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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. 

For every child, hope.

The UNICEF Internship Programme offers qualified and eligible students at both Headquarters (HQ) the unique opportunity to acquire direct practical experience in UNICEF's work and the United Nations system under the direct supervision of experienced UNICEF staff.

This internship is to be completed with Education Cannot Wait (ECW), which is a UNICEF-hosted fund. The selected intern will be joining the ECW Secretariat Strategic Planning and Accountability team.

How can you make a difference? 

Education Cannot Wait (ECW) is the United Nations global fund for education in emergencies and protracted crises. We support quality education outcomes for refugee, internally displaced and other crisis-affected girls, and boys, so no one is left behind. ECW works through the multilateral system to both increase the speed of responses in crises and connect immediate relief and longer-term interventions through multi-year programming. ECW works in close partnership with governments, public and private donors, UN agencies, civil society organizations, and other humanitarian and development aid actors to increase efficiencies and end siloed responses. ECW urgently appeals to public and private sector donors for expanded support to reach even more vulnerable children and youth. ECW is administered under UNICEF’s financial, human resources and administrative rules and regulations; operations are run by the Fund’s own independent governance structure.

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the Chief of Strategy, Planning and Accountability (SPA), the intern will support the effective functioning of ECWs Acceleration Facility. The Acceleration Facility is ECW’s investment window focused on global goods. The intern will assist ECW with tracking the Accelerations Facility portfolio, supporting the Acceleration Facility Working Group, supporting Acceleration Facility learning events and opportunities, and helping to manage new Acceleration Facility ‘Challenges’ focused on key topics in the sector. The intern’s work will be critical to the successful delivery of ECW’s new Strategic Plan 2023-2026 (launched on 20 September 2022).

The learning agenda of this internship will be an increase in knowledge of how the global Education in Emergencies and Protracted Crises (EIEPC) sector operates; familiarity with internal UN institutional reporting, strategic planning, and policy development processes; and experience of a global fund and its grant management processes.

Main duties

• Supporting the Acceleration Facility Working group: Assist the Acceleration Facility Consultant in coordinating the working group, including, for example, scheduling meetings, developing agendas, and identifying and following up on key actions.
• Tracking and Analyzing the AF Portfolio: Work with the Acceleration Facility Consultant to maintain an up to date database of AF proposals and grants (inputting data, managing key documents and folders, and analyzing trends) and draft progress updates for ECWs Senior Management Team.
• Drafting background papers on the AF priorities: Work with specialists on the working group to develop draft background papers on key thematic areas such as localization, climate change and teaching and learning – collating the latest evidence in the sector, effectively presenting priority issues, and summarizing ECWs key messaging.
• Supporting AF Learning Events and Comms: Work with ECW teams - including the Comms Team and the M&E team – to identify opportunities to share evidence and learning from Acceleration Facility grants, and help to plan and coordinate learning events and activities. In addition work with the ECW’s AF consultant and comms team help to deliver the AF Comms Strategy, e.g. drafting case studies, developing social media messing, and updating the website.
• Cross-cutting support: As required, undertake a range of logistical/operational activities to support the SPA team. This includes taking meeting minutes, maintaining information management systems, preparing tools and templates, drafting presentations, etc.

Eligibility Requirements

To be considered for an internship, applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Be enrolled in an undergraduate, graduate, or Ph.D. degree programme or have graduated within the past two years.
• Applicants must be at least 18 years old.
• Have excellent academic performance as demonstrated by recent university or institution records.
• Have no immediate relatives (e.g. father, mother, brother, sister) working in any UNICEF office; and have no other relatives in the line of authority that the intern will report to.
• Be proficient in at least one of UNICEF's working languages: English, French or Spanish. Fluency (reading, writing and speaking) in the working language of the office you are applying to (in this case, English) is required.
• Have an academic and experience background in any of the following fields:
  - Education in Emergencies and Protracted Crises
  - Grants Management
  - Programme Management
  - International development/human rights/humanitarian affairs
  - Education, Psychology, Law, Liberal Arts or Sociology, particularly with a focus on women’s and gender studies
  - Demonstrable experience of coordinating and working with others
  - Excellent organization, presentation and negotiation skills
  - Strong data and analysis skills – the ability to input and track data, and to identify key trends.
  - Strong written communication skills – the ability to write and synthesize complex information into plain English reports and meeting minutes.
• Additional consideration will be given for any past experience.

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 Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

UNICEF and ECW are committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified candidates from all national, religious, and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organisation.

Office space is available in New York based on discussion. Applicants who are in the USA at the time of application (for the US with a valid OPT/CPT if international student) are personally responsible for arranging any visa or immigration requirements, covering the entire period of their internship.

The internship is full-time (35 hrs. per week). Working hours are flexible and will be established with the ECW supervisor, taking into account the intern’s existing study commitments. Interns will be linked to the ECW Secretariat and the SPA section in New York. Interns may take up to 2.5 days per month of leave for any reason, including for medical reasons. The stipend will be reduced for any absence beyond this quota.

Two interns, one starting date January 2025 for 6 months and the second June 2025 for 6 months. An internship may be terminated by either party, with a notice period of at least two weeks.

Monthly stipend:

Interns will receive a stipend based on their location. USD 1,700 per month in New York, Geneva, and Copenhagen; or 70% of the monthly salary of the GS level 3 step 1 in all other duty stations.

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.

We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

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 to ensure 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.