Internship - Global Protection Cluster

Terms of Reference

Internship - Global Protection Cluster

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is offering an internship within the Global Protection Cluster, part of the Division of International Protection in our Geneva headquarters. This exciting internship is a unique opportunity to gain practical work experience in an international organization within the UN system and to develop a specific understanding of the protection risks experiences by IDPs as well as the international response to internal displacement.

Section: Global Protection Cluster
Title: Intern
Duty Station: Geneva, Switzerland
Duration: 6 months
Closing date: 05 November 2019
Start date: As soon as possible

Organizational context
UNHCR is the Global Cluster Lead Agency for the Global Protection Cluster (GPC) which is responsible for the protection coordination of the humanitarian response in disaster and complex emergencies under the overall leadership of the Emergency Relief Coordinator. To ensure that the GPC discharges its responsibilities, the GPC Support Cell has been established within the Global Protection Cluster Unit of the Division of International Protection at UNHCR Headquarters, Geneva, Switzerland. The Support Cell¿s primary functions are to provide: secretariat support; maintain links with OCHA and focal point agencies leading the four Areas of Responsibility or country level clusters; liaise with task-oriented and time-bound sub-working groups of the GPC; support field Protection Clusters; facilitate the development of the GPC¿s work plan and monitor its effective implementation; assist with resource mobilization, donor liaison and reporting; facilitate the mainstreaming of protection by acting as focal point for links with other global clusters; represent the cluster in inter-agency and other fora as needed and tasked by the Global Protection Cluster Coordinator; and strengthen IGO and NGO partners participation in GPC activities. The activities of the Support Cell are supervised and coordinated by the Deputy Director (DIP) who is the Global Protection Cluster Coordinator.

Duties and responsibilities
The intern will work within the Global Protection Cluster Support Cell to assist in fulfilling its role and responsibilities, including the provision of active support to the thirty (30) field based Protection Clusters.  

The Support Cell also assists in the development of policies with regard to IDP protection in areas where gaps have been identified. These include: return to conflict situations, displacement in urban settings, natural disaster-induced displacement or prevention of displacement. It also undertakes, with other actors, benchmark catalytic activities such as training, protection capacity building, field support missions and the drafting of position papers or the elaboration of standard operating procedures for application in protection work. 
Roles and Responsibilities of the Intern in the Global Protection Cluster Support Cell: 
- Assist with drafting, compiling and editing of the GPC Newsletter. Assist Support Cell in commissioning articles and garnering input from the GPC Participants;
- Assist in the development and maintenance of the GPC tracking matrix to host key information on all active protection clusters, sub-clusters and other related mechanisms at the national and sub-national level. Building on this, the intern will help to create a `country profile¿ for each of the operations.
- Assist in the organization, preparation, recording and follow-up of Workshops, Conferences and Meetings of the Global Protection Cluster, in particular, monthly coordination meetings, thematic seminars and other annual events;
- Assist with the dissemination of key GPC information to targeted audiences. Help to update distribution lists.
- Maintain the calendar of activities of the Global Protection Cluster Support Cell;
- Assist with the review of specific tools and IDP protection guidance material provided on the GPC website.
- Assist with the drafting of presentations for external and internal meetings;
- Participate, as appropriate, in external and internal coordination meetings. Where requested, take notes and minutes of the meetings;
- Assist in the discharge of other protection support activities as required.

Minimum Qualifications for the Internship:

In order to be considered for an internship, candidates must meet the following eligibility criteria:

¿ Recent graduates (those persons who completed their studies within one year of applying) or current student in a graduate/undergraduate school programme from a university of higher education facility accredited by UNESCO; and
¿ Have completed at least two years of undergraduate studies in a field relevant or of interest to the work of the Organization.

Please note that candidates who have immediate relatives (father, mother, son, daughter, brother or sister) working as staff members of UNHCR are not eligible.

Desirable qualifications and skills:
The ideal candidate will have the following qualifications and experience:
¿ Graduate degree ¿ completed or enrolled in a programme related to law, political science, social science or related field.

Competencies
¿ Demonstrated interest in human rights, and particularly the rights of IDPs.
¿ Competent user of standard word processing and spreadsheet software.
¿ Experience using online content management platforms, in particular WordPress, is an asset.
¿ Demonstrated experience in research and drafting of documents.
¿ Demonstrated competencies in administration, organization and time-management.

Language
¿ Fluency in English (written and spoken) is required, knowledge of other UN languages desirable.

Location
The successful candidate will be based with the team at the UNHCR Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.

Conditions & Allowances:
It is a full-time role with working hours starting from 9.00am to 6:00pm Monday to Friday (40 hours per week).

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:
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. Please note that the closing date for this internship vacancy is Tuesday 5  November 2019.