Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based)A (least hardship)
Family Type (not applicable for home-based)
Family
Staff Member / Affiliate TypeInternship
Target Start Date2025-01-20
Deadline for ApplicationsDecember 23, 2024
Terms of ReferenceUNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is offering a full-time internship with the Protection unit at UNHCR Beijing.
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: Protection Intern
Duty Station: Beijing
Duration: 6 months
Contract Type: Internship
Closing date for application: 23 December 2024
Start date: 20 January 2025
Organizational context
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) was established on December 14, 1950 by the United Nations General Assembly. The UN Refugee Agency is mandated to lead and co-ordinate international action to protect refugees and resolve refugee problems worldwide. Its primary purpose is to safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees. It strives to ensure that everyone can exercise the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge in another State, with the option to return home voluntarily, integrate locally or to resettle in a third country. UNHCR has helped millions of people to restart their lives. They include asylum seekers, refugees, returnees, stateless people and internally displaced persons. Its interventions in the areas of protection, shelter, health and education have been crucial, healing broken pasts and building brighter futures.
The UNHCR Office in China was established in 1979. In the absence of national refugee legislation, UNHCR continues to register asylum seekers, conducts individual refugee status determination under its mandate, seeks durable solutions for refugees, and provides direct assistance to the refugee population in China’s mainland. UNHCR works with the Government authorities to build domestic capacity and will continue working with all stakeholders in China to ensure refugees and asylum-seekers receive adequate protection and assistance.
The position
The intern will work under the guidance and supervision of the Registration Associate and will be based in the UNHCR office in Beijing.
Duties and responsibilities
• Schedule registration appointments;
• Receive and counsel applicants seeking asylum in China and facilitate the registration procedures;
• Conduct registration interviews for new asylum seekers;
• Create individual physical files for newly registered asylum seekers;
• Assist the Protection team to organize and coordinate with interpreters the interview scheduling;
• Conduct telephone counselling for asylum seekers and refugees;
• Assist in delivering RSD decision notifications;
• Monitor and respond to email queries from refugees/asylum seekers, and update relevant information into the proGres database;
• Data entry of information concerning documents issued, protection interviews, assistance, and counselling into the proGres database;
• Filing of relevant correspondences related to individual cases;
• Perform other duties as assigned by the supervisor.
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
• sciences or other related areas;
• Fluent in Chinese and English, proficiency in other languages i.e. French or Arabic is a plus;
• Firm commitment to a full-time internship of six months.
Desirable qualifications and skills
• Strong interest in international humanitarian field;
• Excellent communication skills;
• Professional and detail-oriented;
• Good team player;
• Strong awareness of cultural diversity and confidentiality requirements;
• Respect for humanity and a commitment to international public service.
,English
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Skills
EducationBachelor of Arts (BA)
Certifications
Work Experience
Other informationThis position doesn't require a functional clearance
Home-BasedNo