UNHCR launches initiative to recruit top young professionals

GENEVA, July 24 (UNHCR) ¬- The UN refugee agency on Wednesday launched a new programme aimed at attracting some of the world's top young professionals to work for UNHCR in the field from next year.

The Entry-Level Humanitarian Professional Programme (EHP) is open to highly qualified applicants from outside the organization and to general service, national professional and field service staff within UNHCR, giving them a rare chance to join the international professional career stream.

UNHCR is seeking people to work in five areas: protection; programme; admin/finance; supply; and human resources. Selected candidates will become associate officers at the P2 level. They will start on the same day, learn from each other, and then be deployed to the field for a two-year assignment.

"The overall strategic objective for UNHCR's recruitment and conversion initiative is to enable the organization to shape its workforce in order to meet our operational and organizational demands today and in the future," Karen Farkas, director of UNHCR's Division of Human Resources Management, said in a staff message.

"The programme is targeted to highly motivated candidates with relevant work experience, who are ready to start a professional career as international civil servants," she added.

Applicants, who must be no older than 40, will participate in a competitive selection process based on their academic qualifications and relevant work experience as well as on the basis of technical, written and analytical assessments. The deadline for applications is August 31.

For more information and to apply, go to: http://www.unhcr.org/ehp