The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) is funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions from UN Member States. UNRWA also receives some funding from the Regular Budget of the United Nations, which is used mostly for international staffing costs.
The Agency’s services encompass education, health care, relief and social services, camp infrastructure and improvement, microfinance and emergency assistance, including in times of armed conflict.
UNRWA is unique in terms of its long-standing commitment to one group of refugees. It has contributed to the welfare and human development of four generations of Palestine refugees, defined as “persons whose normal place of residence was Palestine during the period 1 June 1946 to 15 May 1948, and who lost both home and means of livelihood as a result of the 1948 conflict.” The descendants of Palestine refugee males, including legally adopted children, are also eligible for registration.
UNRWA services are available to all those living in its areas of operations who meet this definition, who are registered with the Agency and who need assistance. When the Agency began operations in 1950, it was responding to the needs of about 750,000 Palestine refugees. Today, some 5 million Palestine refugees are eligible for UNRWA services.
UNRWA provides basic health, education and relief and social services to Palestine refugees to ensure that they:
- Live improved and healthy lives
- Develop knowledge and skills for livelihood
- Achieve a decent standard of living
- Enjoy their human rights to the fullest extent possible.
We invite applications from experienced professionals interested in international or area posts in any one of the Agency’s five fields of operations – Syria, Lebanon, Gaza, Jordan and the West Bank. We offer fixed-term positions as well as consultancy opportunities for specific tasks and emergency relief efforts.
UNRWA seeks programme specialists in education, health, relief and recovery, infrastructure and protection as well as professionals with experience in administrative and operational support.