UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency

Compensation

Full Description

Deadline for Applications March 3, 2026 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 2026-04-01 Terms of Reference Terms of Reference Internship Strategic Communications and Outreach, MCO Washington UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is seeking applicants for a part-time or full-time internship with the Strategic Communications and Outreach Unit at Multi-Country Office Washington. 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. For 75 years, UNHCR continues to use its long expertise to protect and care for millions. Title: Strategic Communications and Outreach Intern Duty Station: Multi-Country Office Washington Duration: 3-5 months Contract Type: Internship Start date: April - May 2026 Organizational context The U.S. Strategic Communications and Outreach team provides information on global refugee crises and UNHCR’s role protecting and assisting refugees to U.S. and Caribbean media outlets and engages U.S. audiences through strategic partnerships, digital outreach, campaigns, exhibits and events. The position The intern will gain unique knowledge about UNHCR’s global role, capabilities, programs, and impact, and the role of communications and outreach in achieving UNHCR’s mandate. Duties and responsibilities • Support staff with outreach, including media relations, digital media, multi-media projects, events, exhibits and campaigns to ensure public awareness and support for refugees and UNHCR’s work; • Assist in the production of multimedia projects, graphic design, digital media; • Assist in the management of multimedia content; • Assist with monitoring media coverage of UNHCR’s work, refugees, asylum-seekers, and humanitarian assistance; • Research and respond to information requests from the general public; • Attend relevant external events and prepare summaries of content; • Undertake other projects as needed to further assist the U.S. Strategic Communications and Outreach team’s work. 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 two years of applying) or a current student in a graduate/undergraduate school programme from a university or higher education facility accredited by IAU/UNESCO; and • Have completed at least two years of undergraduate studies in a field relevant or of interest to the work of UNHCR. Desirable qualifications and skills • Proficiency in multimedia production tools and software, such as Canva or Adobe Creative Suite including Photoshop, InDesign or Premiere Pro; • Proficiency in Microsoft Office products, including PowerPoint, Word and Excel. • Possess an understanding of journalism, media relations and communications; • Demonstrated commitment or strong interest in international relations, refugee issues, and humanitarian response; • Superior command of the English language with excellent written and oral communication skills; • Ability to multi-task and prioritize with minimal supervision. Attention to detail required. Conditions It is a full/part-time on-site role with a 20-40 hours per week commitment. The successful candidate will be assigned to support the team in Washington, DC. 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. All applicants must be legally residing in the United States and possess a valid work permit (Employment Authorization Document - EAD) or permanent resident status at the time of application. How to apply Interested applicants should submit their application through www.unhcr.org/careers.html click on vacancies. Supplemental Application details: Applicants who would like to submit a portfolio of multimedia work including design, presentations and/or video production may email a portfolio of work samples (in one PDF file or personal website) to usawausm@unhcr.org by the application deadline. 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. Standard Job Description Required Languages English , , Desired Languages , , Additional Qualifications Skills Education Certifications Work Experience Other information This is an on‑site local internship. Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of application. Work authorization includes a valid Employment Authorization Document (EAD), permanent resident status or U.S. citizenship.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.