Protection Intern

Deadline for Applications September 4, 2026 Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based) B Family Type (not applicable for home-based) Family Staff Member / Affiliate Type Internship Target Start Date 2026-09-14 Terms of Reference UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is offering a full-time internship with the Protection Team at the Regional Bureau for Eastern and Southern Africa in Nairobi. 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 120 countries, using its long expertise to protect and care for forcibly displaced and stateless persons. Organizational context The Protection team in the Regional Bureau (RB) provides strategic leadership, oversight, quality assurance, and technical support to UNHCR country operations across 25 countries divided into 11 Operations and 3 multi-country offices. The team supports country operations and partners in strengthening protection environments and ensuring that forcibly displaced and stateless people can access rights, protection, and durable solutions in line with international and regional legal frameworks. In carrying forward the High Commissioner’s 50 by 35 Vision, the Protection Team promotes the meaningful inclusion and empowerment of forcibly displaced and stateless persons, Working across refugee, asylum, returnee, internally displaced, and statelessness contexts, the Protection Team guides operations on core protection functions including asylum and refugee status determination, registration and identity management, child protection, gender-based violence (GBV), community-based protection, accountability to affected people, legal protection, and protection responses along mixed movement routes. The team also supports engagement with regional and national institutions, humanitarian and development partners, Regional Economic Communities, and other stakeholders to promote protection-sensitive policies and practices. The team also coordinates activities to strengthen the integrity of protection, assistance, and solutions processes across country operations by ensuring compliance with UNHCR policies, standards, and guidance. Its work contributes to the development of comprehensive legal and protection strategies and responses for forcibly displaced and stateless persons throughout the region. Under the direct supervision of the Protection Officer, the Protection Intern will support the work of the team and will have the opportunity to: • Develop research, analytical, and drafting skills in the context of protection and solutions for forcibly displaced and stateless populations. • Gain experience working in multi-stakeholder environments, including with governments, NGOs, regional organizations, and other UN agencies. • Contribute to the development and implementation of strategic approaches to address protection risks and solutions needs. • Acquire practical experience in the application of international refugee, human rights, and statelessness law to operational challenges in the region. • Support the development of guidance documents, analytical products, and tools related to protection, legal frameworks, and durable solutions. • Gain exposure to data collection, analysis, and evidence-based decision-making in humanitarian and development contexts. • Develop an understanding of how international organizations operate in complex political, legal, and social environments. These experiences would provide valuable insights into UNHCR's work and help develop skills relevant to a career in refugee protection, international law, human rights, or humanitarian assistance.

Under the direction and supervision of the Protection Officer, the