The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is mandated to lead and co-ordinate international action to protect refugees and resolve refugee problems worldwide. Its primary purpose is to safeguard the rights and wellbeing of refugees. UNHCR strives to ensure that everyone can exercise the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge in another State, with the option to return home voluntarily, integrate locally or to resettle in a third country. UNHCR also has a mandate to help stateless people.
The successful internship candidate will have the opportunity to learn about UNHCR’s work and mandate at the international level, in the EU and in Ireland. The successful candidate will also receive on-the-job training and complete self-study modules, including self-study learning on international refugee law.
Description of Internship
Main function: Providing support to the Protection Associate.
Period: 2 January 2013 – 2 July 2013.
Duration: Six months, Monday to Friday (9.00am – 5.30pm) full time.
Location: Dublin, Ireland.
Remuneration: The internship is unpaid. A small allowance is payable for travel expenses.
Key duties and responsibilities
· Providing support to the daily running of the office, in particular to the Protection Associate.
· Addressing individual queries and meeting persons of concern as required.
· Drafting letters/emails.
· Conducting research (legal and non-legal).
· Compiling statistics.
· Attending external meetings and training events as appropriate.
· Administrative tasks (filing, taking minutes, etc).
· Other tasks as may reasonably be required.
Knowledge, experience, skills relevant for position
· Ability to work as part of a team.
· Good analytical and drafting skills.
· Strong verbal and written ability in English.
· Good intercultural communication skills.
· Computer literacy in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and good web skills.
· Knowledge of Irish society and the Irish and international political climate.
· Good understanding of UNHCR’s protection mandate and work.
Graduates with a background in refugee law, human rights law, public international law, international relations, development studies and/or other social science disciplines are encouraged to apply.
Deadline for applications for Internship: 7 December 2012.
Interviews for this position will take place week commencing 17 December 2012.
To apply
Interested candidates should send a current CV, including the name of two referees and a covering letter (max 400 words) by email to Mr Saïd Hadjami at the following address: hadjami@unhcr.org
The subject line of the email should read: Application for Protection Internship/followed by your initials. Example: Application for Protection Internship/AB
Applicants should clearly state all of the following in their covering letter:
- their availability to commence the internship on the start date indicated and to complete the full 6 month period;
- their awareness of the conditions of the internship as set out in the internship position notice; and,
- their entitlement to reside in Ireland during the internship period.
Please note that only short-listed applications will be acknowledged.