The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) offers internship opportunities to students and recent graduates interested in humanitarian assistance, refugee protection, international development and related professional fields.
The programme allows eligible candidates to gain practical experience while supporting the work of an organisation that assists refugees, internally displaced people and other communities forced to flee their homes.
Unlike programmes that open only once annually, UNHCR internships can begin at different times throughout the year. New opportunities are advertised according to the needs and capacity of individual offices.
UNHCR AfricaWhat Does the Internship Programme Cover?
UNHCR internships provide professional exposure to humanitarian operations and the work of an international organisation.
Depending on the placement, interns may support activities such as:
Refugee protection and community-based assistance.
Research and information management.
Communications and public information.
Programme support and administration.
Education and livelihoods initiatives.
Other operational and technical activities.
Eligible interns who do not receive financial support from another source may receive an allowance to help partially cover food, local transportation and living expenses.
UNHCR may also reimburse eligible return travel expenses for interns recruited from outside their duty-station country, subject to its rules. Visa costs and medical insurance remain the responsibility of the intern.
UNHCR AfricaWho Can Apply?
According to UNHCR's internship eligibility information, applicants must generally:
Be currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate programme at an accredited university or higher education institution, or be a recent graduate.
Have completed at least two years of undergraduate studies.
Have an academic background relevant to, or of interest to, the work of UNHCR.
Meet the organisation's other eligibility and conflict-of-interest requirements.
Recent graduates are generally considered eligible if they completed their studies within two years of applying.
Internships are advertised at different locations, including headquarters, global service centres and country offices. Some placements may permit teleworking with the approval of the relevant manager.
UNHCR AfricaHow to Apply
Visit the official UNHCR internship information page.
Read the eligibility requirements and internship FAQs.
Open the UNHCR recruitment platform.
Search for available internship vacancies.
Select a vacancy that matches your academic background and interests.
Prepare your CV, motivation letter and other requested documents.
Submit your application before the deadline stated in the individual vacancy.
Candidates should regularly check the recruitment portal because internship positions are published as opportunities arise.
Important Information
Internships normally last between two and six months.
Some placements may be extended up to eight months.
Internship start dates vary throughout the year.
Placements depend on the needs and supervision capacity of individual UNHCR offices.
Allowances are subject to eligibility and funding arrangements.
UNHCR does not charge applicants any fees during recruitment, interviews or selection.
Applicants should only use official UNHCR recruitment channels and should never pay anyone claiming to guarantee an internship.
UNHCR AfricaOfficial Application and Information Links
Source attribution: Information verified from UNHCR's official internship programme information.