Mission and objectivesUNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is a global organization dedicated to saving lives, protecting rights and building a better future for people forced to flee their homes because of conflict and persecution. We lead international action to protect refugees, forcibly displaced communities and stateless people. Formally known as the Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees, UNHCR was established by the General Assembly of the United Nations in 1950 in the aftermath of the Second World War to help the millions of people who had lost their homes. Today, UNHCR works in 136 countries. We provide life-saving assistance, including shelter, food, water and medical care for people forced to flee conflict and persecution, many of whom have nobody left to turn to. We defend their right to reach safety and help them find a place to call home so they can rebuild their lives. Long term, we work with countries to improve and monitor refugee and asylum laws and policies, ensuring human rights are upheld. In everything we do UNHCR considers refugees and those forced to flee as partners, putting those most affected at the centre of planning and decision-making. UNHCR's vision is a world where everyone forced to flee can build a better future. UNHCR's primary objective is to safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees and other people of concern, providing international protection and humanitarian assistance.
ContextThis assignment supports the UNHCR Regional Bureau for East and Horn of Africa and the Great Lakes (EHAGL), which coordinates displacement-related programming across 11 countries. UNHCR is increasingly engaged in bridging humanitarian and development responses, with a strong focus on refugee inclusion in national systems and durable solutions. The Online Volunteer will contribute to regional coordination of flagship initiatives such as the PROSPECTS Partnership, and other donor-funded projects in the region. Important donors include the governments of the Netherlands, Italy, and the United Kingdom, as well as emerging donors in this field such as China, private sector foundations, and other private sector partners. These initiatives support refugee- and host community access to social protection, economic opportunities, and sustainable services. The volunteerโs work will directly strengthen UNHCRโs ability to plan, monitor, and report on these initiatives, communicate results to donors, and support innovative and multi-stakeholder partnerships that improve the lives of refugees and host communities.
Task DescriptionThe Online Volunteer will support coordination and implementation of multi-country, multi-partner projects at the humanitarian-development nexus in the East and Horn of Africa region. This includes strategic planning support, monitoring implementation progress, preparing donor-facing materials, and presenting complex information in clear and engaging formats. Key tasks: Draft high-quality summary documents, session reports, and donor briefs using standardized UN language and terminology. Support the preparation of presentations and visual materials using PowerPoint, Google Slides, Mentimeter, and Canva. Maintain Excel-based dashboards for budgets, deliverables, and timelines. Conduct background research and support development of talking points, briefings, and internal strategy documents. Help manage shared workspaces and workflows using MS Teams, OneDrive, and Outlook. Coordinate logistics and documentation for virtual meetings and workshops. Assist with Mailchimp email campaigns and support basic graphic design needs (e.g., Canva, Photoshop, Illustrator). Track project implementation and donor requirements across multiple initiatives. The role will be carried out remotely or from a regional duty station (depending on modality), with daily coordination via email, MS Teams, and shared documents. At least one weekly check-in meeting is required, and the volunteer should be able to deliver outputs independently while maintaining close collaboration with the supervisor and project focal points.
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