraduate studies in a field relevant or of interest to the work of the Organization.

Allowance
Interns will receive an allowance to partially help to cover the cost of food, local transportation and living expenses.

To Apply:
(the operation does not need to fill this part, it will be filled afterwards by the sponsoring institution)

The UNHCR workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages and opinions. UNHCR seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. Applications are encouraged from all qualified candidates without distinction on grounds of race, colour, sex, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation and gender identity.
UNHCR does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process (application, interview, meeting, travelling, processing or training.
We welcome applications from candidates with lived experience of displacement or stateless background. CBPU Internship This position doesn't require a functional clearance No