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UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job; it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built. We offer diverse opportunities for professional and personal development that help colleagues reinforce their sense of purpose while serving children and communities around the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture.

Visit the UNICEF website to learn more about what we do.

For every child, an advocate

The UNICEF Communication and Advocacy Section supports the South Sudan Country Programme through communication and advocacy strategies, humanitarian and programme advocacy, communication planning, media relations, website and digital asset management, donor visibility, programme visits, National Committee engagement and the Young Reporters programme. 

How can you make a difference?

The internship will provide an eligible student or recent graduate with structured and supervised practical experience in communication and advocacy.

Through guided assignments, coaching and regular feedback, the intern will develop skills in digital communication, content development, branding, donor visibility and youth engagement while contributing to agreed activities of the Communication and Advocacy Section. 

The Communications Intern will support the Section in the following areas:

• Social media and digital communication: Assist in monitoring, populating and tracking data across UNICEF South Sudan digital channels and prepare draft posts and periodic channel-performance summaries for review.
• Donor relations: Support the tracking of upcoming donor reports and visibility requirements and prepare draft content or posting suggestions for review.
• Branding: Assist the Communication team in preparing draft responses to routine branding enquiries and simple design or layout samples under supervision.
• Young Reporters: Support the planning and documentation of Young Reporter sessions, participate in office-based sessions and assist with discussion materials under direct staff supervision.
• Digital asset management: Support the organization and uploading of approved photographs, captions and consent documentation in line with applicable guidance and access controls. 

An agreed workplan and learning objectives will be established at the beginning of the internship. The supervisor will provide regular guidance and feedback, including a midpoint review and an end-of-internship evaluation. 

If you would like to know more about this internship, please review the complete Terms of Reference attached to this vacancy announcement.

To qualify as an advocate for every child, you will have…

Minimum requirements

Education and eligibility

Applicants must:

• Be at least 18 years old.
• Be enrolled in an undergraduate, graduate or PhD programme, or have graduated within the past two years, in communication, journalism, media studies, public relations, international relations, social sciences, digital communication or another field relevant to the assignment.
• Demonstrate strong academic performance through recent university or institutional records.
• Have no immediate relative, for example, mother, father, sister or brother, working in any UNICEF office, and no other relative in the line of authority to which the intern will report.

Skills

• Strong writing skills.
• Social media and web-platform skills.
• Basic Microsoft Office skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively with technical programmes and field colleagues. 

Language requirements

Fluency in English is required. Working knowledge of Juba Arabic and/or another language commonly used in South Sudan is an asset. 

Desirables

• Relevant academic, volunteer, internship or professional experience in communication, social media, writing, photography, digital content or youth engagement will be considered an asset. 
• Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts.

Internship conditions

• The internship is office-based in Juba and will be undertaken on a part-time basis, four days per week.
• UNICEF will provide an appropriate workplan, structured learning opportunities, supervision and regular feedback.
• UNICEF will provide an identified workspace, required IT and communication equipment, internet access and relevant system access.
• The selected intern must provide proof of valid medical insurance before commencing the internship, covering the full internship period and including medical evacuation where required.
• The selected intern must complete applicable orientation, safeguarding and mandatory learning requirements before undertaking relevant activities.
• The internship does not create any expectation or entitlement to employment with UNICEF at its conclusion. 

Child Safeguarding: This internship is not classified as an Elevated Risk Role. It is neither a Direct Contact Role nor a Child Data Role. Any incidental participation in section activities will remain under staff supervision and in accordance with applicable UNICEF standards. 

For every child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it.

Get acquainted with UNICEF Values.

The UNICEF competencies required for this internship are:

1. Builds and maintains partnerships
2. Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness
3. Drives 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

Familiarize yourself with the UNICEF Competency Framework and its different levels.

Diversity, inclusion and safeguarding

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged. Our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence.

Qualified female candidates and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.

UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require accommodation, please submit your request through Accessibility at UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please contact the recruiter directly to share further details so that the necessary arrangements can be made in advance.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children, defined as persons under 18 years of age.

UNICEF has zero tolerance for 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, discrimination, fraud, corruption and other forms of misconduct.

UNICEF is committed to promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference, safeguarding and background verification checks. These may include verification of academic credentials and employment history, screening against relevant United Nations misconduct databases, and requests for misconduct disclosures from current and former employers, professional associations and other relevant organizations.

Selection and continued engagement are subject to the satisfactory completion of all required checks. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information and consent to enable UNICEF to undertake these checks.

Remarks

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the selection of personnel is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity.

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection or hiring processes, including application, interview, validation, appointment or training. UNICEF will not ask applicants for bank account information during the recruitment process.

Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF’s Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to staying and delivering in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, UNICEF personnel across functional areas may be called upon to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening the resilience of communities and the capacity of national authorities.

All UNICEF opportunities are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found on the UNICEF Careers website.