Deadline for Applications
March 11, 2026
Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based)
A (least hardship)
Family Type (not applicable for home-based)
Family
Staff Member / Affiliate Type
Internship
2026-03-09
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency helps to save lives and build better futures for the millions of people forced to flee their homes.
In to realize this vision and progress towards better lives, UNHCR has set four time-bound objectives to be achieved together with national governments and development actors in low- and middle-income countries by the end of 2026:
a. Increased numbers of States demonstrate their commitment to protection and inclusion of forcibly displaced and stateless persons in the economic and social lives of their host communities;
b. Increased proportions of forcibly displaced, stateless populations and host communities have equitable access to public services through development actors' support to Governments;
c. Increased proportions of forcibly displaced, stateless populations and host communities have access to economic activities and employment opportunities;
d. Increased proportions of refugees and internally displaced can return voluntarily to areas where they are able to live self-sufficiency.
Achieving these objectives is the focus of the Development Unit in the Regional Bureau of the Americas. The geographic coverage is the entire western hemisphere, from Canada south to Argentina and Chile.
The Americas continues to face an unprecedented scale and complexity of forced displacement and mixed movements, where people fleeing conflict, persecution, and violence move alongside those escaping poverty, lack of opportunities, and the impact of climate change. The Region has also demonstrated remarkable solidarity and is home to important and innovative progress in providing protection and promoting refugee self-reliance, including through state-led forums such as MIRPS, the Quito Process, and Cartagena +40.
UNHCR supports pragmatic government-led responses. It prioritizes protection, life-saving assistance, and local integration by fostering cooperation with a wide array of actors, such as development and financial institutions, government authorities, and the private sector, promoting legal and socio-economic opportunities and inclusion into national systems.
The position is a core member of the Development Unit in the Americas bureau and would contribute to the overarching efforts in the region to support integration of refugees in the countries in which they find safety. The primary responsibility of the person would be as a research assistant supporting the work of ongoing initiatives in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) that advance the economic integration of refugees and migrants. The intern would also contribute to a running literature review of relevant research showing the impact of different policies and interventions.
Relevant skills would be research and Spanish language capabilities.
Experience working in development and/or humanitarian settings would be a plus. An interdisciplinary approach is critical to ensure widespread acceptance and adoption of policy recommendations.
Duties and responsibilities
• Track ongoing initiatives in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) by development institutions (the World Bank, Inter-American Development Bank, CAF, USAID etc.) that benefit refugees and migrants.
• Contribute to a running literature review of relevant research showing the impact of different policies and interventions aimed at advancing the integration of refugees into the LAC countries in which they find safety
• Support the Economist in research and analysis related to integration of displaced populations.
• Prepare talking points, presentations and briefing materials based on the focus and work of the development unit.
• Other duties as necessary.
Minimum qualifications 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 .
• Candidates with previous UNHCR Internship experience must not have exceeded the
maximum total cumulative full-time internship duration of eight (8) months.
Desirable qualifications and skills
• Experience conducting research using qualitative and quantitative methods.
• Spanish language skills.
• Good communications skills.
• Strong work ethic and team spirit.
Conditions
It is a full or part-time role with working hours negotiated with the manager, Monday to Friday, 40 or 20 hours per week, depending on whether the role is full-time or part-time. The successful candidate will be assigned to support the team in Washington DC, USA. Remote work is also possible.
How to apply
The selected candidate will receive a link to the UNHCR recruitment portal to create a profile.
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 funding from the sponsoring institution (if applicable), 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, as well as travel. In the event the candidate is not able to produce the required certificate, they will not be admitted to the Internship Programme.
Allowance and Travel: The Sponsoring Institution shall provide non-reimbursable financial support in the form of a
stipend/scholarship/allowance/etc. for the period of internship with UNHCR. Travel expenses to and from the internship location shall be the responsibility of the respective sponsoring institution. UNHCR is not responsible for any renumeration for the intern during the internship period.
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.
------------------------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.
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.
Standard Job Description
Required Languages
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,
Desired Languages
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,
Additional Qualifications
Skills
Education
Certifications
Other information
This position doesn't require a functional clearance
Remote
Yes