Data Visualization and Graphic Design Intern  

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, hope

The Division of Data, Analytics, Planning and Monitoring (DAPM) was established in 2019 to drive decision making and organizational learning, improve effectiveness and achievement of results of UNICEF and its partners to realize the rights and improve the life of every child. DAPM promotes the use of data and monitoring to achieve transformative impact on lives of children.

The Division is responsible for driving, shaping and guiding UNICEF’s evidence-informed analysis, strategic planning, programme monitoring and organizational performance management. As such, DAPM enables the organization to deliver on results in a more coherent manner, based on agile and contextualized programming process, and on data, evidence, and analysis, as well as the application of human-rights based and results-based management approaches.

The intern will be working in the Strategic Planning and Corporate Analysis (SPCA) Unit, within the Programme Effectiveness Team (PET). PET is responsible for driving agile, efficient, and informed analysis and decision-making across all levels of the organization to ensure the most effective programming in diverse contexts. The team’s objectives include promoting coherence between corporate strategic and programme planning, transforming programme monitoring, partnership, and risk management, and enhancing organizational performance standards. PET also focuses on streamlining systems and processes for better results measurement and accountability, optimizing business systems and reporting, and leveraging knowledge and learning to improve programme effectiveness.

The Strategic Planning and Corporate Analysis Unit leads the process for UNICEF’s Strategic Plan development, monitoring, reporting and analysis of performance, including analysis of the cross-cutting strategies, alignment of resources to results, as well as the quality assurance of and performance of HQ Divisions and Offices and Regional Offices, based around their respective Office Management Plans and Annual Reports.

Purpose and objectives

In UNICEF’s broadest sense, data visualization refers to the visual representation of data to communicate information clearly and efficiently to people. Effective visualization helps users understand and analyze the evidence presented, allowing us to spot patterns, trends, and correlations that otherwise might have gone unnoticed in traditional tables, spreadsheets, or datasets. 

The overall purpose of this internship is to support the SPCA unit in data visualization, graphic design, presentation development, and business intelligence tools. The intern will contribute by creating, updating, and enhancing visual solutions that effectively communicate complex data, ideas and timelines. They will collaborate across different D&A Units to ensure that presentations and dashboards are both accurate and visually engaging, helping the organization make data-driven decisions and meet strategic objectives. This internship provides an opportunity for the intern to apply their existing skills in a real-world setting while contributing to key projects.

Specific Activities

• PowerPoint Presentations:
  • Assist in designing and updating slides for internal and external meetings.
  • Ensure presentations are visually engaging and aligned with branding guidelines.
  • Work on converting complex data or text into easy-to-understand visuals, diagrams, or infographics.
• PowerBI Dashboards:
  • Help create new dashboards by gathering and integrating relevant data.
  • Update existing dashboards regularly with fresh data and insights.
  • Collaborate with team members to refine metrics and ensure that SP indicators and micro-data are well represented.
• Visual Solutions for Data and Timelines:
  • Develop visualizations that simplify complex timelines or data sets, making them more accessible for presentations or reports.
  • Work on designing clear, user-friendly charts, graphs, or flowcharts to depict progress, timelines, and/or trends.
• Data collection and Data Analytics:
  • Conduct background research to support data visualization and analysis.
  • Assist in gathering and organizing data to feed into dashboards or presentations.
• Collaboration and Feedback:
  • Collaborate with different members of the SPCA Unit and other Units in PET and D&A to understand how data and other information can be better presented.
  • Present visual solutions for feedback and iteratively improve them based on team input.

Expected Academic and Professional Outputs

By taking part of this internship, it is expected that the intern will improve the following skills:

• Technical Skills: The intern will have an opportunity to implement his/her proficiency in creating professional PowerPoint presentations, design graphical solutions, working with PowerBI and other infogram to visualize data, and designing compelling visualizations such as charts, graphs, and timelines. They will enhance their design thinking capabilities, focusing on producing impactful and easy-to-understand visuals that communicate complex ideas effectively.
• Project Management Experience: The intern will gain valuable experience in managing multiple projects simultaneously, honing their time management and organizational skills. They will learn to pay close attention to detail when updating data and ensuring accuracy, all while meeting project deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
•  Collaboration and Communication: Through cross-functional teamwork, the intern will enhance their ability to collaborate with various departments and communicate effectively with different stakeholders. They will gain experience in presenting their work, incorporating feedback, and refining their projects to meet the needs of SPCA team members.
• Problem-Solving and Critical Thinking: The intern will develop strong analytical skills by interpreting data and turning it into meaningful insights through visualizations. They will learn to approach challenges creatively, devising innovative solutions to present complex information in a clear and understandable way.
• Professional Exposure: By working on real-world projects that directly impact UNICEF’s decisions, the intern will gain practical experience in a professional setting. They will learn how teams collaborate within an organization to achieve strategic goals, gaining insight into organizational dynamics and processes.
• Portfolio Development: The intern will build a portfolio of completed work, including presentations, dashboards, and visual solutions, which will showcase their skills to future employers. This portfolio will be a valuable asset in demonstrating their ability to handle professional-level projects and produce high-quality work.
• Industry Knowledge: The intern will develop a deeper understanding of how data-driven decision-making and visual communication contribute to UNICEF’s strategy and performance. They will gain exposure to industry practices and learn how to use visual tools effectively in strategic planning and decision-making contexts.

Duration

This will be a full-time internship, the duration of the internship will be for 6 months. Expected starting date is early January.

Salary/Payment:

In accordance with UNICEF’s guidelines, interns will be paid a stipend of US $1,700 per month. There is no expectancy of employment at the end of the internship. UNICEF is not responsible for obtaining any necessary visas.

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 proof of enrollment in a health/accident plan prior to start his/her work with the Division.

Living Conditions and Working Environment:

The internship can be remote, though ideally onsite. Preference is for interns who live in New York and can meet with the team and work from UNICEF’s office at least once a week.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will?

• Be enrolled in a graduate degree program (or up to one year post graduation) in the following areas: data analytics, data science, marketing, communications, Graphic Design, Digital Media or similar field.
• Proficiency in English.
• Candidates should also present the following additional skills:
  • PowerPoint Expertise: The candidate should be highly proficient in PowerPoint, with the ability to create professional, visually appealing presentations, including designing complex slides with graphics, charts, and infographics.
  • PowerBI Proficiency: Strong experience with PowerBI is essential, including the ability to create and update dashboards, integrate data from different sources, and effectively visualize key performance indicators (KPIs) and trends.
  • Data Visualization: The intern should have advanced skills in data visualization, including knowledge of best practices for turning complex data sets into clear and accessible charts, graphs, and timelines using a variety of tools.
  • Design Skills: A solid understanding of visual design principles is necessary, especially for creating compelling and user-friendly visuals. Familiarity with design software (e.g., Adobe Illustrator or similar) would be an asset.
  • Analytical Thinking: The intern must be comfortable analyzing data, identifying trends, and translating these insights into visual formats. Strong critical thinking skills are needed to assess data accuracy and relevancy.
  • Attention to Detail: Precision is crucial for tasks involving data updates and presentation formatting, so the intern should be detail-oriented and capable of ensuring accuracy in all visual materials.
  • Communication Skills: The ability to collaborate with team members, understand their needs, and communicate complex ideas clearly through visuals is essential. They should also be comfortable presenting their work and incorporating feedback.

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.

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 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. 

How cinfo Can Support You in the Application Process for This Position

• Application and Interview Preparation: Whether you’re preparing your application documents or getting ready for an interview, you can book a Job Application Support session to receive tailored guidance.
• For Swiss nationals invited to the first round of the selection process (e.g., written test, interview, assessment center): Notify us at [email protected], and we will inform our HR partners in the respective organization and the Swiss Government to help increase your visibility.