Solutions Intern

Deadline for Applications

January 5, 2026

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. Organizational context

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.

The UNHCR Multi-Country Office (MCO) based in Italy oversees operations in Italy, San Marino, the Holy See, Malta, and Cyprus – countries situated at the nexus of Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East, and characterized by varied asylum landscapes, distinct legal frameworks, and differing capacities for refugee protection.

In 2024, 66,617 migrants and refugees originating from 57 countries arrived in Italy by sea and Italy received almost 50% of all sea arrivals to Southern Europe through the Mediterranean Sea. Whereas numbers have gone down in 2024 compared to 2023 when 157,651 people arrived by sea, it is anticipated that Italy will continue to receive the largest number of sea arrivals to Europe as well as a significant number of arrivals by land and air.

In Italy, UNHCR works with the Italian government, other organizations, and Persons of Concern (PoC) to uphold their basic human rights and to improve laws and national systems so refugees, asylum seekers, stateless persons and all those forced to flee stay safe, get documents, can go to school, work and exercise other rights. Through its staff and partners, UNHCR is engaged in activities aimed at ensuring full and equal enjoyment of rights by all PoC, addressing protection risks in an Age, Gender, and Diversity (AGD) sensitive manner, with a particular focus on persons with specific needs, such as unaccompanied and separated children (UASC) and survivors of gender-based violence (GBV). UNHCR's protection delivery is based on a community-based protection approach, which aims at putting PoC at the centre of all decisions affecting their lives. Based on this approach, UNHCR promotes active refugee participation in all aspects of the UNHCR programme cycle, builds protection strategies and solutions in partnership with them and supports the community's own goals, also through better communication with communities.

Improving integration prospects for refugees in Italy is also among UNHCR's top protection priority, particularly encouraging the engagement of both institutional actors and the private sector. UNHCR is significantly increasing its collaboration with local authorities, civil society organizations, universities and private companies.

2. The position

The Intern will support the Solutions unit in all relevant activities carried out by the integration team and related to the Welcome project. S/he will contribute also to other relevant activities of the solutions unit and in particular both the Community Matching and Spazio Comune projects as well as the activities related to the Labour pathways and UNICORE programmes. S/he will have the opportunity to strengthen and deepen the knowledge acquired during University studies on asylum, refugee protection, integration of PoC and related issues through her/his work experience, including on-the-job training and coaching.

3. Duties and responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the Senior Integration Associate, the Intern will perform the following tasks:

Support the Integration team in assessing the candidatures for the Welcome and WeWelcome logos award.
Support the Integration team in organizing the meetings of the Committee tasked to the final decision about the Welcome and WeWelcome logos award.
Support both the Integration and Private Sector Partnerships Service (PSP) teams in organizing the final Welcome award event and in carrying out all related activities.
Support the Integration team in drafting the Welcome 2024 report.
Liaise with all candidate companies and share all relevant information with them.
Support the Integration team in coordinating with the Communications unit.
Support the Integration team in monitoring the users' registration in the Web-platform Welcome-in-one-click.
Support the integration team in the dynamization of the Platform
Support Integration team in reviewing documents and reports, both in Italian and English
Support the monitoring of the integration of students who arrived in Italy with the UNICORE programme
Support the drafting of toolkits and fact sheets for refugees arrived through Labour Pathways schemes

4. Minimum qualifications and skills required:

Essential
University studies in Law, Human Rights, Political Science, Social Science, Community Development/Social Work, or related areas
Fluency in both English (required level: B2) and Italian (required level: C2)
Computer literacy (MS Office)
Good communication and teamworking skills
Good organizing skills and ability to work autonomously
Capacity to work under pressure

Desirable
Previous working experiences in the field of asylum and refugee protection
Knowledge of other UN languages
Additional computer skills: excellent ability to use Office package and other relevant IT tools.

5. Eligibility

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.
Interns who do not receive financial support from an outside party will receive an allowance to partially help cover the cost of food, local transportation and living expenses.
The UNHCR workforce comprises 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.

6. Additional Information

Candidates must be legally authorized to work in Italy.
English is the official working language of UNHCR in Italy. Only applications fully completed in English will be considered.
Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.
Assessment of short-listed candidates might comprise of both an interview and a written test.
UNHCR is committed to diversity and welcomes applications from qualified candidates regardless of disability, gender identity, marital or civil partnership status, race, colour or ethnic and national origins, religion or belief, or sexual orientation.
We welcome applications from candidates with a refugee or stateless background.
UNHCR has a ZERO TOLERANCE policy on sexual exploitation and abuse, and sexual harassment. Successful candidates will be subject to mandatory UN Sexual Exploitation and Abuse and Sexual Harassment clearance check prior to receiving an offer.
UNHCR does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing, training or any other fees).
All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality.Standard Job Description Required Languages English

,

Italian

,

Desired Languages

,

,

Additional Qualifications

Skills

Education

Certifications

Work Experience

Other information

This position doesn't require a functional clearance

Remote

No

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