Deadline for ApplicationsFebruary 9, 2026
Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based)H (no hardship)
Family Type (not applicable for home-based)
Family
Staff Member / Affiliate TypeInternship
Target Start Date2026-02-16
Terms of ReferenceUNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is offering a full-time internship within the Livelihood and Economic Inclusion (LEI) unit to be based in UNHCR Warsaw Multi-Country Office.
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.
Operational Context
UNHCR promotes the economic inclusion of refugees to enable them to become self-sufficient and help alleviate pressure on host communities (as outlined in Global Compact Goals 1 and 2).
The Livelihood and Economic Inclusion Unit provides guidance and builds capacity in the field to: advocate for an enabling environment for refugee work; convene relevant stakeholders, including the private sector, humanitarian and development actors, and governments to expand refugees' access to economic opportunities; and promote results-based and market-driven approaches to improve economic inclusion outcomes for refugee and host communities.
UNHCR, employs \"3 lines of defense\" to manage risk and exercise effective oversight and accountability. The first and second lines include oversight mechanisms - whose functions are risk management and oversight. The third line provides independent assurance that risk management is working in the organization as intended.
Under the direct supervision of the Senior Livelihood and Economic Inclusion Officer, the incumbent will play an active role in strengthening the 1st line of defense in the Country Office.
He/she will work closely with UNHCR's livelihoods partners, government agencies, the private sector and financial service providers as well as other relevant stakeholders to enhance economic inclusion and improve the self-reliance of Persons of Concern (PoC) and host community members. He/she will also liaise with other UNHCR cross-cutting areas such as protection, education, cash, partnerships, research and analysis, SGBV, solutions, complementary pathways and more. To document good practices, results and generate knowledge. The intern will work closely with the supervisor to support UNHCR's databases and support the regular exchange of information and coordination between different stakeholders: humanitarian, development and governmental.
The Position
The incumbent will support the strategic vision to align livelihood and economic inclusion efforts with the Global Compact for Refugees (GCR), which emphasizes the need to mobilize other actors and take a whole-of-society approach to empower refugees and help alleviate pressure on host countries.
Duties and Responsibilities
โข Support knowledge-management by building a repository of good practices, case studies and resources to be disseminated, develop/ promote communication materials, follow communication platforms, including social media;
โข Support coordination of the Unit's work by providing logistical support for events, meetings, and trainings, taking minutes of meetings, tracking important action items to ensure completion, and tracking engagement with partners;
โข Support in building and maintaining effective professional relationships with partners and stakeholders;
โข Provide support in writing reports, monthly internal updates of the team, fact sheets and PowerPoint presentations;
โข Translate reports and/or documents;
โข Assist with various daily tasks;
โข Perform any other tasks as needed;
Eligibility
In order to be considered for an internship, candidates must meet the following eligibility criteria:
โข Be 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;
โข Have completed at least two years of undergraduate studies in a field relevant or of interest to the work of UNHCR.
โข Not have immediate relatives (parent or step-parent, sibling or step-sibling) working for UNHCR as a staff member on any contract type or as an affiliate at the time of application.
โข not have exhausted the maximum cumulative internship period with UNHCR, including any prior internships (8 months for full-time and 12 months for part-time).
In the education section of the application, please make sure that your school is selected from the list of accredited higher education institutions when creating a profile in UNHCR Recruitment Portal - Workday. To do this, click on the magnifying glass next to Select School, then select Contains next to Description, type in the name of the school, click Look up and finally click on the result.
Desirable Qualifications and Skills
โข Excellent writing, analytical and task management skills;
โข Strong organizational skills especially analytical skills and attention to details
โข Have good written and verbal skills in English and Polish (both at least B2 level or above);
โข Demonstrated skills in social media and online communication tools/platforms;
โข Demonstrated experience in project management;
โข Pro-active interpersonal and communication skills, excellent for a multi-cultural environment;
โข Good prioritizing and self-management skills to work both independently and as part of a team.
โข Experience working with humanitarian and/or development actors;
โข Knowledge/experience working in the area of economic inclusion and livelihoods;
โข Demonstrated skills in computer software, including Microsoft Office;
โข Experience using SharePoint or similar knowledge/document management systems is an asset;
โข Experience using Mailchimp or similar email marketing/communication tools is an asset;
โข Knowledge of graphic design tools is an advantage;
โข Work experience in research institutes and/or development agencies is desirable;
โข Experience in working on refugees/displaced populations is desirable;
โข Ability to multi-task and prioritize workload appropriately;
โข Being a flexible team-player;
Conditions
The UNHCR Multi-Country Office in Warsaw is looking to grant the internship for an initial period of 6 months, with a possibility of extension up to a cumulative duration of 8 months. It is a full-time role, with working hours starting from 8.30am to 16:30pm, from Monday to Friday.
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.
Travel: Unless provided or paid by external sponsoring entities, UNHCR reimburse interns engaged from a location outside of the country of the duty station for the ticket costs of their outward and return travel to/from the duty station by the most economical route available on economy class, irrespective of the duration of the journey. Reimbursement shall be limited to the authorized outward and return travel between the internโs country of residence and the internโs duty station, or actual route of travel, whichever is lower.
Before travel is undertaken, the selected intern must obtain authorization in writing from the hiring office. Such authorization must include the approved cost of the ticket.
Obligations
Acquiring and renewing current visas, residence permits including all associated costs, obtaining medical certification and compliance with taxation requirements (if applicable), are the responsibility of the intern.
The selected candidate will need to provide UNHCR with a proof of health insurance coverage applicable to the assigned internship location and a certificate of good health from a qualified medical practitioner certifying their fitness for work and travel. In the event the selected candidate is not able to produce the required certificates, they will not be admitted to the Internship Programme.
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.
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
,Polish
,
Desired Languages
,
,
Additional Qualifications
Skills
Education
Certifications
Work Experience
Other informationThis position doesn't require a functional clearance
RemoteNo