External Relations Intern

Deadline for Applications April 12, 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 2026-05-11 Terms of Reference The Communications & External Relations Unit in UNHCR’s Representation for the Nordic and Baltic Countries is looking to hire a new intern. The unit is responsible for the United Nations Refugee Agency’s visibility and communication efforts in the region as well as engagement with the Nordic countries as donors to UNHCR. We communicate externally – to the general public, media, decision-makers, and other stakeholders, and on several platforms – to create awareness about the global refugee situation, to promote a positive narrative on refugees, as well as to strengthen the support for UNHCR’s work, mission, and mandate, and to advocate for an improved refugee response. The external relations work focuses on partnerships and funding, collaborating with the donor governments and other stakeholders, and focusing also on internal reporting about important developments in our region. We work in a close, fast-paced team with a continued flow of different and varied tasks, requiring us to work efficiently and diligently. We are always looking for new and creative ideas and ways to communicate. We are currently recruiting a new intern to our office in Stockholm, Sweden, where you will be part of the Communications and External Relations Unit. The internship will start as soon as possible for a period of six months. We are looking for a dynamic, independent, and engaged person who has experience with communication and is eager to learn more. Description of tasks: Supports the development of creative, engaging, and impactful communications angles for media, web, and social media platforms, including written and visual storytelling, to support UNHCR’s communication, advocacy, and donor engagement objectives. Monitoring and reporting on refugee issues, political developments, national narratives, and international developments that affect refugee protection and the right to asylum, both domestically and internationally. Analyzing, monitoring, and reporting on humanitarian and development activities and engagements in the Nordic and Baltic countries. Monitoring, tracking, and analyzing refugee issues in print, broadcast, and digital media including social media. Drafting text for internal documents, including briefing documents, background notes, and talking points. Other related duties as required. Background: Studying or having a recent degree in political science, international relations, development studies, migration studies, communication, media studies, or journalism (you need to be a current student OR have graduated/completed your studies within the last year) Fluency in written and spoken English AND a Nordic language (Danish, Finnish, Icelandic, Norwegian and Swedish) Knowledge of refugee issues in the Nordic region, including the political context, is desirable. Strong writing and communications skills Experience writing for a public audience (e.g.: newspaper articles, student journalism, local association or group, a blog, etc.) is very desirable. APPLY TO THIS INTERNSHIP Good to know when applying. Interns may be eligible for funding through scholarships available by universities, or other external sources and are encouraged to look into this. A food and transportation allowance of approximately USD 1,000 per month is available for non-sponsored interns. If engaged from a location outside the country of duty station (Sweden), interns will be entitled to a reimbursement of travel costs by the most economical route available irrespective of the duration of the journey. Reimbursement shall be limited to the authorized return travel between the current country of residence and the duty station, or actual route of travel, whichever is lower. Unless the duration of internship is reduced by UNHCR, reimbursed travel costs may be subject to recovery if the intern does not complete the agreed duration of Internship. All interns who are not nationals of the country where their duty station is located must show proof of valid medical insurance coverage, including illness, accidents and repatriation coverage, to cover the full period of the internship. UNHCR accepts no responsibility for any costs connected to medical insurance of interns. The internship is planned to commence as soon as possible and last for six months (exact dates to be agreed upon). You may also wish to read answers to the Frequently Asked Questions (https://www.unhcr.org/nordic-and-baltic/news/press-releases/frequently-asked-questions-internships) Note: Shortlisted candidates will be asked to submit a written test and be invited to an interview (virtually). Standard Job Description Required Languages , , Desired Languages , , Additional Qualifications Skills Education Certifications Work Experience Other information This position doesn't require a functional clearance Remote No Important notice: Please note that UNHCR does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process (application, interview, meeting, travelling, processing or training). Read about how to avoid scams and fraudulent job offers. Please note that applications are only accepted via the UNHCR online recruitment platform. CVs and/or application requests sent via email will not be answered, reviewed nor considered. For external applicants: We would like to call your attention on the eligibility of International Professional (P) category: According to our Recruitment and Assignments Policy, P staff members will not normally serve in the country of their nationality, and the first regular appointment in the P category must be outside the staff member's country of nationality. In practical terms this means that you are not eligible to apply for International Professional vacancies advertised in the country where you are national of. In case of technical difficulties when applying, external applicants (not current UNHCR workforce members) can write to recruitmentcase@unhcr.org. For former UNHCR Colleagues: Former UNHCR employees who are on mandatory break-in service or have separated from UNHCR after 1 October 2022 should create an account through this platform. Once you fill in your basic personal information (employee ID, birth date, name, email address), Workday will identify you as prior personnel and merge your employee account with your external applicant account. 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. UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, takes the lead in protecting people forced to flee wars and persecution around the world, providing life-saving aid including shelter, food and water to ensure their basic safety, rights and dignity. With 18,879 women and men working in 137 countries, we work tirelessly to make a difference in the lives of 89.3 million forcibly displaced people worldwide. Our dedicated and professional staff work around the clock in roles including legal protection, community services, public affairs, health and more. Despite the challenges they can face, our staff are proud to work for UNHCR and determined to make a positive impact. Why a career with UNHCR? Our dedicated staff work to protect and assist people fleeing conflict and persecution at a time when global forced displacement is at a record high. Our colleagues bring a wide range of specialized skills, including expertise in legal protection, administration, community services, public affairs, health and other disciplines. Disability inclusion 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.