UNHCR is hiring a Communications Intern in Nairobi.
UNHCR is the UN Refugee Agency that 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.
Remote: No
Target Start Date: 2026-10-01
This exciting internship is a unique opportunity for someone wishing to learn and grow as a communicator working with the leading agency on refugee protection and to sharpen their professional skills. The Communications Intern will be supervised by a Senior Communications Associate or any other position as decided by the senior management.
The supervisor provides the incumbent with regular guidance. The incumbent will have frequent contacts involving the exchange of a wide range of information with colleagues within UNHCR as well as media, international organizations, academic institutions and private individuals.
The communications unit is responsible for gathering and producing public facing content – videos, photos, stories, graphic design materials, web stories, briefing kits and operational updates.
The position
The ideal candidate is a motivated and creative individual with strong writing and storytelling skills, an interest in humanitarian communications, and the ability to work in a fast-paced environment. Experience with social media, photography, video editing, or graphic design is an asset, as is proficiency in Microsoft Office and Adobe Creative Suite or similar creative tools. Excellent written and spoken English, strong attention to detail, and the ability to work collaboratively are essential.
Duties and responsibilities
- Media monitoring – support with monitor UNHCR Kenya mentions on the media on a weekly basis
- Reporting – generation of monthly reports under the supervisor’s guidance – these include the Fact sheets and briefing kits
- Website management – under guidance of the supervisor, the intern will update the website with stories and content intended to go out to the public.
- Support with follow-up on administrative and logistical arrangements to organise press briefings and other events, such as workshop and conferences.
- Content production – the intern will contribute to content production which includes video production, photography, writing, editing, and graphic design support of videos that speak to UNHCR’s work and the people we serve.
- Social media management – The intern will support the communications team with generating copy for UNHCR Kenya’s social media channels.
- Website editing – supporting with the uploading of press releases and web stories on the website.
- Maintain up-to-date filing system for consent forms and other relevant documents pertaining UNHCR Kenya communications unit.
- Perform other related duties as required.
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 .
- Candidates with previous UNHCR Internship experience must not have exceeded the maximum total cumulative full-time internship duration of eight (8) months.
- Language Requirements – Knowledge of English (at B2 Level) and/or UN working language of the duty station if not English.
Desirable qualifications and skills
The ideal candidate will:
- Have excellent knowledge of English (written/oral/comprehension) with developed writing skills.
- Have a background in communications, public relations.
- Have strong organization and analytical skills.
- Have excellent communication skills (video editing and graphic design) is essential.
- Have proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
- Experience in Adobe Software (Premier Pro, Photoshop and Illustrator – essential) and Canva is desirable.
Conditions
- It is a Full-time internship with working hours from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Thursday and Friday 8: am to 2:00 pm (37 hours per week).
- The successful candidate assigned to support the team in Kenya Country Office.
- This position doesn’t require a functional clearance
