UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is a global organization dedicated to saving lives, protecting rights and building a better future for forcibly displaced and stateless people. At the end of 2022, the number of forcibly displaced people has reached 108.4 million of which 43.3 million (40%) are children below 18 years of age. Responding to the protection needs of children is a core component of UNHCR's protection mandate.

The Child Protection Unit (CPU) sits within the Field Protection Service and provides technical support and guidance to field operations across humanitarian and refugee operations through developing policy, guidelines and tools, facilitating learning and development events, coordinate and work with colleagues and partners to enhance the prevention, mitigation and response strategies to protect children with and for whom UNHCR works.

The position

We are seeking a dynamic and proactive team player, with a strong interest in the protection of children with and for whom UNHCR works, to complete a six-month internship within UNHCR’s Child Protection Unit (CPU). The Intern will gain practical work experience related to the protection of children from CPU, and have the opportunity to practice and develop professional working skills, such as project management, prioritization, management of tasks and working meetings, teamwork, communication and presentation skills, and where required support the engagement with children with and for whom UNHCR works, amongst other.

Duties and responsibilities

Support guidance and tools development: • Support the CPU in drafting, editing and reviewing issue briefs, technical guidance and other documents related to child protection. • Assist with the procurement process of the CPU (ordering, translation, design of documents related to child protection). • Support with design of CPU documents including liaising with the designer and designing materials as required
Desk Research and Advocacy Support:

• Conduct monitoring and evaluation as part of the CPU learning events (workshop and webinar, etc.) and other data related issues and prepare and present analysis reports to the CPU team. • Support global advocacy and post-2023 Global Refugee Forum (GRF) follow up tasks, including but not limited to pledge analysis and relevant desk research on advocacy. • Conduct research on child protection and prepare briefings and background documents as needed. • Conduct desk review and contribute to the development of internal materials on core child protection programme actions, including but not limited to child participation and child-friendly communication and accountability.

Communication and Knowledge Management:

• Support the CPU team in developing and implementing dissemination strategy of child protection information. • Support the CPU team in moderating and regularly updating the Child Protection Community of Practice platform including developing SOP. • Support the CPU team in tracking the staff members who were trained. • Gather materials for and support the drafting and dissemination of the DIP Newsletters. • Manage and regularly update content for the CPU intranet and internet pages. • Manage and organize CPU mailbox and disseminate information to the relevant team members. • Manage Child Protection Unit online Sharepoint site and ensure relevant key documents of the unit are shared in relevant sites and portals. • Other tasks as required

Workshops and event support

• Support logistics, preparation and note-taking for meetings, workshops and events. This includes supporting child participation where relevant. • Undertaking of any other tasks as assigned by the Associate Child Protection Officer or Child Protection Senior Adviser.

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.

Desirable qualifications and skills

• Have a background in Political Sciences, Social Sciences, Communication, International Relations, Public Information, Law and/or (business) administration. • Demonstrable interest in child protection, and protection of forcibly displaced and stateless people. Sound knowledge of child protection and/or protection of forcibly displaced persons is an asset. • Competent user of Microsoft Office. • Experience in online content management platforms, digital communication tools and social media. • Proven experience in research and drafting of documents. • Demonstrable competencies in media and communications, administration, teamwork, organization and time management. • Fluency in English and either French or Spanish is required, Arabic is desirable.

Conditions

It is a full-time role with working hours starting from 8.30 am to 5:30 pm Monday to Friday (40 hours per week). The successful candidate will be assigned to support the team in Geneva, Switzerland. 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.

How to apply

Interested applicants should submit their application through www.unhcr.org/careers.html

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.