External Relations and Government Liaison Intern
Target Start Date
01/04/2024
Job Posting End Date
28/02/2024
Terms of Reference
In order to be considered for an internship, candidates must meet the following eligibility criteria:
• Be either a recent graduate (having completed their studies within two years of applying) or a current student in a graduate/undergraduate school programme from a university or higher education facility accredited by IAU/UNESCO; and
• Have completed at least two years of undergraduate studies in a field relevant or of interest to the work of UNHCR (Social Sciences, Humanities, Public Administration, Communications, Journalism, etc.)
Terms of Reference
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is offering a full-time internship with the External Relations and Government Relations Units at UNHCR in Sofia, Bulgaria.
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 communities 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.
Organizational context:
Since 24 February 2022, the Government of Bulgaria granted Temporary Protection to more than 170,000 persons refugees displaced from Ukraine, of whom some 53,000 remain in the country as of 1 January 2024. Several thousand refugees from Ukraine are hosted under the state sponsored accommodation programme, including hotels and state recreational facilities located predominantly at the Black Sea regions and other locations throughout the country. UNHCR as a refugee-led organization supports the Government of Bulgaria in providing response to the Ukrainian refugee situation and ensuring protection and inclusion space is provided to them. UNHCR conducts various types of assessments among the refugees from Ukraine to assess their needs, capacities and copying mechanisms and identify those with specific needs to ensure their access to specialized services. Some of these activities are implemented directly by the Agency, with others implemented through partner agencies or service providers.
The position:
The internship will support the development and implementation of strategies to advance UNHCR’s priority work with various stakeholders, including government officials, refugees, host community representatives, local authorities, cities, international organizations within and outside the UN system, regional organizations, humanitarian and development actors, international and regional financial institutions, parliaments, civil society organizations, faith-based groups, the private sector, media, academics, and sport and cultural organizations.
Duties and responsibilities:
• Providing logistical, clerical, programming, and procurement support to the External Relations and Government Liaison teams.
• Organizing and facilitating internal and external meetings and missions.
• Conducting research, analysis, note-taking, and report production.
• Drafting and translating routine correspondence, as well as external and internal updates.
• Assisting in compiling weekly, monthly, and other thematic and situation reports.
• Monitoring political news and activities concerning UNHCR’s mandate on a national, local, as well as EU level
• Performing other related duties as required.
Minimum qualifications required:
In order to be considered for an internship, candidates must meet the following eligibility criteria:
• Be either a recent graduate (having completed their studies within two years of applying) or a current student in a graduate/undergraduate school programme from a university or higher education facility accredited by IAU/UNESCO; and
• Have completed at least two years of undergraduate studies in a field relevant or of interest to the work of UNHCR (Social Sciences, Humanities, Public Administration, Communications, Journalism, etc.)
Desirable qualifications and skills:
• Strong written and verbal communication skills in English and Bulgarian.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite and other relevant software applications.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills, with the ability to multitask and prioritize tasks effectively.
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team in a multicultural environment.
• Interest in humanitarian work, refugee issues, international relations, or related fields.
• Previous experience in research, report writing, or administrative support is advantageous.
• Flexibility and adaptability to work in a fast-paced and changing environment.
• Knowledge of UNHCR’s mandate, operations, and/or the broader humanitarian sector is beneficial but not essential.
• Knowledge of other UN languages and/or Ukrainian, Persian, Farsi, Dari, Pashto, Urdu, Kurdish will be considered as additional assets.
Conditions:
It is a full-time role with working hours starting from 9.00am to 6:00pm Monday to Friday (40 hours per week). There is possibility of flexible work options as per the established guidelines and policy. The successful candidate will be assigned to support the team at UNHCR’s office in Sofia, Bulgaria.
Allowance: Interns who do not receive financial support from an outside party will receive an allowance to partially help to cover the cost of food, local transportation and living expenses.
We welcome applications from candidates with a refugee or stateless background.
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