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, an advocate.

Within the framework of the current UNICEF Europe and Central Asia Regional Office (ECARO) work plan, the overall purpose of the assignment is to provide support to enhance inclusive humanitarian action. The incumbent will work on support the UNICEF Europe and Central Asia Regional (ECAR) Office to assist UNICEF country offices to better prepare and respond to disability inclusive humanitarian action, in line with UNICEF’s mandate and its Core Commitments for Children. In particular, s/he will contribute to the effective management of UNICEF’s disability in humanitarian action programming.

SUPERVISION

The intern will work under the guidance and direct supervision of the UNICEF Regional Education Specialist/Disability Focal Point based in Geneva, and close coordination and dotted line to the Regional Emergency Specialist based in Istanbul, in accordance with the standards, norms and procedures of UNICEF.

How can you make a difference?

• Support advancing knowledge management on disability inclusive humanitarian action. This includes development of knowledge management platform, populate the platform with relevant resources, guidelines and tools; development/documentation of good practices in consultation with country offices and refugee response countries; organizing learning sessions for disability focal points and emergency officers/focal points from country offices.
• Support to conduct a comprehensive mapping exercise to identify organization and stakeholders working on disabilities in the ECA region, support to assess the capacities of the identified partners (through surveys), including their expertise and resources and areas for improvement (through surveys etc.) in close consultation with country offices.
• Assist to review the preparedness plans of the country offices and provide support to integrate disability inclusive preparedness actions in consultation with the regional disability specialist.
• Assist in developing/consolidating training materials on disability inclusive humanitarian action and support to organize, training and other events.
• Assist in developing concept for Anticipatory Action focusing on disability in coordination with EMOPS, regional sections and country offices.
• Provide support to proposal development, resource mobilization and donor reporting in relation to UNICEF’s disability inclusive humanitarian action agenda.
• Any other task that may be requested by the supervisor.

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

Minimum Qualifications

• Be currently enrolled or graduated within the last 2 years from undergraduate, graduate, or Ph.D. degree programme in the following disciplines: development studies, public administration, statistics, gender studies, disability studies, political science, international law, human rights law or a related field.
• Applicants must be at least 18 years old.
• Be proficient in at least one of UNICEF’s working languages: English, French or Spanish. Fluency in the working language of the office you are applying to is required (See section VI for additional requirements).
• 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 authority that the intern will report to.
• Additional consideration will be given for any past experience.

Required skills and Experience

• Strong interest in human rights, especially child rights, international humanitarian response system and disaster management
• Knowledge and understanding of human rights mechanisms and of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women
• Understanding of research methods and processes, and data analysis is desirable.
• Prior experience in the work environment of an international agency, NGOs, UN, or international institutions would be desirable
• Excellent computer skills with command over excel, developing graphs and visual products
• Fluency in spoken and written English. Knowledge of any widely spoken languages in ECA Region is an asset.

CONDITIONS OF SERVICE

Duration: The selected candidate will undertake the full-time role for 6 months.

Location: Selected intern will be working full-time either in-person in Geneva or online and will be governed by and subject to UNICEF’s General Terms and Conditions for interns. Working hours at the duty station are from 9 a.m. till 6 p.m. Geneva time.

Visa: The intern will be responsible for obtaining any visa required for them to travel to live and work in Switzerland; though the Education/Disability section will offer guidance on how to complete this process. No visa/travel will be required should the internship opportunity be agreed as remote/home-based internship.

Stipend: In accordance with UNICEF’s guidelines, selected intern will be provided a monthly stipend to cover the duration of the candidate’s internship based on his/her agreed assignment location. There is no expectancy of employment at the end of the internship.

Insurance: For Geneva-based 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 with coverage in Switzerland prior to starting his/her internship. HR will share additional information about Swiss mandatory insurance and taxation in due time with the selected intern.

Mandatory Courses: Selected intern will be requested to complete online mandatory courses prior to commencement of the internship.

Equipment: UNICEF will provide IT equipment to the selected candidate as this is an in-person internship. Should the internship opportunity be agreed as remote/home-based internship, UNICEF will not provide IT equipment, nor will cover internet connectivity costs; the intern is expected to use their own equipment and have access to internet.

Leave: Selected intern may take up to 2.5 days per month off work for any reason, including for medical reasons. The stipend will be reduced for any absence beyond this quota. The quota is cumulative over the duration of the internship, but there will be no compensation or carry-over to another appointment for unused leave days at the end of the internship.

HOW TO APPLY

Qualified candidate is requested to apply online and submit the following documents:

• Resume/CV;
• Cover Letter stating availability and motivation;
• Recent university or institution records certificate (or a reference letter from the academic supervisor confirming a strong performance should the records certificate not be available at this stage); and
• Duly completed online application profile

For every Child, you demonstrate…

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

View our competency framework at http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

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.