How to Apply for UNHCR Jobs: A Practical Guide
UNHCR protects over 100 million forcibly displaced people. This guide covers UNHCR's career structure, application process, and what it takes to join the agency.
How to Apply for UNHCR Jobs: A Practical Guide
The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) is the world's leading organisation for the protection of refugees, internally displaced people (IDPs), stateless persons, and other forcibly displaced populations. With over 100 million people displaced globally — the highest figure ever recorded — UNHCR's workforce has grown significantly, making it one of the most active recruiters in the humanitarian and UN sectors.
What UNHCR Does
UNHCR's mandate covers three core functions:
- Protection: ensuring the legal status and rights of refugees and displaced people, including access to asylum procedures
- Assistance: delivering emergency relief (shelter, food, healthcare) in partnership with governments and NGOs
- Solutions: working toward durable solutions — voluntary repatriation, local integration, or third-country resettlement
UNHCR's Career Structure
UNHCR follows the UN Professional grade scale (P1–P5, D1–D2) for international professional staff, and has General Service grades for locally recruited staff. It also uses a number of specific contract types:
- Fixed-term appointments: standard career contracts for established posts
- Temporary appointments: short-term contracts for emergencies and operational surges
- Individual consultancies: project-specific engagements
- UNOPS and partner contracts: many field positions are administered through UNOPS or NGO partners under UNHCR funding
The Application Process
All UNHCR vacancies are posted on unhcr.org/careers. The process involves:
1. Online profile: complete your profile in full — UNHCR screens applications against stated requirements
2. Cover letter: address the specific competencies listed; UNHCR values protection-oriented language and field experience
3. Written assessment: most professional roles include a test — typically a protection assessment memo, situation analysis, or policy brief
4. Competency-based interview: UNHCR's framework includes core competencies (commitment to continuous learning, communication, teamwork) and managerial competencies for senior roles
What UNHCR Looks For
Protection expertise is the most valued — specifically:
- Refugee law and international protection: knowledge of the 1951 Refugee Convention, refugee status determination (RSD), and international human rights law
- Field experience in displacement contexts: UNHCR works in some of the world's most complex environments; demonstrated deployment in displacement contexts is a strong differentiator
- Community-based protection: experience engaging directly with affected communities and developing community-based protection mechanisms
- Languages: Arabic, French, Swahili, and Dari/Pashto are particularly valuable given UNHCR's largest operational contexts
Entry Points for Newer Professionals
- UNHCR internships: six-month placements at country offices and headquarters; now paid with a monthly stipend following a 2024 policy change
- JPO placements: several sponsoring governments (Netherlands, Germany, Norway) fund JPO positions with UNHCR
- UNOPS field positions: many frontline positions in UNHCR operations are contracted through UNOPS
- Partner NGO roles: implementing partners like NRC, IRC, and DRC often work under UNHCR operational partnerships in the same camps and urban settings
Find UNHCR Vacancies on DevProcure
DevProcure aggregates all UNHCR job postings alongside openings from UNICEF, WFP, UNDP, and 200+ other humanitarian and development sources. Set up a free alert for UNHCR roles to receive new vacancies by email as soon as they post.