UN Jobs in Panama City

Host entity: UNHCR

Volunteer type: International

Areas of expertise: Administration, Logistics, procurement, commodities

Application deadline: 17/08/2026

Mission and objectives

The primary purpose of UNHCR is to safeguard the rights and well-being of people who have been forced to flee. Together with partners and communities, UNHCR works to ensure that everybody has the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge in another country. UNHCR also strives to secure lasting solutions.

For over half a century, UNHCR has helped millions of people to restart their lives. They include refugees, returnees, stateless people, the internally displaced and asylum-seekers. Our protection, shelter, health and education has been crucial, healing broken pasts and building brighter futures .

Assignment context

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.
The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application.

The incumbent will be based in Panama City, City and work for UNHCR MCO Panama. The UNHCR Multi-Country Office (MCO) in Panama oversees operations in Panama, Nicaragua, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Belize, and the Eastern and Southern Caribbean. The selected candidate maintains impartial, ethical and customer-oriented relations with suppliers and Partner organizations; exchanges information with counterparts in other UN agencies, and International Organisations within the limits established by UN /UNHCR Procurements Rules and assists with joint procurement actions if, as and whenever necessary.

Under the direct supervision of the Associate Finance Officer, the incumbent supports all activities pertaining to the fleet management and supply chain function including planning, sourcing, transport, shipping, customs clearance and warehousing management within the Area of Responsibility (AoR) of the MCO Panama Office.

Task description

The UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:
• In compliance with supply chain rules and procedures, support the related supply activ-ities to facilitate end to end processes resulting in a timely and quality delivery of goods and services.
• Assist in preparation of plans for delivery of relief and other non-food items and regu-larly update the information in IT systems
• Assist in preparation of purchase requests. Dispatch approved Purchase Orders, and follow-up with the delivery of ordered commodities and services.
• Assist in monitoring the asset/fleet pools, in close coordination with Global Fleet Man-agement and other MCO Panama offices.
• Assist in preparation of order and disposal forms for fleet and asset-related cases.
• Produce standard asset management reports and other asset information.
• Identify and assess vendors based on their capability for delivering commodities and services. Maintain vendor and item master databases.
• Maintain accurate data in all relevant business systems. Compile statistical information on supply chain related matters that will assist in decision making.
• Assist country operations achieving full compliance with rules & regulations in all sup-ply activities.
• Perform other related duties as required by the Senior Management Team or direct su-pervisor.

Skills and experience

• Database management skills and experience and working knowledge of ERP systems, ideally of UNHCR’s CERP Supply Chain Module would be an advantage.
• Good interpersonal and negotiation skills to deal with persons of different cultural and educational backgrounds.
• Technical knowledge of types of services, supplies and goods purchased by UNHCR or other UN agencies for Headquarters, Regional and Field Offices would be an advantage.
• Knowledge of UN and UNHCR Financial and/or Procurement Rules, Regulations, and Rules.

Competencies and values

☒ Accountability
☒ Adaptability and Flexibility
☒ Commitment and Motivation
☒ Commitment to Continuous Learning
☒ Communication
☒ Ethics and Values
☒ Integrity
☒ Judgement and Decision-making
☒ Planning and Organizing
☒ Professionalism
☒ Respect for Diversity
☒ Working in Teams

Living conditions

Panama City is classified as an A duty station (family) and has good infrastructure (health, housing, banking, transportation, telecommunications, and recreational facilities) and good supply of goods and services, with no particular health hazards.
In terms of security Panama is relatively safe compared to other cities throughout Latin America and it is rated as security level 2 (low). The city is a communication hub, and it is possible to fly to all countries of the region with direct flights and it offers good option for travelling in general.
The UNHCR Multi-Country Office is located in the Canal Zone, in a green area outside the city centre, called ‘Ciudad del Saber’ where most of the other UN agencies are also located, as well as international schools, NGOs and research centres.
The cost of living is relatively high for the region (reflected in the post adjustment) especially for housing and health, but it is easy to find accommodation on the private market, including in the area of the office in houses or in the city centre towers in modern apartments. Most of the food is imported except for sea products and some fruits and vegetables. There is a wide range of international schools, several of them offering IB curriculum including some in the office area.
In terms of recreational activities Panama being a hub for the purchasing of goods for neighboring countries, the city offers a lot of malls, and doing shopping and going to malls is a common weekend activity. Cultural offer is limited but there is a good offer of restaurants and a dynamic nightlife. Beaches on the Pacific and Atlantic coasts are reachable within one hour by car or by boat directly from the city, and there are some options for hiking too. There is also a relatively good range of sports activities.
As other fast-growing cities, in Panama the traffic is heavy at peak hours and considered an issue for people living in Panama City. The climate is hot and humid with a rainy season lasting 8 months a year.
For the everyday life it is recommended to have Spanish knowledge as English is not widely spoken in the shops and services.
The government offers the possibility for UN spouses to get work permits and provides UN staff members with tax exemption cards for shops and restaurants.

Full eligibility requirements, conditions of service and application instructions are available on the official UNV platform.