Internship Programs

UNICEF Internships

Paid Internships

The goal of the UNICEF internship program is to provide practical experience in the field of international development with a focus on protecting the basic rights of children, under the direct supervision of a senior staff member of the organization. The organization’s diversified environment enables cultural and experience exchange with professionals of various nationalities and different educational and professional backgrounds. Therefore, an internship in this organization will be a valuable asset to your curriculum and a great distinctive feature in future selection processes, since you will have the opportunity to know and experience the work dynamics, internal policies and routine of the organization.

In pursuit of its mission, the OpenIGO network has prepared a comprehensive eBook and support and guidance services, with the aim of highly increasing your chances of success in these competitive processes. These services include revising your UNICEF internships application documents (curriculum vitae/resume and cover letter) and a mock interview, as per the United Nations model. We also offer a range of packages that combine the eBook with different services.

Download a free sample of our UNICEF Careers Ebook!

UNICEF Overview

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is the leading intergovernmental organization for child protection and support. It operates in 190 countries and has over 13,000 staff members of different nationalities. For the past 70 years the agency has sought to protect the rights of children with the support of governments, NGOs and private organizations. UNICEF helps supply vaccines for developing countries, supports projects linked to quality basic education for children and promotes actions to protect children and young people at risk in different parts of the world.

UNICEF’s main focus: Protection of the rights of children and adolescents.

Themes addressed by UNICEF:

Child protection
Gender equality
Education
Humanitarian action for children
Gender equality
Innovation for children
Social Inclusion
Adolescent development
Children with disabilities
Communication for development
Environment and climate change
Supply and logistics

Description of the UNICEF internship

What are the fields of study required for the UNICEF Internship?

Computer Science
International Relations
Public Health
Health Sciences
Law
Public or Business Administration
Social Sciences

What are the tasks performed by the selected for the UNICEF Internship?
The activities performed vary according to the opening and the requirements of the different departments to which interns are allocated. However, generally speaking, the main duties are:

Prepare reports and documents;
Research relevant topics for the agency;
Provide administrative support;
Participate in meetings and training sessions with actual staff;
Organize events;
Perform any other assigned tasks.

What is the duration of the UNICEF Internship?
The internship period ranges from at least 6 weeks to 26 months at most.

What is the weekly workload of the UNICEF Internship?
There are opportunities for part-time and full-time internships (40 hours per week), and there is also the possibility of working remotely.

Where are the locations of the UNICEF Internship?
Openings are available for both UNICEF headquarters and field offices:

Headquarters: Denmark, Italy, Japan, Republic of South Korea, Switzerland, United States of America.
Field Offices: Middle East and North Africa, Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean, Central and Eastern Europe.

When does the UNICEF internship start?
The initial date of the internship shall be coordinated between the intern and the organization.

Is there any feedback following the completion of the UNICEF Internship?
At the end of the internship, the supervisor is in charge of preparing an assessment report of the intern’s performance.

Subsequent employment:
Participation in the internship is not related to future employment with the agency. During the internship period and within six months immediately after the program you will not be eligible to apply for or be appointed to any effective position in the organization. However, the work experience in the agency will be a distinctive feature in your curriculum, which may facilitate your hiring by other organizations inside or outside the UN System.

UNICEF Internship Salary

UNICEF may offer payment according to the availability of funds of individual offices. For paid positions, the amount ranges from US$ 1,000.00 to US$ 1,300.00 per month. It is recommended to research whether a desired opening is paid or not.

UNICEF Internship Requirements

What is the education requirement of the UNICEF Internship Program?

Be enrolled in a graduate school program (Master’s or PhD), or;
Be enrolled in the last school year of an undergraduate school program (Bachelor’s level or equivalent), or;
Have graduated from an undergraduate or graduate course in the last 12 months.

What is the language requirement of the UNICEF Internship Program?
Fluency is required in at least one of the official working languages of UNICEF (English, French or Spanish). In addition, depending on the opening, fluency may be required in the working language of the office to which you have applied.

What is the age requirement of the UNICEF Internship Program?
Applicants must be at least 18 years old at the time of enrollment.

What is the nationality requirement of the UNICEF Internship Program?
There are no nationality restrictions.

What are the competencies required for the UNICEF Internship Program?
The main competencies required are communication, teamwork and results orientation.

Other requirements of the UNICEF Internship Program
Many openings seek candidates with advanced computer skills, especially in MS Office.

What are the restrictions of the UNICEF Internship Program?
An applicant may not be a child or sibling of any organization staff member.

UNICEF Internship - Application process

When to apply for the UNICEF Internship Program?

Application deadlines vary depending on individual openings and the agency’s needs. Therefore, it is important to search for internship opportunities through information on our website and social networking platforms.

How to apply for the UNICEF Internship Program?
The application process for the internship is done via the UNICEF E-recruitment System, where all openings are published, and comprises the following steps:

Search for an opening in your field of interest;
Fill out profile data (academic and professional background);
Submit the application.

What are the phases of the selection process for the UNICEF Internship?
The selection process may vary depending on the department or office to which the intern is applying, but generally comprises the following steps:

Creating a profile and preparing an application;
Submitting the application;
Evaluation of the application;
Competency-based interview;
Selection notifications.

How is the UNICEF Internship interview?
If necessary, UNICEF will contact you for an interview. This lasts about 30 minutes and may be conducted by phone or in person. The main points covered in the interview vary according to the opening and department chosen. In general, however, the UNICEF internship questions address subjective or behavioral aspects, such as your expectations about the job, your interests in the area of expertise you are applying for and your previous experiences.

What are the documents to submit for the UNICEF Internship Program?
The application process also requires you to submit:

Cover Letter;
CV/résumé;
Writing sample of previous work.

What is the evaluation criteria of the UNICEF Internship Program?
You will be evaluated regarding your previous experience, skills and competencies, and educational background.

Other information about the UNICEF Internship:
It is important to submit your application in advance, observing the deadline of the online system and according to the time zone defined by the organization.

UNICEF Internship - Costs

The agency offers no financial aid to cover costs related to preparing for or doing the internship. However, you may request financial aid from a sponsoring institution, for example, a university and/or government agency in your country.

Visa:
You or your sponsoring institution will be responsible for the costs and arrangements of obtaining the visa (if needed to do the internship).

Insurance:
You or your sponsoring institution will be responsible for the costs of enrolling in a valid global medical insurance plan and must submit the following documents:

A valid and signed copy of a Medical Certificate of Good Health;
Proof of Health Insurance valid for the agency’s region;
Proof of Life/Accident Insurance valid for the agency’s region

Accommodation:
You or your sponsoring institution will be responsible for accommodation expenses during the internship period.

Other:
You or your sponsoring institution will be responsible for the costs and arrangements of the trip to the workplace to which you have been assigned.