Protection Intern - Translation

Deadline for Applications

August 29, 2026

Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based)

A (least hardship)

Family Type (not applicable for home-based)

Family

Staff Member / Affiliate Type

Internship

Target Start Date

2026-09-01

Terms of Reference

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is offering a full-time internship with the Protection Unit –at UNHCR Algiers, Algeria.

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.

Organizational context:

UNHCR has been accredited to the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria, a signatory to the 1951 Convention relating to the status of refugees, since 1984. It provides protection and assistance to persons of concern in both urban and camp settings. UNHCR’s operation in Algiers serves more than 10,000 refugees and asylum-seekers from the Middle East and Sub-Saharan Africa. At the request of the Algerian authorities, UNHCR undertakes registration and status determination for asylum-seekers and helps them to secure durable solutions once recognized as refugees.

The position:

Under the supervision of the Associate Refugee Status Determination (RSD) Officer and in line with UNHCR standards, policies and operating procedures, the intern will support the activities of the Protection Unit. The Protection Intern will provide support to the Protection Team in interpreting and translating communication between asylum seekers and refugees and UNHCR staff, as well as assisting in identifying and responding to Persons with Specific Needs (PWSN) who require protection counselling and assistance. Moreover, the Protection intern will support the RSD Team within the Protection Unit with key activities of refugee status determination and resettlement. This role will also allow the intern to gain practical exposure to UNHCR protection standards, working with local partners, and the broader protection framework.

Duties and responsibilities:

• Interpret/translate between UNHCR staff and asylum seekers and refugees in one-to-one interviews as well as in multilateral meetings.

• Support the identification of PwSN and document their needs and protection risks.

• Assist in providing general protection counselling to PwSN, and more generally asylum seekers and refugees.

• Support Refugee Status Determination and Resettlement procedures: Conduct Country of Origin Information (COI) research, legal analysis to support Refugee Status Determination and first instance and appeal decisions, resettlement activities. Assist with the system for the triaging and prioritization of cases for interviews.

• Help determine appropriate responses, including referrals to partners or other relevant UNHCR units.

• Maintain accurate records of interactions, cases, and follow-up actions.

• Support the preparation of briefing notes or summaries for other protection staff.

• Work closely with UNHCR Protection staff and partners to ensure that PwSN receive timely and appropriate protection support.

• Attend team briefings, trainings, and relevant inter-agency meetings as appropriate.

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.

• Very good command of spoken and written Arabic, French, and English, minimum at C1 level.

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

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.

Desirable qualifications and skills

• University degree in interpretation/translation between Arabic, French, and English languages is highly desirable, or demonstrable practical experience in this field.

• Computer proficiency, including familiarity with Microsoft products Outlook, SharePoint and Teams and, ideally, registration and scheduling software.

• Strong analytical and organizational skills.

Conditions:

It is a full-time role with working hours starting from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm Sunday to Thursday (40 hours per week). The successful candidate will be assigned to support the team in person in Algiers, Algeria.

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

Obligations

The selected candidate will need to provide UNHCR with a proof of 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 and travel. In the event the selected candidate is not able to produce the required certificates, they will not be admitted to the Internship Programme.

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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.

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 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.

Standard Job Description

Required Languages

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,

Desired Languages

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Additional Qualifications

Skills

Education

Certifications

Work Experience

Other information

Candidates profiles will be assessed against the internship requirements. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for interviews.This position doesn't require a functional clearance

Remote

No