Responsibilities
Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based) H (no hardship) Family Type (not applicable for home-based) Family Staff Member / Affiliate Type Internship Target Start Date 2025-09-01 Deadline for Applications July 28, 2025 Terms of Reference The UNHCR Office for Switzerland and Liechtenstein is offering a full-time internship for the duration of a minimum of three to a maximum of six months. The Office acts as a country office for Switzerland and Liechtenstein, and works closely with the Swiss authorities, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), refugees and other relevant actors in Switzerland and Liechtenstein for the protection of forcibly displaced and stateless persons. We also seek to support governments to find durable solutions for refugees. Main responsibilities • Assist with the compilation of a daily press review. • Assist with the development and implementation of awareness raising activities. • Support our cooperation with institutions, companies, media, etc. • Draft articles and other texts. • Do research and translation work. • Review, finalise and format texts of the team. • Support the website and social media activities. • Support the organisation of events. • Respond to telephone calls. • Perform other tasks as required Selection criteria In order to be considered eligible for an internship, the following criteria must be fulfilled: • Be either a recent graduate or current student in a graduate/undergraduate school programme from a university or higher education facility accredited by IAU/UNESCO. • Have completed at least two years of undergraduate studies in media, international relations or related studies and have a particular interest in refugee protection. • Not have exhausted the maximum cumulative internship period with UNHCR, including any prior internships (8 months for full-time and 12 months for part-time). • Excellent knowledge of English, as well as German AND French (minimum B2 level). • Strong drafting skills. • Good general working knowledge of communication and public relations principles and methods. • Working knowledge of design tools (Canva), social media and newsletter platforms is an advantage. • Knowledge of the Swiss media landscape is an advantage. Allowance Interns who do not receive financial support from an outside party receive an allowance. They are expected to make their own arrangements for travel, visa, accommodation and living expenses during the internship period. Please be aware that this internship does not carry any expectation or entitlement to employment with UNHCR at the conclusion of the internship or at any time thereafter. Application We welcome applications from candidates with a refugee or stateless background. Acquiring and renewing current visas, residence permits including all associated costs, obtaining medical certification and compliance with taxation requirements (if applicable), are the responsibility of the intern. The selected candidate will need to provide UNHCR with a proof of health insurance coverage applicable to the assigned internship location and a certificate of good health from a qualified medical practitioner certifying their fitness for work and travel. In the event the selected candidate is not able to produce the required certificates, they will not be admitted to the Internship Programme. 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. Standard Job Description Required Languages German , French , English Desired Languages , , Additional Qualifications Skills Canva, External Relations, Multilingualism, Refugee Protection, Social Media, Writing, Writing Newsletters Education Certifications Work Experience Other information This position doesn't require a functional clearance Remote No Important notice: Please note that UNHCR does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process (application, interview, meeting, travelling, processing or training). Read about how to avoid scams and fraudulent job offers. Please note that applications are only accepted via the UNHCR online recruitment platform. CVs and/or application requests sent via email will not be answered, reviewed nor considered. For external applicants: We would like to call your attention on the eligibility of International Professional (P) category: According to our Recruitment and Assignments Policy, P staff members will not normally serve in the country of their nationality, and the first regular appointment in the P category must be outside the staff member's country of nationality. In practical terms this means that you are not eligible to apply for International Professional vacancies advertised in the country where you are national of. In case of technical difficulties when applying, external applicants (not current UNHCR workforce members) can write to recruitmentcase@unhcr.org. For former UNHCR Colleagues: Former UNHCR employees who are on mandatory break-in service or have separated from UNHCR after 1 October 2022 should create an account through this platform. Once you fill in your basic personal information (employee ID, birth date, name, email address), Workday will identify you as prior personnel and merge your employee account with your external applicant account. 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, the UN Refugee Agency, takes the lead in protecting people forced to flee wars and persecution around the world, providing life-saving aid including shelter, food and water to ensure their basic safety, rights and dignity. With 18,879 women and men working in 137 countries, we work tirelessly to make a difference in the lives of 89.3 million forcibly displaced people worldwide. Our dedicated and professional staff work around the clock in roles including legal protection, community services, public affairs, health and more. Despite the challenges they can face, our staff are proud to work for UNHCR and determined to make a positive impact. Why a career with UNHCR? Our dedicated staff work to protect and assist people fleeing conflict and persecution at a time when global forced displacement is at a record high. Our colleagues bring a wide range of specialized skills, including expertise in legal protection, administration, community services, public affairs, health and other disciplines. Disability inclusion If you are a person with a disability and you expect you may face challenges during the recruitment process, you can indicate it in your application form. There are options to select any health conditions you may have and outline any necessary adjustments related to disabilities during the recruitment phases. Providing this information is optional. It will be treated as strictly confidential and used only for the purpose of finding out how to better assist you during the recruitment process. Adjustments for candidates with disabilities will be provided as best as possible and as needed upon request. All candidates will be assessed based on meeting the requirements for each vacancy in relation to experience, skills, and education.
