Refugee Community Engagement Volunteer

Assist in community engagement to improve refugee services and support durable solutions.

This opening expired 3 months ago. Do not try to apply for this job.

UNHCR - UN High Commissioner for Refugees

Open positions at UNHCR
Logo of UNHCR

Application deadline 3 months ago: Thursday 26 Feb 2026 at 00:00 UTC

Open application form

Overview

Assist in community engagement to improve refugee services and support durable solutions.

You have:

  • Secondary education is required (High School is desirable) with at least 2 years of professional work experience at the national and/or international level in Refugee Protection and Rights, Complementary Pathways, Community Engagement and Awareness-Raising, Case Management and Partnership Development, Research and Policy Support.
  • Knowledge of and/or preparedness to become familiar with and abide by UNHCR’s principles, code of conduct and humanitarian goals.
  • Good in oral and written skills (English and Arabic).
  • Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners, including grassroots community members, religious and youth organizations, and authorities at different levels.
  • Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment; ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel.
  • Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various MS Office applications (Excel, Word, etc.) and email/internet; familiarity with database management and office technology equipment.
  • Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines.
  • Sound security awareness.
  • Have affinity with or interest in refugee protection, volunteerism as a mechanism for durable development, and the UN System.

Contract

This is a UNV contract. More about UNV contracts.

Jordan is not a State party to the 1951 Refugee Convention and has no national refugee legislation; refugee status determination is conducted by UNHCR under a Memorandum of Understanding with the Government of Jordan, which stipulates that UNHCR is responsible for identifying solutions for recognized refugees. All foreigners fall under the Law on the Residence of Foreigners and are permitted to stay for an initial three months, after which overstaying may result in fines or deportation. While large-scale deportations have not occurred, asylum seekers and refugees live with persistent uncertainty, as registration with UNHCR authorizes their stay but does not grant permanent residency.

As of September 2025, Jordan hosts approximately 488,000 refugees registered with UNHCR, with numbers fluctuating due to voluntary returns to Syria. Refugees are granted access to public education and health services, while UNHCR ensures protection through registration, legal documentation, counselling, community engagement, and coordination of the overall refugee response. UNHCR actively supports Syrian refugees who choose to voluntarily return to Syria by providing information, counselling, legal assistance, and transportation. Since December 2024, over 177,000 registered Syrian refugees have crossed back into Syria, including more than 9,500 who received free bus transportation in 2025. In September, UNHCR also launched a pilot Cash Assistance for Voluntary Returns initiative, providing JOD 70 per family member to eligible refugees to cover return-related costs, with the pilot closely monitored to inform future programming.

In this context, the UN Volunteer will have a threefold role. First, the volunteer will actively raise awareness within refugee and host communities by informing and mobilizing individuals around available complementary pathways and other durable solutions. Second, the volunteer will play a key role in supporting community-based protection initiatives by contributing to ongoing outreach and engagement activities within the CBP team and strengthening linkages with community networks and community-based organizations. This will be achieved through multiple outreach channels, including helpdesks, structured multi-functional missions to camps and host communities, social media monitoring, community volunteer meetings, and the collection of oral testimonies. Third, the UN Volunteer will support new initiatives aimed at improving refugees’ access to labor market opportunities should they choose to return to their home country, including assistance with job search and application processes through platforms such as Bayt.com.

Availability that his/her likeness appears on media, social media, photos, and videos as it will be impossible for UNHCR to prevent such appearances on the public or external occasion s/he will interpret. S/He will need to understand that her/his picture will possibly be seen on the internet.

Additional information: UN Community Volunteers (Part-time) in Jordan are entitled to: • Monthly Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA) at the amount of JOD 229.01; • Annual and learning leaves; • Free Medical and life insurance; and • Free access to different learning platforms.

Under the direct supervision of the Senior Repatriation Associate in the Durable Solutions Team, the UN Volunteer will assist in the following tasks:

  1. Communication, Outreach and Coordination: • Participate in community outreach and engagement activities, supporting the dissemination of accurate and timely information on complementary pathways through refugee and host community networks. • Gather, document, and share feedback from refugee communities on challenges and barriers to accessing complementary pathways, helping the unit identify gaps and inform coordination with partners and stakeholders. • Organize and deliver webinars and other virtual information sessions on complementary pathways, digital livelihoods, and livelihoods and education opportunities, including emerging opportunities related to Syria where feasible. • Support the Community-Based Protection team in strengthening community connections and outreach strategies, particularly for hard-to-reach communities. • Contribute to targeted outreach for vulnerable groups, including persons with disabilities, older refugees, women at risk, and youth, in coordination with CBP colleagues. • Support Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP) by documenting community feedback and rumors and sharing consolidated inputs with relevant units for follow-up. • Conduct outreach and training sessions for returnees on the use of Bayt.com, talent catalogues, LinkedIn, and similar platforms, including guidance on creating professional profiles, uploading CVs, and applying for job opportunities in third countries or in their home country.

  2. Capacity Building, Learning and Research: • Participate in global trainings and capacity-building initiatives related to complementary pathways and other relevant thematic areas, contributing insights informed by lived experience of displacement. • Complete the Bayt.com Training of Trainers (ToT) programme to gain proficiency in the platform and effectively support refugees with profile creation and job applications. • Support the unit in collecting and systematizing information on available complementary pathways opportunities, including education, labor mobility, sponsorship, and family reunification, and contribute to analysis of trends and challenges.

  3. Additional Tasks: • Provide support to individual case counselling, where appropriate and in line with integrity guidelines, with a focus on career guidance, application support, and job search assistance. • Contribute to the documentation of good practices, lessons learned, and refugee feedback. • Support other relevant units, including Durable Solutions, Community-Based Protection, Livelihoods, and Education, as required.

• Professionalism • Teamwork and respect for diversity • Commitment to continuous learning • Planning and organizing • Communication • Flexibility • Accountability • Adaptability and flexibility • Creativity • Judgement and decision-making • Planning and organizing • Self-management • Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity and self-reliance; and commitment towards UNHCR’s mission and vision, as well as to the UN Core Values. • Integrity: demonstrate the values and ethical standards of the UN and UNHCR in daily activities and behaviors while acting without consideration of personal gains

Secondary education is required (High School is desirable) with at least 2 years of professional work experience at the national and/or international level in Refugee Protection and Rights, Complementary Pathways, Community Engagement and Awareness-Raising, Case Management and Partnership Development, Research and Policy Support. • Knowledge of and/or preparedness to become familiar with and abide by UNHCR’s principles, code of conduct and humanitarian goals. • Good in oral and written skills (English and Arabic) • Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners, including grassroots community members, religious and youth organizations, and authorities at different levels; familiarity with tools and approaches of communications for development. • Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment; ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel. • Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various MS Office applications (Excel, Word, etc.) and email/internet; familiarity with database management; and office technology equipment. • Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines. • Sound security awareness. • Have affinity with or interest in refugee protection, volunteerism as a mechanism for durable development, and the UN System.

Additional Note: • This assignment is for individuals with stateless, refugee, asylum seeker, or similar protective status, including those under Temporary Protection in the country of assignment. An official document proving the relevant status is mandatory. •Applicants holding any of the above statuses are required to submit the official proof before and/or during the interview. Applications submitted without the required documentation will not be considered for this assignment.

Amman, the capital, is a peaceful city with over four million residents. People are friendly to visitors. Services in terms of banking, transportation, health and communications are easily available. Though Arabic is the official language, English is widely spoken among the majority of the population, especially in Amman. Road network is good both in terms of spread and quality of the roads. Public transportation in Amman is limited. Taxis are relatively cheap and easily available. There are a number of shopping malls, restaurants, gyms, and cinemas. A large variety of accommodation options can be found; however, it is worth noting that prices in Amman have generally increased in the past few years. There are no specific security threats. Amman is a very easy city in which to live; large, many amenities, very modern and serviced by an international airport with direct flights to most capital cities. According to the assessment of the UN Department of Safety & Security (UNDSS) Jordan is a family duty station (category A hardship). As this is a national UN Volunteer assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging his/her own housing and other living essentials. National UN Volunteers are part of the insurance plan.

Potential interview questions

Can you describe a time when you successfully engaged a community in a project? We're looking for your experience in community engagement and outreach efforts. Provide a specific example that highlights your approach and the impact it had.
How would you handle misinformation within a refugee community? This assesses your ability to manage communication and information dissemination. Pro members can see the explanation.
What methods would you use to support vulnerable groups within refugee populations? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
Describe a time you had to adapt to a challenging work environment. How did you cope? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
How do you plan to keep up with UNHCR's principles and code of conduct in your work? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
Can you provide an example of how you used technology to support your work in community outreach? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
What strategies would you implement to enhance refugee access to labor market opportunities? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
Tell us about a situation where you had to work with diverse teams. What challenges did you face, and how did you overcome them? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
Added 4 months ago - Updated 3 months ago - Source: unv.org