ADVOCACY AND PROGRAMME INTERNSHIP AT UNICEF

admin June 26, 2021

5 minutes read

Apply for the Advocacy and Programme internship at UNICEF

Deadline: 02 July 2021

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, education

UNICEF Public Partnerships Division (PPD) works to strengthen the organisation’s position as a partner for children’s rights among governments and public actors around the world. UNICEF Brussels Office is in charge of the relations with the EU institutions and works to prioritize children and UNICEF’s priorities across EU’s policies, legislation and programmes.

Working in the UNICEF Brussels Office, the intern would have the opportunity to learn about UNICEF’s work for the cause of children and support the office in its partnership with the EU Institutions.

Under the supervision of the Partnership Manager in the development section, the intern would support the Development and Policy & Advocacy sections in the UNICEF Brussels Office in project management, advocacy and communication.

How can you make a difference?

The learning opportunities for this internship include but are not limited to:

1. Policy & Advocacy:

Assist in advocacy work to influence EU institutions and EU Member States, particularly in relation to Africa, child rights, migration and education through coordination, monitoring and research. Tasks include:

support the drafting of briefing and background notes;
setting up meetings for UNICEF colleagues with EU institutions;
attending meetings and writing up minutes;
assisting UNICEF’s support to the EU Group of Friends on Child Rights;
Maintain an up-to-date contact database of relevant focal points and staff within UNICEF and EU institutions

Particular focus will be dedicated to the following three EU policy processes:

EU budget 2021-2027:

Support the analysis of the final Neighbourhood, Development & International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI) and MIPs/RMIPs, and the dissemination of information to country and regional offices; support and monitor country offices’ engagement with EUDELs in relation to the new EU multi-year programmes (MIPs) and AAPs; analyse key EU documents such as on Team Europe and joint programming. Attend meetings and write up of minutes.

EU-AU Heads of State Summit (Q1 2022)

Support the elaboration and implementation of activities foreseen in the run-up to the Summit, in particular the implementation of our U-report campaign “YourVoice,YourFuture” and the coordination with our UR ambassadors.

Support with the coordination with the UNICEF AU Liaison office, PPD Africa team and Regional Offices on specific themes such as Birth Registration, Education and Nutrition.

EU Child Rights Strategy (Sept 21-March 22)

Support with the monitoring and follow up of implementation of the EU strategy on the Rights of the Child, including coordination with UN Task Force, UNICEF National Committees/Country Offices and Brussels-based child rights organisations.

2. Communication:

Daily monitoring of relevant news and updates from the EU Institutions and EU media;
Support with the bi-monthly newsletter of the UNICEF-EU partnership;
Support with the daily media monitoring for the Brussels Office;
Support with the social media accounts of the office;
Support with activities around the launch of the UNICEF State of the World’s Children Report (October 2021) and the European Youth Event (EYE) (8-9 October 2021);
Support with activities around World Children’s Day 2021 (November 2021).

Learning and development:

A learning and development plan will be agreed with the intern, aiming at:

Enhancing and updating knowledge of EU institutions and policies;
Improving knowledge on child rights;
Improving understanding of UNICEF’s activities, policies and organisation;
Improving basic organisation and communication skills.

The Intern will receive supervision, guidance and coaching by the immediate supervisor from the start of the assignment and will be assigned projects related to her/his area of study.

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

An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in human rights, political science, international development, humanitarian aid or related field.
*A first University Degree in a relevant field combined with 2 additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree.
Genuine interest in and basic knowledge of children’s rights; understanding of UNICEF’s mandate is a must.
Familiarity with the functioning of the EU Institutions; previous working or research experience related to the European Institutions is a strong asset.
Proven ability to synthesize information and communicate it simply and effectively; strong writing, research and analytical skills.
Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of French and/or another EU language an asset.
Knowledge of office computer systems (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and internet research.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

Click here to learn more about UNICEF’s values and competencies.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

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 also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. 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.

Allowance:

UNICEF will pay a stipend of 850 euros per month to contribute towards transportation and meal costs. There is no expectancy of employment at the end of the internship. UNICEF is not responsible for obtaining any necessary visas, or health insurance.

Insurance:

Interns are covered for any service-incurred injury, illness or death under the UNICEF procedure on Malicious Acts Insurance Policy (DHR/PROCEDURE/2019/002) or as amended. The selected candidate must provide proof of medical insurance prior to start his/her work with the Brussels Office.

Living Conditions and Working Environment:

Subject to the sanitary conditions at the time of the start of the internship, the intern will work in the UNICEF Office in Brussels, attending many meetings at and around the EU institutions. S/he will work with an assigned UNICEF staff and report to his/her immediate supervisor.

S/he is not expected to travel during the assignment. S/he will be provided with a UNICEF computer to be able to work from home as per COVID response guidelines issued and adapted by UNICEF Office in Brussels. Since the situation might change at any time, flexibility in adapting to the working environment is essential.

If accepted, the intern will be required to provide a copy of health insurance coverage and to fill out the UNICEF form on conditions regarding service as an intern.

If you are interested in undertaking an internship at UNICEF, please send an application that includes the following:

– Cover Letter (1 page only)
– Curriculum Vitae (2 pages only)
– Writing Sample (essay/extract of maximum 1000 words in English)

Deadline for application: 02/07/2021 (10AM Romance Standard Time)
Interviews will be held during the week of 19^th July 2021
Selected candidate will be informed by 6^th August 2021
Duration: 13^th September 2021 – 11^th March 2022