Communications Intern
Staff Member / Affiliate Type
Internship
Target Start Date
2024-08-01
Job Posting End Date
July 6, 2024
Operational Context/Nature of Position:
Since 24 February 2022, the Government of Bulgaria granted Temporary Protection to more than 170,000 persons refugees displaced from Ukraine, of whom some 55,000 remain in the country as of 1 June 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 coping 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.
UNHCR Bulgaria’s External Relations Unit generates and maintains public interest and support for people forced to flee: including refugees, internally displaced and stateless people. The External Relations Unit works on producing and engaging in strategic communications and content so UNHCR can lead the narrative, generate empathy, and mobilize action. It employs a wide range of multimedia tools, working across text, photos, video, online and social media platforms for distribution and placement. It works in collaboration with other UN bodies, civil society actors and other stakeholders, high-profile supporters, as well as the forcibly displaced and stateless people themselves.
The position
All UNHCR staff members are accountable to perform their duties as reflected in their job description. They do so within their delegated authorities, in line with the regulatory framework of UNHCR which includes the UN Charter, UN Staff Regulations and Rules, UNHCR Policies and Administrative Instructions as well as relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, staff members are required to discharge their responsibilities in a manner consistent with the core, functional, cross-functional, and managerial competencies and UNHCR’s core values of professionalism, integrity, and respect for diversity.
The Communications Intern will support the UNHCR External Relations Unit in Bulgaria to implement social media and communications strategies to lead the narrative, generate empathy, and coordinate communications priorities for forcibly displaced and stateless people, and to inform, engage, and mobilize donor support. He/She will be based in Sofia.
Duties and responsibilities
• Supporting the day-to-day work of the External Relations Unit, particularly the Head of External Relations and the Communications Associate.
• Support with drafting content for social media posts and other communication materials for external visibility and public engagement.
• Support with drafting and updating of content (press releases, articles, etc.) for the UNHCR Bulgaria website.
Support with drafting of Digital Communications Strategy and SOPs for social media networks.
• Support with the organization of visibility events and workshops.
• Collect press-cuttings of articles in national, regional, international and periodicals that pertain to refugee related issues and to the work of the office.
• Compile and maintain the mailing list for press releases, information bulletins, etc. and ensure timely despatch of information to media and other interested parties.
• Liaise with colleagues across all units to consolidate input for reports and other planning and tracking documents.
• Maintain and update the External Relations digital workspace, email and distribution lists, and calendar of events.
• Perform other related duties as required.
Minimum qualifications required
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 of Journalism, International Relations, Political Science or related field relevant, or of interest to the work of UNHCR.
• Good communication and drafting skills and ability to communicate patiently and respectfully with a broad range of individuals including persons with specific needs.
• Fluency in Bulgarian and English.
• Strong interpersonal skills, cultural competency, problem solving abilities.
• Good listening and observation skills to understand and obtain information.
• Good ICT skills and digital literacy.
• Candidate must have a valid work permit in Bulgaria.
Desirable qualifications and skills
• Basic knowledge of graphic design skills.
• Knowledge of Arabic, Russian/Ukrainian, Farsi/Pashto or French is an advantage.
• Bachelor’s degree or higher is an advantage.
• Knowledge of UNHCR’s mandate, operations, and/or the broader humanitarian sector is beneficial but not essential.
• 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.
Conditions
This assignment requires full-time engagement (8 hours/5 days per week).
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.
Required Languages
Bulgarian
English
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