Protection Intern at the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

GENERAL INFORMATION:
Organization: United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

Title of the post: Protection Intern

Sector: Protection

Location: Harare, Zimbabwe with some travel within Zimbabwe.

Duration of assignment: 3-6 months

Compensation: PLEASE NOTE THIS IS AN UNPAID INTERNSHIP. There is no possibility of compensation or reimbursement of expenses. Interns are expected to cover all travel costs to and from Zimbabwe as well accommodation, living, and other related costs once they are in the country. The Office will provide documentation of the Internship to educational institutions and other appropriate bodies, as needed.

Note Well: There should be no expectation of employment at the end of the Internship, and per UNHCR rules, an intern may not apply for a position with UNHCR until six months have elapsed from the end of their internship.

SUPERVISION:
The Intern will be supervised by an international staff member in UNHCR’s Protection Unit in the Branch Office Harare.

DUTIES and RESPONSIBILITIES:
To support the Office in implementing the UNHCR protection and durable solution activities in Zimbabwe for refugees, IDP’s and refugee returnees by:

• Assisting UNHCR staff with individual counseling of urban refugees and ensuring appropriate follow-up after counseling sessions;

• Assisting in updating files and profiles in UNHCR computerized database system;

• Drafting relevant communications with UNHCR partners and government counterparts under the direction of UNHCR staff;

• Conducting visits to Waterfalls Transit Center in Harare to follow-up on cases of refugees with special protection needs;

• Assisting with durable solutions reviews of and recommendations for refugees’ cases;
• Assisting with legal review of individual refugee claims;

• Assisting with identification of refugees with special needs and profiling exercises;
• Occasionally undertaking field missions to the Tongogara Refugee Camp;

• Assisting the office with training for beneficiaries, authorities and partners on Refugee Law, Human Rights, Resettlement and other related topics;

• Assisting with IDP issues as required and

• Performing other duties as may be required by the Office.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Required:

• An university degree in Law or other related field, including but not limited to Human Rights, or International Relations;

• A basic working knowledge of Refugee law;

• Fluency in spoken and written English, including excellent English-language writing skills;

• The adaptability to work in an international and multicultural environment;

• The ability to work with vulnerable and victimized individuals;

• The ability to act professionally and to deal with confidential and sensitive information, and

• The availability to work in Zimbabwe for a minimum of three (3) months.

Desired:

• Advanced degree in a relevant field;

• Work experience with refugees and/or IDPs;

• Knowledge of French, Lingala, or Swahili and

• Female candidates are encouraged to apply

Please send an updated CV, a current writing sample (maximum 5 pages), and a cover letter stating your reasons for applying for the internship to DAUN@unhcr.org.

Please note that only candidate(s) selected for interviews will be contacted.

DEADLINE: 
UNHCR Zimbabwe will accept applications for its Protection Internship on a rolling basis, but for summer internships (June-August 2011) the deadline is 9 May 2011. For fall internships (September-December 2011), the deadline is 1 August 2011.