School Age Children & Adolescent Nutrition internship - Maternal Nutrition Intern, Nutrition & ECD section, Programme Group (Fully remote) - 2 positions

Nutrition is core to what UNICEF does. People who are well nourished are more likely to be healthy, productive, and able to learn. Good nutrition benefits families, their communities, and the world. Like with all our work, UNICEF focuses on the specific nutrition needs and vulnerabilities that impact children. In line with the agenda of the Sustainable Development Goals, UNICEF engages with a broad programmatic focus on all forms of malnutrition, including school-age children and adolescents nutrition and maternal nutrition. Thus, the School Age Children, Adolescents and Women Nutrition Unit within the Nutrition & Child Development Section at UNICEF HQ are seeking two motivated interns to support these two growing areas of work – one intern to support the school-age children and adolescents nutrition agenda and one intern to support the maternal nutrition agenda.

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

Nutrition is core to what UNICEF does. People who are well nourished are more likely to be healthy, productive, and able to learn. Good nutrition benefits families, their communities, and the world. Like with all our work, UNICEF focuses on the specific nutrition needs and vulnerabilities that impact children. In line with the agenda of the Sustainable Development Goals, UNICEF engages with a broad programmatic focus on all forms of malnutrition, including school-age children and adolescents nutrition and maternal nutrition.

For school-age children and adolescents, nutritious and safe diets, essential nutrition services and positive nutrition practices help them grow, learn, and stay physically active. In contrast, poor nutrition during these ages between 5 and 19 years old can delay children’s physical growth and development throughout childhood and adolescence. Malnutrition in all its forms during this period has long-term physical, social, mental, and economic consequences. Children who are stunted often enroll late in school and therefore benefit from fewer years of schooling and earn less as adults. Similarly, children with overweight and obesity are at higher risk of developing non-communicable diseases, (NCDs) such as type II diabetes. As adults, they may develop cardiovascular disease, which can be lethal and have long-term economic costs. UNICEF priorities for this group, as outlined in UNICEF´s Programming Guidance for nutrition in Middle Childhood and Adolescence: (1) nutritious foods, in schools and beyond; (2) healthy food environments, in schools and beyond; (3) micronutrient supplementation and deworming; (4) nutrition education and physical activity in school curricula; and (5) healthy dietary practices for school-age children and adolescents. UNICEF and partners continue to support global efforts to improve school-age children and adolescent nutrition through efforts like the ‘School Meals Coalition’, and specifically to prevent childhood overweight and obesity through efforts like the ‘WHO Acceleration Plan to STOP Obesity’.

Meanwhile, maternal nutrition is continuously undermined by women’s and girls’ inequitable access to nutritious diets, nutrition services and positive nutrition and care practices, which have compounded global gender inequality and hindered their ability to live healthy and productive lives. It also has devastating impacts on the survival and future health of their children. Well-nourished women have better health, safer pregnancies, and are more likely to access equal opportunities and participate fully in society. UNICEF and partners have recently launched the ‘Improving Maternal Nutrition Acceleration Plan’, designed to prevent anaemia and malnutrition in pregnant women, with the plan to reach a total of 16 million woman in 16 countries with a package of essential nutrition services by the end of 2025.

How can you make a difference? 

The School Age Children, Adolescents and Women Nutrition Unit within the Nutrition & Child Development Section at UNICEF HQ are seeking two motivated interns to support these two growing areas of work – one intern to support the school-age children and adolescents nutrition agenda and one intern to support the maternal nutrition agenda.

Main duties and responsibilities:

• To support the school-age children and adolescent nutrition/childhood obesity prevention/maternal nutrition agendas
• To support with the preparation of briefs, materials and reports for donors
• To aid with the compilation, organization and dissemination of knowledge within the unit.
• To assist in organizing events and meetings with other UN organizations and other external partners.
• To contribute to the development of publications and the development of professional presentations
• To develop skills in strategic planning, cross-section team collaboration, and external partnerships. 

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will … 

• Be enrolled in a graduate degree program relevant to nutrition and global public health or be a recent graduate. Applicants who have graduated within the past two years are considered recent graduates.
• Have excellent academic performance demonstrated by recent university or institution records.
• Have excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Be fluent in English (both writing and speaking). Proficiency in another UN working language is desirable.

Other desirable skills:

• Demonstrated interest in school-age children and adolescent nutrition, maternal nutrition, childhood overweight & obesity prevention, non-communicable diseases, and/or food systems preferred (e.g., volunteer work, academic work).
• Strong attention to detail to produce professional quality work.
• Knowledge of global health and nutrition programming preferred.
• Initiative, flexibility, and willingness to learn.
• Additional consideration will be given to any past professional experience.

How to Apply

Interested individuals are requested to submit the following documents:

• Online application & CV

• A cover Letter indicating which agenda you would prefer to be considered for – you may indicate both if you wish – and explain your relevant experience, skills, and academic background.

• Letter of verification from college or university proving current or recent enrollment
• A copy of the most recent university transcript
• Copy of Identification Card (ID)
• One letter of signed recommendation on letterhead or from professional email address
• Certification of health insurance covering the full internship period

Benefits to Intern:

• Enhanced skills in nutrition programming, policy, and communication/advocacy strategies.
• Increased knowledge of monitoring and assessing nutrition programming and interventions in program countries.
• Familiarity with the objectives, structure, and activities of UNICEF’s Nutrition & Child Development Section.
• Attendance of internal UNICEF seminars, lectures, and workshops at UNICEF, will provide an opportunity to meet leading public health experts and reflect upon issues, trends and strategies shaping contemporary global health and nutrition policies and practice.
• Increased knowledge of the role played by UNICEF in the implementation and monitoring of nutrition programs and policies, with a focus on the school-age children and adolescent nutrition/childhood obesity prevention/maternal nutrition.
• To gain exposure to UNICEF’s organizational and working environment.

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’s active commitment towards diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children.

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. 

There is no expectancy of employment at the end of this internship