Internship - Global Communications Service in Geneva, Switzerland

Terms of Reference
Internship
Division of External Relations, Global Communications Service

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is offering a full-time internship within the Global Communications Service (GCS) under the Division of External Relations at UNHCR Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.

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.

Title: Global Communications Intern
Duty Station: Geneva, Switzerland
Duration: 6 months
Contract Type: Internship
Closing Date for Application:  18 October 2021
Start Date: 1 November 2021

Organizational context
UNHCR¿s Global Communications Service (GCS) generates and maintains public interest and support for people forced to flee: including refugees, IDPs, and stateless among others. GCS produces and engages in strategic communications and content so UNHCR can lead the narrative, generate empathy and mobilize action. It employs a wide range of multimedia tools, working across text, photos, video, online and social media platforms for distribution and placement. It may communicate in collaboration with other UN bodies, civil society actors, Goodwill Ambassadors and high-profile supporters, as well as the forcibly displaced and stateless people themselves.

The position
The intern will work as part of the team in the Front Office of the Head of the GCS and will report to the GCS Communications Officer (Executive Support). They will have regular contacts with staff members across the Service, regional Bureaus and operations ¿ gaining a thorough understanding of UNHCR¿s communications work. They will also have limited external contacts on routine matters.

Duties and responsibilities
¿ Be a key member in the day-to-day work at the office of the Head of GCS, particularly supporting the Head of GCS and the Communications Officer/Executive Support colleague.
¿ Conduct research (internet, digital, media and other), compiling and analyzing data on issues related to forced displacement and statelessness.
¿ Contribute to the development of presentations on the work of GCS.
¿ Assist with the technical and content-related maintenance of the GCS internal platform for communications practitioners (SharePoint site).
¿ Maintain and update the files of the Office¿s digital workspace, its calendar of events, contact lists and work program.
¿ Organize and attend meetings, keeping minutes as requested.
¿ Support with coordinating tasks.
¿ Provide clerical assistance to events involving the Office. 
¿ 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 one year of applying) or a current student in a graduate/undergraduate school programme from a university or 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 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
¿ Degree in Journalism, International Relations, Political Sciences or related field.
¿ Good understanding of issues related to forced displacement.
¿ Experience in project management; excellent organizational skills.
¿ Interest in digital media and communications campaigns.
¿ Excellent writing, public speaking, presentation skills.

Conditions
It is a full-time role with working hours starting from 9.00am to 6:00pm Monday to Friday (40 hours per week). The successful candidate will be assigned to support the team in Geneva, Switzerland; however, bearing in mind COVID-19 imposed restrictions, remote working arrangements are possible, and working from home will in any case sometimes be required.

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.

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.

UNHCR does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process (application, interview, meeting, travelling, processing or training.

We welcome applications from candidates with a refugee or stateless background. Please note that the closing date for this internship advertisement is Monday 18 October 2021 (midnight Geneva time).