Volunteer Opportunity in Interpretation from Sub-Saharan African Languages to French – United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is a UN agency specialized in protecting and supporting refugees and displaced persons worldwide. The UNHCR works to ensure that people fleeing war or persecution receive international protection, humanitarian assistance, and long-term solutions that allow them to rebuild their lives with dignity and safety.

The UNHCR is seeking online volunteers to provide interpretation services between French and several Sub-Saharan African languages, such as Malinké, Bissa, Moré, Mossi, and others, during refugee registration, status determination, protection, and resettlement interviews. This work helps facilitate effective communication and ensures that asylum seekers and refugees receive the support they need.

Benefits

• Opportunity to volunteer with a prestigious UN agency and contribute to impactful humanitarian work.
• Gain practical experience in interpretation in a multicultural environment.
• Receive induction training on UNHCR’s work and interpretation standards for refugees.

• Interpret interviews remotely from French into the specified languages and vice versa, ensuring clarity and accuracy.
• Comply with the UNHCR’s code of conduct and confidentiality and impartiality policies.
• Dedicate 1–3 hours daily for interviews starting at 8:30 a.m. (Algiers time).
• Adapt language style to be simple and understandable to all parties.

• Be a native speaker of one of the specified Sub-Saharan African languages with fluency in French.
• Ability to interpret clearly and accurately in a way that is understandable.
• Previous experience in interpreting, especially in refugee interviews, is preferred.