International UN Youth Volunteer in Development

The Office of the UNHCR was established on 14 December 1950 by the UN General Assembly. The agency is mandated to lead and co-ordinate international action to protect refugees and resolve refugee problems worldwide. Its primary purpose is to safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees. It strives to ensure that everyone can exercise the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge in another State, with the option to return home voluntarily, integrate locally or to resettle in a third country (www.unhcr.org).
In support of the rural – urban linkages, SDG-aligned strategies, UNHCR in Jordan has a dedicated Technical Unit in Amman and technical staff in camps. Together, they support in coordination with the Government, to assess needs and coordinate the provision of WASH (Water, sanitation and hygiene), and in particular, hygiene promotion services to Persons of Concern (PoC) to UNHCR. This will include coordination at site level with WASH partners in conjunction with the government authorities, and monitoring progress of hygiene promotion programme implementation to ensure that an adequate level of hygiene promotion service is provided at each site in accordance with the UNHCR WASH Manual and Technical Guidelines, and applicable UNHCR Standards and/or National Standards.

Jordan has long been a generous host to refugees. As of 31 August 2025, just under 500,000 refugees were registered with UNHCR. The Jordan Compact, launched in 2016, established the framework for collaboration between the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the international community—including development actors—in responding to the Syrian refugee crisis. It led to the inclusion of refugees in education and health services, as well as opening avenues for self-reliance. Since 8 December 2024, UNHCR Jordan has also been working hand in hand with partners to support those who have chosen to voluntarily return to Syria. Partnerships with development actors and international financial institutions are a key enabler of solutions for refugees in Jordan.
The Development Unit works along four main streams:
1. Strategic and technical partnerships with development partners;
2. Supporting the resilience of refugees and vulnerable host communities along the learning-to-earning cycle;
3. Following up on the implementation of the Global Compact for Refugees and engaging with civil society to promote inclusion;
4. Conducting research and analytics.
The unit is headed by the Senior Development Officer, who will supervise this position. It leads engagement with development actors at both the strategic and operational levels, managing a multi-sectoral portfolio in close coordination with technical units across the operation.

Under the direct supervision of the Senior Development Officer (SDO), the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:
• Support the team in strengthening partnerships with development actors, with the aim of fostering refugee inclusion in large-scale programs and promoting solutions-based approaches.
• Contribute to the unit’s activities on livelihoods, focusing on the direct implementation of earmarked projects to strengthen refugee resilience in Jordan and prepare Syrians planning to return. This may include supporting cross-border collaboration to ensure continuity and lay the groundwork for sustainable returns.
• Learn how to support the unit’s engagement with the private sector, both as an employer and as a contributor to solutions that enhance refugee resilience in Jordan and upon return.
• Engage regularly with field offices to provide support to implementation across the unit’s portfolio, with particular emphasis on activities targeted at building resilience. This will include day missions to Irbid, Zaatari, and Azraq to interact with teams and refugees as needed.
• Actively contribute to internal and external outputs produced by the unit, including gathering and compiling information.
• Assist the unit in its engagement with civil society to broaden the protection environment and expand access to learning and economic opportunities. This includes preparations for milestones related to the Global Refugee Compact (GRC) and building on the ongoing momentum following the launch of the Higher Education Alliance.

With the unit’s broad spectrum of engagements, the UN Volunteer will have opportunities to contribute to and develop activities aligned with their interests and career development goals.