Information and Knowledge Management intern – Part time (50%) paid internship with UNICEF Migrant and Refugee Programme Italy (office-based in Rome) until 31 December 2024 with possible extension

The UNICEF O/P Rome Italy is seeking an intern for part time (50%) office-based internship to support and contribute to the work of ECARO-RO Emergency and Communication teams.

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 

In the context of migration and asylum, Italy continues to be a frontline country for arrivals both by sea from the Central Mediterranean route and by land from the Western Balkan route and Ukraine. The country is considered both a destination and a transit country for all those migrants and refugees who are trying to reach Northern European countries. Refugees and migrants, and in particular children and women travelling alone, continue to undertake dangerous journeys to reach Europe, facing specific protection risks, including GBV ones.  

 In 2023, Italy faced an unprecedented influx of refugees, international protection applicants, and migrants. Between January and December 2023, Italy registered 157,314 refugees and migrant sea arrivals, including an estimated 12% of unaccompanied children and 5% of accompanied children. This represented a significant increase of 75% percent in the arrivals of unaccompanied and separated children compared to the same period in 2022. In addition, there was an increase in land arrivals at the Italy-Slovenia border, mainly men and boys originating from South Asia, estimated at 10,000 arrivals as of July 2023. The number of deaths and missing persons at sea stands at 6,703 in 2023.   

In the first quarter of 2024, arrivals remain lower compared to the same period in 2023, however, since early March, departures have resumed consistently from Tunisia and Libya, with peaks of over 1,000 people landed in Lampedusa over 24 hours. Furthermore, there has been an increase of extremely vulnerable cases, including single-parent families, pregnant girls, and children under 14 traveling alone (UASC).  

Despite the Italian child protection system foreseeing a solid legal framework for the protection of UASC, the legal provisions remain partially implemented and the system continues being challenged by the constant increase of numbers of children in first and second-line reception centers.  

Despite efforts from the Italian Government, including the declaration of the state of emergency to handle the increase of migratory flows and a solid legal framework, the system remains highly fragmented, with several disparities in quality of services and care. The declared state of emergency was renewed for six more months as of 10 April 2024.   

 Against this background and under the framework of the EU Union Action Programme, UNICEF aims at strengthening the capacity of the Italian protection and reception system from arrival to all the subsequent reception phases, to ensure protection and care for the most vulnerable refugee and migrant children, including those transitioning to adulthood, UASC, families, and women survived/at risk of gender-based violence. An information management mechanism (Refugee and Migrant Response Platform – RMRP) has been developed to serve such a purpose by harmonizing UNICEF data collection and analyses into a platform monitoring the quality of the reception system, Key Performance Indicators of UNICEF activities, and best practices.  

How can you make a difference? 

The UNICEF O/P Rome Italy is seeking the assistance of an intern to support and contribute to the ECARO-RO Emergency and Communication teams in the data entry and analysis development of the Refugee & Migrant Response Platform (RMRP) 

• Review UNICEF ECARO teams’ field reports and enter data into the RMRP.
• Review UNICEF ECARO Implementing Partners’ monthly reports and enter data into the RMRP accordingly.
• Provide technical support to UNICEF team with the use of the reporting tools.
• Update of internal dashboard with specific key external sources as per the requests of the team.
• Generate reports from the RMRP to inform and support advocacy and analysis reports.

Support Information Management and Knowledge Management needs of the ECARO team in relation to Refugee and Migrant response. 

Supervision

The intern will work under the guidance and supervision of the Emergency Specialist (primary supervisor) and the Communication Specialist (secondary supervisor), and in coordination with all team, in accordance with the standards, norms and procedures of UNICEF.

Working modality 

The intern will work part time (50%), in the Rome office, until 31^st December 2024. Further extension is possible based on satisfactory performance and budget availability. 

Condition of service

The intern will be paid a monthly stipend (USD 1,700 full time equivalent to be prorated based on the actual hours worked).  UNICEF accepts no responsibility for the medical insurance of the intern or costs arising from accidents and illness incurred during the internship. If not EU citizens, interns have to demonstrate a proof of medical and accident insurance in Italy prior to the beginning of the internship.

Intern is personally responsible for obtaining necessary visa/permit for Italy. However, UNICEF can issue a letter to support the visa application for the selected intern, if required.

The purpose of the Internship Programme is not to lead to further employment with UNICEF but to complement an intern’s studies. Therefore, there should be no expectation of employment at the end of an internship.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you…   

• are at least 18 years old and currently enrolled in a degree programme in a graduate school or have concluded a graduate programme within the past two years in the following areas: information management, information systems, social science, development studies, statistics, or related field
• Have excellent academic performance as demonstrated by recent university or institution records
• Have no immediate relatives (e.g. father, mother, brother, sister) working in any UNICEF office; and have no other relatives in the line of reporting authority for this internship
• have  proven advanced user knowledge in Microsoft Excel
• have experience with designing and/or managing digital forms, data collection platforms and analysis tools such as KoBo Toolbox, Open Data Kit (ODK), Power Bi, Tableau, Google Data Studio as an asset.
• must be  detail oriented and creative and possess strong communication and analytical skills
• have fluency in English (required) and knowledge of another official UN language and/or Italian (asset).

and will have the following required Skills

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to handle confidential information with discretion.
• Be proactive and resourceful.
• Be action-orientated, driven to achieve results.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills.
• Be a great team player,
• Have a hands-on, innovative approach to problem solving and able to see new, creative ways around obstacles.

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.

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.

How to apply:

Please apply online and duly complete the applicant profile. Upload the following documents within online application:

• Cover Letter stating your availability (dates) and your motivation;
• Recent university or institution records certificate (if currently enrolled, the latest available from the current enrolment);
• P11 form or CV (dully completed P11 form downloadable from here: http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/P11.doc  supersedes a CV)

Remarks:  

The selected candidate will have to complete online mandatory trainings and submit the certificate prior to commencement of the internship.

For office-based internship, the selected candidate will be required to comply with  inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid).

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