External Relations Assistant

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is a global organization dedicated to saving lives, protecting rights and building a better future for refugees, forcibly displaced communities and stateless people. Globally, UNHCR operates in over 130 countries, using our expertise to protect and care for millions.
The UNHCR Multi-Country Office (MCO) for Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan is located in Almaty, providing overall coordination and strategic oversight of UNHCR operations through National Offices in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan and Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. As a non-resident agency, we have a small presence in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, and implement projects in Turkmenistan through NGO partners.
Across the four countries, UNHCR and partners work together to implement programmes that uphold the basic human rights of people forced to flee and the stateless. We work with governments to improve laws and national systems so our people of concern stay safe, get documents, can go to school, work and exercise other rights.
In Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, UNHCR focuses on strengthening local ownership of and investments in quality asylum systems; pursuing opportunities for local integration of refugees; eradicating statelessness; and collaborating with partners on emergency preparedness and response.
UNHCR contributes to the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Frameworks (UNSCDF) at the respective country levels in the sub-region to ensure refugees, asylum-seekers and stateless people are not left behind in States’ achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Engagement ranges from rule of law, to access to and transparency of administration, justice, and human capital development.

The UN Volunteer will closely work with colleagues across all units at UNHCR MCO Almaty. Under this assignment, the UN Volunteer will support the team in preparing a variety of materials, such as briefing notes, factsheets, information brochures, and newsletters. The UN Volunteer will also assist with organizing events, collecting information, and supporting basic data analysis. Under the supervision of the manager, s/he will provide support in organising visits of UNHCR senior management, foreign delegations, donors, press and media by contributing to the drafting of briefings and reports/materials for external partners. The UN Volunteer will receive guidance from staff, gaining exposure to both communications and advocacy work. This role is designed for undergraduate students, providing hands-on learning, practical skills development, and insight into humanitarian work during the six-month assignment. The UN Volunteer will also have the opportunity to contribute to discussions, participate in team meetings, and observe coordination with partners and other UN agencies.

Under the direct supervision of External Relations Associate, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:
• Learn from team members about UN processes, protection standards, advocacy, and external relations, gaining practical experience in a UN operational environment.
• Support the drafting and release of a wide range of external and internal materials, including briefing notes, reports, factsheets, information brochures, newsletters, as re-quired.
• Support the organization of visibility events, and liaise with colleagues and partners, to design and implement.
• Contribute to the planning and organization of events, workshops, and missions.
• Support day-to-day activities, including note-taking, and maintaining relevant resources or databases.
• Assist in compilation of weekly, monthly, annual/quarterly thematic reports, situations reports etc.
• Perform other related duties as required.