UNHCR Paid Internship Program

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is offering a full-time internship with the Private Sector Partnerships service under the Division of External Relations in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

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, the UN Refugee Agency, launched Private Sector Partnerships (PSP) activities in Malaysia in 2017 with the aim to secure financial contributions from individual donors, corporations, and foundations. The development of this market was taken to broaden the organization’s supporter base and establish a sustainable source of income from the private sector within Malaysia. Ultimately, this will enable UNHCR to offer even greater support to refugees and other persons of concern, currently benefiting over 180,000 refugees in Malaysia.

As of 2022, UNHCR Malaysia has garnered the support of over 50,000 individual donors, a significant majority of whom contribute on a monthly basis. The Donor Recruitment program involves engaging in face-to-face fundraising efforts that compellingly present UNHCR’s mission to the public and seek financial support from individual donors to support UNHCR programs across Malaysia and globally. In response to the growing number of supporters, PSP Malaysia also introduced a Donor Loyalty programme in 2020, focusing on fostering strong donor relations, cultivating loyalty, and supporting the donor development program.