NGOs and Civil Society Intern

Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based)

H (no hardship)FamilyInternship2025-01-06December 1, 2024Organizational context

UNHCR’s Partnership and Coordination Service (PCS) is responsible for ensuring UNHCR approaches partnerships in a strategic and coherent manner. The Service provides support to regional and country offices on relationships with UN agencies, NGOs, sport organizations, advocacy partners and others and ensures that UNHCR exercises effective field leadership and coordination in line with its mandate and agreed frameworks. Located in Geneva, PCS comprises the Sport Coordination Section, the Inter-Agency and Coordination Section (IACS) and the NGO and Civil Society Section.

The internship is a unique opportunity to work with one of the leading UN humanitarian organizations in a team tasked with coordinating multilateral operational policy issues with a specific focus on inter-agency policy and coordination.

During the internship period, the intern will work in a multicultural environment, and acquire knowledge on humanitarian inter-agency policy making, cross-cutting operational processes – particularly on refugee/displacement responses. In addition to exposure gained through the internship, the candidate can take advantage of an array of learning and professional development material and expand understanding on issues of forced displacement, refugee protection, solutions, and delivery of assistance.
UNHCR has a lively intern peer network which facilitates interaction and exchange on daily work issues and life in Geneva, including on accommodation, transport, etc.

The position

The intern will work in the Inter-Agency and Coordination Section, which is in charge of coordinating the collaboration with UN Partners, UNHCR’s participation in the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) which is the highest-level humanitarian coordination platform of the UN System, UNHCR’s coordination and leadership of Refugee Response Plans (RRPs), UNHCR’s participation in Humanitarian Response Plans (HRPs), etc.
The intern will work under the direct supervision of the Chief of the Inter-Agency & Coordination Section who will, on a regular basis, discuss various issues and assign tasks. Further modalities for supervision and support will be discussed with the final candidate.

We are looking for a team-spirited and dynamic creative thinker, interested in research who is data proficient and can organize and present macro level information in interesting and user-friendly visuals and formats. Specific terms of reference are given below.

The tasks include but are not limited to:
• Collating comments and feedback on assigned documents received from internal and external stakeholders;
• Undertaking primary analysis and research, collate available information on a range of topics relevant to inter-agency fora;
• Supporting the Inter-Agency Coordination Section in the IASC and UN reform processes as required;
• Supporting the Inter-Agency Coordination Section on follow up, analysis and reporting related to UNHCR-led and other inter-agency plans and appeals (Refugee Response Plans, Humanitarian Response Plans, etc.)
• Assisting the Inter-Agency Coordination Section in supporting regional bureaus and field operations with guidance on partnerships;
• Assisting in the preparation and coordination of UNHCR meetings;
• Attending briefings and meetings and taking notes as requested;
• Producing internal and external content, engaging with partner accounts and analysing trends;
• Undertaking other tasks as required.

Essential minimum qualifications and professional experience required
In order to be considered for an internship, candidates must meet the following criteria:

• Be a recent graduate (those persons who have completed their primary or master’s degree in the year immediately preceding application) or a current student in a graduate school programme from a university or higher education facility accredited by UNESCO;
• Have strong English language skills; any other language is an asset.

Other desired criteria/ skills:
• Strong interest in the humanitarian cause
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Excellent communication skills - both orally and in writing
• Experience preparing briefs, presentations, and communication materials
• Strong computer skills including a working knowledge of Microsoft Office 365
• Research, analysis, and information management skills
• Diplomacy
• Discretion
• Meticulous attention to detail
• Effective time management
• Strong organizational abilities

Candidates should also:
• Have a strong interest in partnerships and coordination, communication and advocacy, humanitarian, development or external relations work.
• Have an interest in issues related to refugees, internally displaced persons, stateless persons, etc.
• Have some experience with Photo/video editing tools, Adobe InDesign (or other graphics design software), Salesforce and/or an interest in learning new software packages as required.

Please note that candidates who have immediate relatives (father, mother, son, daughter, brother or sister) working as staff members of UNHCR are not eligible

 

Standard Job Description

Required Languages

English

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,

Desired Languages

,

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Additional Qualifications

Skills

Education

Certifications

Other information

This position doesn't require a functional clearance

Home-Based

No