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, right to play in a safe environment.

The Health Specialist supports UNICEF’s Healthy Environments for Healthy Children (HEHC) programme, focusing on creating safe, health-promoting spaces for children. This role addresses critical environmental health risks, such as air pollution, water quality, and sanitation, by providing technical expertise for designing and implementing targeted interventions. The specialist collaborates across sectors, ensuring that initiatives meet international standards and cater to the specific needs of children in diverse contexts. Through data analysis, advocacy, and capacity-building, the Health Specialist strengthens community and government efforts, contributing to safer, healthier environments that foster children’s well-being and resilience.

How can you make a difference? 

The Health Specialist supports the Healthy Environments for Healthy Children programme (HEHC). Tasks in 2024-2025 entail enhancing UNICEF capacities by strengthening knowledge management through technical briefs and webinars. Tasks will include the following:

Main duties and responsibilities:

1. Support the development of UNICEF’s programming on air pollution and children including identifying potential partners and activities on the 7 deadly sources of air pollution.
2. Support the development of high quality factsheets on the chemicals of concern- mercury, cadmium and arsenic, PAHS, PFAS, Asbestos, triclosan.
3. Support the planning and organization of high-quality webinars on children’s environmental health: air pollution, pesticides, plastics, heavy metals- mercury, lead, arsenic.
4. Support the development of the CEH Collaborative website content on air pollution, pesticides, plastics, heavy metals.

Education:

• University graduate, master’s student, background on public health, preferably on children’s environmental health, skills on research and systematic reviews, background on environmental policies.

Language:

• Fluent in at least one UN official language – specifically, English, French, and/or Spanish.

Benefits to Intern:

1. Learn about the technical aspects of air pollution, pesticides, plastics, heavy metals- exposures and burden of disease.
2. Learn about UNICEF’s global framework on HEHC.
3. Gain exposure to the dynamics of advocacy with UNICEF internal and external partners in the delivery of results.

Stipend: A monthly stipend will be provided by UNICEF based on the intern’s work location UN GS Salary Scales

Duration:

26 weeks, full-time (Remote)

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 valid proof of enrolment in a health/accident plan prior to starting the internship. The insurance certification should cover the whole internship period.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will…

• Have the following eligibility requirements.
• Strategic thinking and research skills
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Intellectual curiosity
• Excellent organization and time management skills with a keen eye for detail 
• Strong interpersonal and collaboration skills
• Problem-solving skills, with ability to take ownership of projects and make suggestions on how to improve the role.
• Ability to manage and respect multiple deadlines while working independently with different agents on several projects.

 The following are considered assets:

• Experience using survey development tools like Kobo, SurveyMonkey, Google Forms, Qualtrics
• Proficiency in statistical software (SPSS, STATA)
• Strong command of Microsoft Excel
• Proven writing skills

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

During the recruitment process, we may 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 interns, including leave entitlement 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.

Remarks:  

UNICEF’s active commitment towards diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children.

UNICEF Interns must have proof of medical insurance covering their time at the duty station.

UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer, without compensation, if a visa or Proof of health insurance coverage is not obtained, or necessary medical/inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

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

There is no expectancy of employment at the end of this internship.