Organizational context
The operation in Chile has a workforce of approximately 40 people, composed of staff members (both national and international) and affiliates. The National Office (NO) is in Santiago de Chile, with field presence in Iquique and Arica. The NO Chile falls under the scope of the Multi-country Office (MCO) Argentina, located in Buenos Aires, which also covers Bolivia, Paraguay, and Uruguay.
Chile is one of the highest-receiving countries of people with and for whom UNHCR works in the region, with more than 452,000 individuals under our mandate. These numbers include over 436,000 people in need of international protection, 12,462 asylum seekers and 2,178 refugees. Also, more than 400,000 Venezuelans, of which 8,330 are Asylum-seekers and 33 recognized refugees. However, this figure does not contemplate the 200,000 estimated people who have irregular legal conditions in the country because they have entered the country through unauthorized border crossing points, mostly (90%) Venezuelan nationals.
UNHCR works together with the national government institutions, civil society organizations, municipalities, and the private sector to ensure access to protection, humanitarian assistance, and durable solutions for all those who have sought safety in the country, especially in the last couple of years, as Chile has become the fourth most important country of destination for Venezuelans in Latin America after Colombia, Peru, and Ecuador. The RMRP (R4V) National Platforms co-led by UNHCR and IOM have become the key coordination structures for joint situational assessments, planning and implementation of the humanitarian response.
Lately the country has seen an escalation in the negative perception of the phenomenon of human mobility among the Chilean population. Recent surveys have positioned human mobility as detrimental to the country; one of the main reasons why people forced to flee, and others in need of international protection are often subjected to discrimination and physical violence, sexual aggression, and exploitation, as well as victims of smuggling and trafficking.
The 2024-2026 MCO Argentina’s strategy, including NOCHL, seeks to ensure effective access to territory and that fair asylum is an option for all who need it in the Southern Cone, as well as promoting regularization through protection oriented legal stay arrangements. At the same time, the strategy aims to ensure that the generous State policies on social welfare and local development agendas include forcibly displaced people enabling them to claim their rights. The strategy also includes a strong component on working with local authorities and host communities in order to enhance peaceful coexistence at local level. When new arrivals surpass the capacities in receiving areas, the strategy foresees that hosting communities are strengthened, and that humanitarian assistance is available for those at most risk.
The position
Under the supervision and guidance of the Assistant Programme Officer and his most senior staff, the selected candidate will have a support role to the Programme team in a variety of regular programmatic tasks including:
Minimum qualifications required
In order to be considered for an internship, candidates must meet the following eligibility criteria:
NOTE: An individual whose father, mother, son, daughter, brother, or sister is a staff member of UNHCR, including a Temporary Appointment holder or a member of the Affiliate Workforce, is not eligible for an internship.
Desirable qualifications and skills
It is a full-time role with working hours starting from 8.30 am to 17:30 pm Monday to Thursday and Friday from 8:30 am to 14:30 pm. The successful candidate will be assigned to support the team in Santiago, Country Office.
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.
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, color, 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.
DEADLINE: JUNE 28, 2024