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UNICEF works in some of the world's toughest places, to reach the world's most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential. Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone. And we never give up.

UNICEF is an agency of the United Nations responsible for providing humanitarian and development aid to children worldwide.

Background and Purpose of the Internship

In the context of public partnerships, Partnerships Risk Management is an organizational and strategic function that enables the division to anticipate, identify and mitigate risks associated with public sector funding to UNICEF, which amounted to over $6 billion in 2023.

Positioned within the Systems, Analytics, Risk, Planning and Operations (SARPO) team of PPD and under the supervision of the Partnerships Risk Specialist, the Partnerships Risk Management Intern will be an integral part of the Partnerships Risk team within PPD and contribute to the day-to-day operations, with a focus on tasks related to compliance and monitoring, donor agreements review and tracking of obligations from a public partnerships perspective, UNICEF knowledge management in the field of risk and related policies, and analytics. The internship offers a dynamic set of assignments and will provide exposure to the operations of UNICEF as an agency of the United Nations, with a specific focus on public partnerships risk management.

For more information on UNICEF’s work, read our latest annual report and strategic plan here: UNICEF Annual Report 2023 | UNICEF

How can you make a difference?

• The Intern in the Partnerships Risk Management team will contribute to the overall objective of PPD’s Partnerships Risk function, strengthening risk assurance and compliance efforts for the division and wider UNICEF and contribute to furthering a harmonized and efficient approach to public sector donors, specifically concerning agreement on key standards and principles, including precedent-setting issues, tracking of conditionalities, and creation of a PPD-wide catalogue that provides overview of PPD’s pending grant negotiations with timelines, priorities and resolutions.

  Under the overall guidance of the Risk Manager and the direct supervision of the Risk Specialist, the Intern will undertake the following tasks:

  • Assist in updating PPD’s agreements and negotiations tracker of matters related to public sector donor agreements.
  • Review, summarize and catalogue new and legacy public sector donor conditionalities, in an Excel tracker and via SharePoint.
  • Conduct stocktaking and logging of existing and forthcoming UNICEF Country Office audit reports, including analyzing implications from a partnership perspective and documenting accordingly for further coordination within PPD.
  • Provide support to PPD’s regulatory framework by assisting in the mapping and implementation of UNICEF’s new Delegation of Authority policy, and draft delegation letters as needed.
  • Carry out other tasks as assigned on an ad hoc basis, including reviewing draft reports that are relevant for PPD’s operations, participate in task force meetings, assist in reviewing UNICEF contractual obligations to donors in relation to significant events, building power point presentations for internal knowledge management initiatives and risk assessment exercises, and coordinate in feedback exercises with various PPD teams.
  • Assist in developing a partnerships risk management SharePoint site with resources and information for PPD teams.
  • Contribute to the drafting of donor-facing materials on UNICEF’s risk management systems and practices.

To qualify you will have:

• Education: Recently graduated or currently enrolled in a university or an Advanced Degree Program (master’s or equivalent, preferably international legal studies or other relevant disciplines).
• Experience: 1-2 years of relevant experience, preferably in legal and/or contracting activities. Experience working in an international organization or similar and familiarity with legal activities, including contract review, is an advantage.
• Excellent knowledge of MS Office, Excel and relevant computer systems and applications.
• Excellent communication, writing and interpersonal skills.
• Good organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills and ability to exercise sound judgement in high sensitivity situations. 
• Ability to work effectively on multiple assignments simultaneously and adapt to the changing requirements.

Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of a second UN and/or local working language of the duty station an asset.

Modality: In-person (New York) or Remote (subject to agreement)

Tentative start date: November 2024

Duration: 6 months/Paid

Insurance: UNICEF will not be responsible for costs arising from accidents and/or illness incurred during the intern's service, whether on or off UNICEF premises. Therefore, the selected candidate must provide proof of enrolment in a health/accident plan prior to start the internship.

For every Child, you demonstrate:

UNlCEF's Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

UNICEF competencies required for this post are...

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships (2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness (3) Drive to achieve results for impact (4) Innovates and embraces change (5) Manages ambiguity and complexity (6) Thinks and acts strategically (7) Works collaboratively with others.

During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels: competency framework here.

UNICEF is here to serve the world's most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Remarks:

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

The selected candidate is solely responsible for ensuring that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to selected candidates who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their contracts.

For more on internships at UNICEF, follow this link: INTERNSHIPS-Start your career with UNICEF