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, an advocate
UNICEF’s Community Health and Nutrition Advocacy Team is hiring two advocacy interns to support the team for six months starting in September 2024. These paid internships are located in the Division of Global Communication and Advocacy. The interns will be supervised by the Nutrition Advocacy Manager and the Advocacy Specialist responsible for the Gates Foundation advocacy partnership.
We are looking for individuals who are passionate about securing new policies, resources, and commitments which will accelerate action on child survival. UNICEF uses a range of advocacy tactics and approaches to reach decision makers and the public, and an interest in learning more about how change happens is a necessity for this role. Working collaboratively with UNICEF offices and partners is a core part of the advocacy team’s role, and we are looking for individuals with a passion for partnership and coordination. Our strength as a team is driven by good communications, teamwork, and a collective determination for high-impact actions and activities.
How can you make a difference?
The internship aims to provide an opportunity to be embedded into UNICEF’s community health and nutrition advocacy team, to learn more about global advocacy and communications strategies, initiatives, and activities, while also providing opportunities the selected individuals can undertake and lead on key tasks and projects to contribute to the team’s overall goals. Successful candidates will have an opportunity to work on UNICEF’s global advocacy and communications moments and priority workstreams, which could include report launches, data releases, influencing the outcomes of political processes and meetings, and major political forums.
Both interns will have the opportunity to work on multiple issue areas and on cross-cutting projects, but one intern will focus primarily on nutrition and the other will focus primarily on immunization and maternal/child health.
Key tasks during the internship will include:
To fill this role, we are looking for students and recent graduates with a background in international development, public health, public policy, or international affairs who see themselves in an NGO/non-profit sector advocacy, policy or communications role in the future. A background in communications, advocacy, or related fields with demonstrable knowledge in vaccines, food systems, nutrition, public health or international development is desirable. This role requires strong writing and organizational skills, and attention to detail.
If that sounds like you, apply by submitting your CV and a PPT presentation of no more than 5 slides, which answers the following questions. Please note your PPT is your cover letter, no other cover letter is necessary, nor will it be considered.
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
Additional Information
This is a paid full-time internship with a monthly stipend of $1,700. The internship is based in UNICEF’s New York Headquarters in New York. Up to $1,000 will be available for travel to NYC and any visa costs should the applicant not currently be based in the city.
Depending on the dates and location of advocacy workshops related to the internship deliverables, there may be an opportunity to travel. Travel related costs including flights, accommodation, and DSA, will be covered by UNICEF, but the successful candidate will need to prove personal travel insurance for the location and dates of the trip.
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 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.
[add the 8th competency (Nurtures, leads and manages people) for supervisory role]
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:
UNICEF’s active commitment towards diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children.
UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary 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.