Communications and Social Media Intern

Deadline for Applications

October 27, 2025

Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based)

H (no hardship

Family Type (not applicable for home-based)

Family

Staff Member / Affiliate Type

Internship

Target Start Date

Terms of Reference

1. General Background of Project or Assignment:

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is mandated to lead and coordinate international action to protect refugees and stateless persons and to resolve refugee problems worldwide. UNHCR's work is guided by international refugee law and aims to safeguard the rights and well-being of forcibly displaced people.

Within the Policy and Law Service (PLS), the Asylum and Migration Section (AMS) plays a central role in shaping policy and advocacy on asylum and migration issues. AMS engages with internal and external stakeholders to promote protection-sensitive approaches to mixed movements and displacement, including through strategic communications and outreach with special attention to the Route-Based Approach.

2. Occupational Safety and Health Considerations

To view occupational safety and health considerations for specific duty stations, please visit this link:
Specific Occupational Safety and Health Considerations to this assignment (if applicable): N/A

3. Overall Purpose and Scope of Assignment:

The Communications and Social Media Intern will support the Asylum and Migration Section in developing and disseminating engaging content for internal and external audiences. The intern will assist in implementing the Section's communications strategy, including managing social media channels, drafting newsletters and updates, and supporting the production of multimedia materials.

Working remotely, the intern will contribute to the planning and execution of campaigns, help maintain a consistent visual and editorial identity across platforms and support the development of advocacy and outreach materials.

The role offers an opportunity to gain hands-on experience in humanitarian communications and digital engagement within a dynamic, multicultural team.
Experience with social media management, content creation, graphic design tools (e.g. Canva, Adobe Creative Suite), and familiarity with migration or displacement issues is an asset.

The position requires creativity, autonomy, and the ability to meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

The intern will work under the direct supervision of the Protection Officer, who will provide guidance, coaching, and performance feedback throughout the duration of the internship.

Duties and responsibilities

• Assist in drafting and editing content for newsletters, social media posts, and web updates.

• Support the implementation of the Section's social media strategy, including scheduling posts and monitoring engagement.

• Help design visual assets for digital platforms, including infographics, banners, and promotional materials.

• Contribute to the development of advocacy campaigns and thematic communications packages.

• Support in SEO optimization and visibility for the content developed by the Section.

• Monitor relevant news and developments to inform content planning and ensure timely responses.

• Assist in organizing webinars, online events, and other outreach activities.

• Maintain and update contact lists, media trackers, and content calendars.

• Perform other communications-related tasks as required.

4. Required level, qualifications and work experience:

Qualification and experience required (degree required, years of work experience, field of expertise, language 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

• Have completed at least two years of undergraduate studies in a field relevant or of interest to the work of UNHCR.

• Not have exhausted the maximum cumulative internship period with UNHCR, including any prior internships (8 months for full-time and 12 months for parttime)

NOTE: An individual who bears the relationship of parent, child or sibling or step-parent, step-child or step-sibling to a current UNHCR staff member or affiliate is not eligible for an internship.

Minimum qualifications required

• Fluency in English is required; working knowledge of French is an asset.

• Strong skills in graphic design and content creation using tools such as Canva or Adobe Creative Suite.

• Experience in communications, social media management, or digital storytelling, preferably in a humanitarian, advocacy, or research context.

• Proven ability to work independently and manage multiple tasks in a fast-paced, multicultural environment.

• Excellent writing and editorial skills, with the ability to produce clear, engaging, and concise content for diverse audiences.

Desirable qualifications and skills

• Familiarity with UNHCR's mandate, and a demonstrated interest in migration, asylum, or displacement issues.

• Experience in developing and implementing social media strategies and managing content calendars.

• Basic knowledge of video editing, animation, or multimedia production is an asset.

• Understanding of audience engagement metrics and ability to use analytics tools (e.g. Meta Insights, X Analytics) to inform content planning.

• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.

• Ability to communicate effectively and sensitively across different cultural and professional contexts.

• Flexible and proactive work attitude, with the ability to adapt to changing priorities and meet tight deadlines.

Learning and Development Opportunities

The internship is designed to offer mutual benefit to both the intern and UNHCR. The intern will gain practical, hands-on experience in data management, protection analysis, and inter-agency collaboration in the context of mixed movements. This experience is directly relevant to academic fields such as migration studies, international law, development, data science, and humanitarian affairs.

UNHCR is committed to ensuring that the intern's tasks contribute meaningfully to their professional development. Tasks will be project-based rather than administrative in nature, with a focus on enhancing analytical and operational skills, such as data interpretation, policy application, and strategic communication.

In-service learning will be provided through regular coaching, participation in internal discussions, and exposure to real-time coordination efforts. The intern will also be encouraged to take part in UNHCR webinars, training resources, and knowledge-sharing sessions as available.

This internship aims to strengthen the intern's core competencies, including teamwork, communication, critical thinking, and digital literacy, thereby contributing to their long-term career aspirations in humanitarian or development sectors.

Conditions

It is a full-time role with working hours starting from 9 am to 17 pm, Monday to Friday Geneva time (40 hours per week).

The internship is subject to the UNHCR Internship Policy, and interns are expected to provide their own equipment and internet access for remote work.
Internships normally last six months with the possibility of extension up to eight months for full-time internships and twelve months for part-time internships.Standard Job Description Required Languages English

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Desired Languages

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Additional Qualifications

Skills

Education

Certifications

Work Experience

Other information

This position doesn't require a functional clearance

Remote

No

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