UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is offering a full-time internship with the UNHCR Dominican Republic Office for its Resettlement Unit in Santo Domingo, the Dominican Republic.

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.

Duty Station: Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

Duration: 3-month internship (May to July)

Organizational context

After the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, UNHCR reopened its office in the Dominican Republic to provide coordination and humanitarian response to the thousands of people who came seeking International Protection. Since 2014, UNHCR has also been accompanying the Dominican authorities to achieve the effective implementation of Law 169-14, as well as finding document and nationality solutions for people of concern in line with our mandate. UNHCR also implements its mandate to supervise the 1951 Convention on the Status of Refugees, through technical cooperation with the institutions responsible for the refugee protection system in the Dominican Republic. In addition, UNHCR is one of the agencies in charge of leading the coordination of the humanitarian response to the refugee population and asylum seekers in Venezuela, together with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and other members of the R4V Inter-Agency Platform. UNHCR and partners deliver humanitarian assistance to the most vulnerable persons of concern in the Dominican Republic, and fosters community mobilization and empowerment, following age, gender and diversity criteria.

The RSD-RST Intern reports to the Protection Officer. The incumbent supports the operation with various administrative and technical activities in the framework of RSD and Resettlement case identification, scheduling and processing.

The position

As an intern in the RSD-RST Units based in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, you will join a team of specialized staff with a strong focus on refugee protection, including international and human rights law. You will actively participate in day-to-day activities related to refugee RSD and Resettlement case processing and in a variety of protection issues and tasks.

During the internship the Protection Officer will be your supervisor/mentor. You will assist the UNHCR RSD/RST team for the Dominican Republic with protection and resettlement related tasks such as handling individual cases from people we serve, supporting administrative and logistical staff of interviews, and conducting research on country-of-origin information. Your interest, skills and expertise will be taken into consideration when guiding some of your workload. You will be expected to work independently, yet in close collaboration with your mentor, colleagues within the Protection team.

Duties and responsibilities

Availability for both remote and in person tasks

Support with research to compile Country of Origin Information (COI) for individual cases, and update existent COI documents, as well as standard texts for legal analysis of cases;

Provide logistical support to the RSD and resettlement teams, including but not exclusive to making copies, scanning documents, scheduling, arranging transportation and food for refugees during the resettlement processes, among other tasks.

Perform case management functions, including data entry and obtaining biometric information for UNHCR’s database (ProGres), BIMs and updating physical files;

Follow-up on documentation and deferrals for resettlement cases;

Support the preparation and implementation of trainings, workshops and other capacity building related activities with partners;

Support with the translation of documents and reports;

Perform other 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.

NOTE: An individual whose father, mother, son, daughter, brother or sister is a staff member of UNHCR, including a Temporary Appointment holder or a member of the Affiliate Workforce, is not eligible for an internship.

Desirable qualifications and skills

Excellent working knowledge both Spanish and Kreyol (verbal and written)

University studies in Law, International Relations, Social Sciences or related fields.

Respect for diversity and capacity to work in stressful contexts.

Capacity to adapt to the requirements of the operation and to be a good team player.

An undergraduate or graduate student at university in the Dominican Republic.

Conditions

It is a full-time role with working hours starting from 8:30am to 5:30pm Monday to Tuesday and from 8:30am to 2:00pm on Friday (37,5 hours per week). The successful candidate will be assigned to support the team in the Dominican Republic.