Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based)

A (least hardship)

Family

Internship

2024-06-01

June 3, 2024

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is offering a full-time internship with the Section Protection at UNHCR Oranjestad, Aruba.

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 Internship
Duty Station: Oranjestad, Aruba
Duration: 6 months
Contract Type: Internship

Organizational context
UNHCR Aruba is part of the UNHCR Multi-Country Office in Panama. UNHCR works with governments in Caribbean countries to develop and strengthen their protections for asylum seekers, refugees, and stateless persons and monitors and reports on the treatment of asylum-seekers, refugees and stateless persons throughout the Caribbean region.
Until 2018, Aruba and Curaçao were among the 23 countries and territories remotely supervised by UNHCR Regional Office for Washington and the Caribbean. In May 2018, UNHCR established an operational presence in Aruba, covering Curacao as well. Since then, it falls under MCO Panama.
Aruba and Curaçao host populations estimated at 17,000 and 14.000 Venezuelans respectively. The absolute number of Venezuelans on both islands is relatively low in comparison with other countries hosting Venezuelans in Latin America. Yet, in 2022, Aruba and Curaçao respectively hosted the world’s largest and third largest numbers of Venezuelans abroad relative to their population (1 out 6 in Aruba and 1 out of 10 in Curaçao). UNHCR furthermore works with other nationalities in need of international protection. Despite being a signatory to the 1967 Protocol, Aruba’s mechanism to identify international protection needs is not embedded in national asylum and refugee legislation, as the national legislation is yet to be established. Curacao did not accede to the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol and the current protection from return available is under Article 3 European Convention of Human Rights.
In this legal and political context, UNHCR office in Aruba established its operations with a focus on community-based protection, legal protection, and durable solutions (mostly RST).

Interns will participate in a range of activities within the office, depending on their skills and interest, and will become familiar with the daily realities of working in a large humanitarian organization.
The intern will (i) gain a deeper knowledge of principles and practices guiding the organization’s interventions, particularly as they apply to the work of UNHCR in the Caribbean region; and (ii) develop professional working skills, such as writing, project and time management, prioritization, team work, presentation skills, and drafting. The work of the interns is not confined to a single project, as interns will be directly involved in all operational aspects of our work.
While the precise tasks of interns vary, considering the dynamics of the Caribbean region and other Office priorities, as well as the specific skills, competencies and areas of interest of the respective intern, the main tasks in which interns are involved are:

• Conducting research on Caribbean immigration laws and procedures, asylum procedures, analysis of constitutional changes and best practices;
• Assisting with UNHCR’s human rights reporting related to the Caribbean states;
• Support to administrative tasks as requested.
• Monitoring news for maritime incidents and migration flows in the Caribbean; and
• Undertaking special projects and translating documents and correspondence, as needed.

The position is open to both local and international applicants. Candidates not residing and/or not citizens of the country must comply with all eligibility requirements for employment in line with the prevailing legislative prerequisites in the country.

Recruitment as a UNHCR staff member and engagement under a UNHCR affiliate scheme or as an intern is subject to proof of vaccination against Covid-19.

The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities.

In order to be considered for an internship, candidates must meet the following eligibility criteria for all internships:
a. Be either a recent graduate (having completed their studies within two years of applying for an internship with UNHCR) or a current student in a graduate/undergraduate school programme from a university or higher education facility accredited by IAU/UNESCO;
b. Have completed at least two years of undergraduate studies in a field relevant or of interest to the work of UNHCR; and
c. Not have immediate relatives (father, mother, brother, or sister) working for UNHCR as a staff member on any contract type or as an affiliate at the time of application.

Other requirements:
• Fluency and strong drafting skills in English required;
· Fluency in Dutch, Spanish or Papiamento highly desirable.
• While not being a formal requirement, any relevant work experience will be taken into account in the selection of interns.

Levels of language knowledge:
A1 – beginner
A2 – elementary
B1 – lower intermediate
B2 – upper intermediate
C1 – advanced/proficient’

Conditions
It is a full time role with working hours starting from 08.00 till 17.30 Monday to Thursday and Friday from 08.00 till 12.00 (40 hours per week). The successful candidate will be assigned to support the team in Aruba
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.

How to apply
Interested applicants should submit their application through www.unhcr.org/careers.html
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.

All UNHCR interns, staff members and affiliated workforce are accountable to perform their duties as reflected in their job description. They do so within their delegated authorities, in line with the regulatory framework of UNHCR which includes the UN Charter, UN Staff Regulations and UNHCR Policies and Administrative Instructions as well as relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, staff members are required to discharge their responsibilities in a manner consistent with the core, functional, cross-functional and managerial competencies and UNHCR’s core values of professionalism, integrity and respect for diversity.

Standard Job Description

Required Languages

English

,

,

Desired Languages

,

,

Additional Qualifications

Skills

Education

Certifications

Other information

This position doesn’t require a functional clearance

Home-Based

No