Internship - Immunization Unit, Health Section, PD, New York HQ - Requisition #512476

The UNICEF Internship Programme offers eligible/qualified students at both Headquarters and country offices the opportunity to acquire direct practical experience in UNICEF's work under the direct supervision of experienced UNICEF staff. This internship is for the purpose of acquiring technical knowledge in specific areas of UNICEF’s work and includes organizational knowledge of rules, regulations and processes to supplement academic and theoretical knowledge.

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 UNICEF Internship Programme offers qualified and eligible students at both Headquarters (HQ) and Country Offices (CO) the unique opportunity to acquire direct practical experience in UNICEF's work and the United Nations system under the direct supervision of experienced UNICEF staff.

The UNICEF Internship Programme offers eligible/qualified students at both Headquarters and country offices the opportunity to acquire direct practical experience in UNICEF's work under the direct supervision of experienced UNICEF staff. This internship is for the purpose of acquiring technical knowledge in specific areas of UNICEF’s work and includes organizational knowledge of rules, regulations and processes to supplement academic and theoretical knowledge.

UNICEF's revised Core Commitments for Children in Emergencies (CCCs) make a clear and specific reference to the importance of adopting a human rights-based approach to programming in humanitarian action (HRBAP). The CCCs put children and women at the center of humanitarian action, as active participants rather than recipients of assistance and recognize the additional challenges of applying HRBAP in complex humanitarian situations.

During humanitarian crises children's exposure to rights violations can increase dramatically as a result of the increased instability and insecurity that ensues. This can include direct consequences of crises, such as unlawful recruitment, sexual violence, killing and maiming, as well as indirect consequences, such as the loss of basic services and the rise of poverty, malnutrition and disease. One of the most urgent tasks during crises -when often government, community and family protection mechanisms break down- is to protect children's rights. Providing humanitarian life-saving assistance in the face of human rights deprivations, without also providing protection from attack, persecution and/or other human rights violations or deprivations is not enough.

How can you make a difference?

Under the guidance of the Health Specialist, the intern will assist through updated academic knowledge and valuable skills in researching, collecting, analyzing and presenting technical program information, while learning about the global immunization programme during humanitarian emergencies. The intern will also gain knowledge of UNICEF’s role and procedures to support the development and implementation of the immunization activities following CCC’s. This internship will be office-based, at UNICEF Health Section, Programme Division in New York, with the intern providing 100% of time to the assignment. The intern will be provided with office space and office access badge. 

Support in evidence generation

Support in conducting data analysis and development of report on the utility and challenges of a rights-based approach to improve equity in childhood immunisation during humanitarian emergencies and countries affected by conflict. Specific areas for analysis will include but not be limited to:

1. Current inequities in immunization in humanitarian emergencies and in conflict affected countries
2. The legal significance of health (immunization) equity based on Convention on the rights of the child and international human right to health
3. Child rights obligations that stem from the right to health and its encompassing right to equity in access to childhood immunizations
4. The integration of right to health-based principles within global immunization policy
5. The creation of an ‘enabling environment’ for the realization of the right

To qualify as a champion for every child you will have…

• Be enrolled in an undergraduate, graduate or Ph.D. degree programme or have graduated within the past two years in the area of Political Science, International relations, Humanitarian studies, or Public Health;
• Have excellent academic performance as demonstrated by recent university or institution records; 
• Completed at least two years of full-time studies of the undergraduate degree;
• Excellent academic performance, as demonstrated by academic records;
• Previous work experience in research is an asset;
• Be proficient in at least one of UNICEF’s working languages: English, French, Spanish, Russian, Mandarin or Arabic. Additional language requirements may apply.

Location

The intern will be based in the office in New York. It is not expected that the intern will travel during the assignment period. UNICEF is not responsible for obtaining any necessary visas.

Duration 
This will be a part time / full time internship, the duration will be for 8-10 weeks, with an ideal start date of 1^st June 2018 and an opportunity to extend if desirable to the section.

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 enrolment in a health/accident plan prior to start his/her work with the Section.

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

Living Conditions and Working Environment

The intern will work at UNICEF House, New York.  S/he will work with the Health Section and report to the supervisor of this internship. S/he is not expected to travel out of this duty station during the assignment. A flexible workspace will be provided. The intern will be expected to participate in section meetings, as well as other UNICEF meetings of interest to the student, including the seminar series for UNICEF interns. Guidance will be provided on a regular basis.

Deadline

The deadline for applications will be 3^rd May 2018. The section will review the applications and schedule a short phone interview with the shortlisted candidates.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

Our core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results. To view our competency framework, please click here.

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

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.