Internship – Field Operations and Emergency Section, Kenya Country Office, Nairobi

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.

                                                                                         TERMS OF REFERENCE 

Background

In recent years, Kenya has continued to experience multiple emergencies, including the impacts of the severe 2020-2023 Horn of Africa drought due to five consecutive failed rainy seasons, whilst at the same time responding to El Nino-enhanced floods and disease outbreaks (which include Measles and a persistent Cholera outbreak), and an increased refugee influx.

The March to May (MAM) 2024 seasonal forecasts indicates a higher probability of wetter-than-normal conditions across most parts of the country, an elevated risk of flooding in areas prone to floods, causing loss of lives, increased disease outbreaks, displacement and widespread destruction of property and infrastructure, affecting close to one million people.  The forecast underscores the urgency for coordinated action and preparedness, emphasizing the need for proactive measures to mitigate potential impacts and capitalize on the opportunities presented by the forecasted rainfall.

While the food security situation may improve with wetter than usual conditions in 2024, key challenges remain for the vulnerable communities, including slow recovery from the drought for up to 2.8 million people, and the El Nino-induced floods at the end of 2023. This has weakened communities’ coping capacity, making them highly susceptible to food insecurity. The likelihood of flooding during the 2024 MAM season in parts of the region could, therefore, lead to a deterioration in food security in localised areas, with women and children remaining the most vulnerable.

UNICEF continues to work with the government, partners, and UN agencies to deliver life-saving and protective interventions to emergency-affected populations in the Arid and Semi-Arid Lands and in the urban informal settlements, as well as providing essential services to refugees in the Kakuma and Dadaab refugee camps, through strengthening multi-sectoral linkages, maximizing integrated programme coverage, and meeting gaps in the response efforts of the government and partners.

Purpose

The purpose of the UNICEF internship programme is to provide a framework by which students pursuing university or having recently completely a tertiary education are assigned to UNICEF offices to enhance their education experience through practical work assignments; to expose them to the work of the UNICEF; and to provide UNICEF offices with the assistance of qualified students or recent graduates specialized in various professional fields.

Scope

Provide programmatic, administrative, and logistical support to the Emergency and Field Operations (FOE) Section.

Main tasks and responsibilities

• Supporting programmatic, administrative, and logistical requests and queries to FOE section.
• Organizing and scheduling appointments with internal and external stakeholders.
• Planning meetings, taking minutes, and following up on action points.
• Maintaining emergency reports schedule and alerting team members on when reports are due.
• Supporting consolidation and dissemination of reports.
• Supporting the maintenance of the online filing system for all FOE documents.
• Providing support to the planning and reporting for field missions and workshops.
• Supporting the implementation of training and learning activities.
• Support to coordinated Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR) for key emergencies, including prioritization of disaster risks, and subsequent updating of preparedness/response/contingency plans by the Emergency Focal Points (EFPs)

Eligibility & Minimum requirements

To be considered for the internship, applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Enrolment in a degree programme in an undergraduate or graduate school, or recently graduated in the last 2 years in the field of social sciences (including sociology, anthropology, project management, community development, or related discipline).
• Proficiency in at least one of UNICEF’s working languages: English, French or Spanish and fluent in the working language of the office of assignment.
• Strong academic performance as demonstrated by recent university or institution records.
• Prior experience in programme support functions will be an asset.
• Have no immediate relatives (e.g. father, mother, brother, sister) working in any UNICEF office; and have no other relatives in the line of authority which the intern will report to.

Core Values

• Care
• Respect
• Integrity
• Trust
• Accountability
• Sustainability

Competencies

• Builds and maintains partnership
• Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness
• Drive to achieve results for impact
• Innovates and embraces change
• Manages ambiguity and complexity
• Thinks and acts strategically
• Works collaboratively with others

Conditions

• In accordance with UNICEF’s guidelines, all interns must receive a stipend.
• There is no expectancy of employment at the end of the internship
• 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. If accepted, the intern will be required to provide a copy of health insurance coverage and to fill out the relevant UNICEF forms on conditions regarding service as an intern.
• Interns are responsible to obtain visa for the duration of the internship as applicable. UNICEF may provide relevant documents such as the proof of internship.
• Interns may take up to 2.5 days per month off work for any reason, including for medical reasons
• Interns shall observe all applicable rules, regulations, instructions and procedures and directives of UNICEF.

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.

How to apply

Interested and qualified candidates should apply online using the button below. As part of their application, candidates should provide:

1. A cover letter that specifies how you meet the desired competencies, technical background and experience (no more than 2 pages)
2. A short CV (no more than 4 pages)
4. 3 Referees.