BACKGROUND

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.

The UNICEF Internship Programme offers qualified and eligible students the unique opportunity to acquire direct practical experience in UNICEF's work and the United Nations system while working hands on under the direct supervision of experienced UNICEF staff.

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

• Be enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate degree programme (or recent graduate);
• Be proficient in English, knowledge of an additional UN language is considered an asset; and
• Have excellent academic performance as demonstrated by recent university or institution records.

The UNICEF Archives’ goal is to take a systemic approach to preserving the organization’s institutional heritage. It aims to provide improved archival preservation of both physical and digital materials and create platforms for access through developing viable archival descriptions as well as engaging modern access platforms that satisfy client research needs. The Archives also aims to engage technology solutions through making use of new digital preservation capabilities. These goals will be implemented in line with the organizational strategy and information management requirements of stakeholders in various business areas.

PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT

UNICEF offers the opportunity for talented students to gain professional experience while being exposed to the work of UNICEF. At the same time, UNICEF benefits from interns as a significant asset by providing updated academic knowledge and valuable skills to the organization.

The archives Intern will develop archival management skills and contribute to the building up of a viable archival repository that preserves and packages its information resources for easy and effective access. The intern will report to the UNICEF Archives Archivist. This internship will be for a period of 6 months.

Key Tasks and Deliverables:

Key Responsibilities

The selected candidate will work directly with UNICEF archivists in supporting selected archival management activities, including:

• Processing archival records in accordance with the ISAD(G) standard and established archival principles and practices;
• Preparing descriptive metadata and developing finding aids for archival records;
• Entering and updating descriptive metadata in the Archives Management System (AtoM);
• Supporting the ingestion of digital archival records into the Digital Preservation System (Preservica);
• Arranging, organizing, labelling and rehousing archival records in appropriate folders and archival storage boxes; Supporting archival access and reference services, including responding to information and research requests; and
• Performing other related duties as required.

Deliverables

• Completed descriptive metadata records and corresponding archival descriptions entered into AtoM;
• Digital archival assets successfully ingested and uploaded into Preservica, in accordance with established procedures; and
• Archival records properly arranged, stored in appropriate archival folders and boxes, and clearly labelled.

Travel

• Travel is not required.

Requirements

Academic Degrees:

• To be enrolled in a degree programme in an undergraduate or graduate school in archival studies or library & information sciences or related field or be a recent graduate within the past two (2) years with specific post-secondary education in archival studies or library & information sciences or related field.
• A strong academic performance as demonstrated by recent university or institution records.
• A reference letter from a current or past academic supervisor.

Professional Experience:

• Demonstrated understanding of international archival standards, including ISAD(G).
• Demonstrated understanding of archival metadata standards and their application.

Other Skills and Qualifications:

• Applicants must be at least 18 years old.
• Applicants must have a legal status in the US and are permitted to work.
• No immediate relatives working in any UNICEF office or have any other relatives in the line of authority which the intern will report to.

Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) is an asset. 

Salary/Payment: UNICEF will provide a monthly stipend during the duration of this Internship. There is no expectancy of employment at the end of the internship.

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