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Remote (home-based) internship with Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia in Geneva: "Generating behavioural insights for COVID-19 in Europe and Central Asia". Dates: 17 May 2021 – 17 August 2021

Geneva

  • Organization: UNICEF - United Nations Children’s Fund
  • Location: Geneva
  • Grade: Internship - Internship
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Public Health and Health Service
    • Social Affairs
    • Ebola
    • Malaria, Tuberculosis and other infectious diseases
  • Closing Date: Closed

Communication for Development (C4D) Section of the UNICEF Europe and Central Asia Regional Office is looking for a home-based intern to generate behavioural insights for COVID-19 in Europe and Central Asia.

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,  empowerment

 

Remote (home-based) internship: 17 May 2021 – 17 August 2021 

Office and Section: Unicef Europe and Central Asia Regional Office, Communication for Development (C4D)

Reporting lines: Regional C4D Specialist, in close collaboration with the Regional Advisor, Communication for Development

 

1. Context  

The UNICEF Europe and Central Asia and Regional Office (ECARO) supports work in 22 countries[1], coordinating regional efforts and supporting the local efforts of Country Offices across the region.  Since the start of the outbreak in December 2019, the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has spread across the ECA countries and territories. When comparing the data between August and September 2020, ten ECA countries recorded increases in the number of monthly COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people. This rise may be attributed to the return of children to classrooms in some countries, increased indoor gatherings and the relaxation of physical distancing and other preventive measures.

In September 2020, Montenegro registered the highest number of infections in all of the ECA region, with 905 cases per 100,000 people compared to 260 cases in the previous month.  Other countries recording surge in cases were Moldova (378), Bosnia and Herzegovina (224), Armenia (223), Romania (198), Ukraine (198), North Macedonia (166), Croatia (151), Georgia (118).

The COVID-19 virus appears to behave similarly across countries, yet the specific social, cultural, and behavioural drivers of the disease differ and in many contexts are not yet fully known.  At the same time, country responses to their epidemics significantly affect the duration and severity of the immediate, primary impact as well as the secondary impacts. Children are not the ‘face’ of the pandemic, but the impacts on them, though widely differing, risk being catastrophic and long-lasting - even extending to the next generation. Identifying the social and behavioural drivers that help or hinder the containment measures and helping build social trust are also important and best done through consultation with children, families, and communities.  And this will help to focus the discourse on whether to reproduce or transform systems.  

Available data on social, cultural and behavioural realities and reactions must be shared as quickly as possible with those developing response plans and support. Tracking perceptions and reactions during the pandemic is also important to assure relevance and a solid foundation for recovery and building back better. As important as understanding the realities and sharing the information is tackling misinformation, myths, and rumours.

In alignment with this agenda, UNICEF ECARO builds and strengthens partnerships in the region to enhance the generation, systematization and integration of existing data on factors that influence the behaviours of individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic and behavioural patterns, as they are instrumental to improve the planning, implementation and evaluation of Risk Communication and Community Engagement interventions in the region. Establishing mechanisms for fruitful collaboration with academic institutions is an important implementation strategy of this agenda, and this internship is intended to develop the groundwork for this collaboration.  

2. Purpose of the internship 

The purpose of this internship is to engage with recent graduates / students to continue strengthening Social and Behavioral Change in the region by generating analytical and knowledge products. 

This internship will provide the successful candidate an exposure to the working environment of a multilateral organization and a better understanding of UNICEF’s mandate to safeguard the rights of every child, everywhere, including in middle- and high-income countries. It will also provide an exceptional opportunity to support UNICEF in developing and rolling out a strategy to strengthen COVID-19 Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) at a regional level.  

3. Expected results 

The internship will aim at doing an analysis to identify behavioural drivers and track change as a result of RCCE interventions. This will entail reviewing regional research reports, evidence emerging from feedback mechanisms and other tools (such as the HealthBuddy+ chatbot; U-Report). The intern will work to develop regional dashboard(s) to present the situation in the region by various behavioural indicators, and capture trends whenever possible. This analysis will make use of disaggregated data (by sex, disability, migratory status, geographic location, socioeconomic status, ethnicity or other possibilities) to shed light on disparities in compliance with COVID-19 public health measures. The intern will support the preparation of Country Profiles based on the analysis conducted. Expected deliverables: dashboard(s) and analytical reports.

Programme Support

The intern may assist in research, data analysis, preparation of draft reports and summaries, participate in (tele-) meetings, prepare minutes and ensure rapid and diligent follow-up to meetings and discussions.

Depending on time availability, the intern will support other work related to the generation of knowledge products making use of available data. In particular, the preparation of a regional dashboard using existing data in UNICEF ECARO data warehouse, and other sources, to monitor the situation of children in a cross-country comparative manner.

4. Organization of the internship 

Within the scope of the expected results described above, the specific tasks during the internship may be slightly adapted, based on the capacities, skills, expertise and motivation of the intern.

The intern will work closely with the Regional C4D Specialist in UNICEF ECARO who will serve as main focal point. A work plan will be developed during the first week to specify key deadlines and deliverables.  

5. Working conditions 

The intern will work full-time remotely with the UNICEF ECARO in Geneva, Switzerland, and will be governed by and subject to UNICEF’s General Terms and Conditions for interns. 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. Working hours of the duty station are: from 9 a.m. till 06:00 p.m. Geneva time. Intern should be available online during given hours for any meetings/team discussions and would normally adopt those hours as working hours unless due to a time difference other hours are agreed with the hiring section during an interview.

A monthly remuneration will be provided by ECARO in accordance with UNICEF policies.

Interns are not staff members. Notwithstanding this status, interns shall observe all applicable rules, regulations, instructions and procedures and directives of UNICEF.

Interns shall respect the impartiality and independence required of UNICEF and shall not seek nor accept instructions regarding the services performed under the internship agreement from any Government or from any authority external to UNICEF.

Unless otherwise authorized by the hiring office, interns may not communicate at any time to the media or to any institution, person, government or any external source any information which has become known to them by reasons of their association with UNICEF. They may not use any such information without the written authorization, and such information may never be used for personal gain. These obligations do not lapse after the end of the internship.

Interns shall refrain from any conduct that would adversely reflect on UNICEF and not engage in any activity which is incompatible with the aims and objectives of UNICEF.

Interns 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 internship or appointment for unused leave days at the end of the internship.

The UNICEF internship programme is not connected with employment and there is no expectancy of such. Interns cannot apply for posts advertised internally to UNICEF staff during the period of internship. 

6. General Eligibility Requirements for Internship with UNICEF 

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

  • Be enrolled in an undergraduate, graduate or Ph.D. degree programme or have graduated within the past two years (refer to the "Education" section under qualifications for a specific requirement for this internship).
  • Applicants must be at least 18 years old.
  • Be proficient in at least one of UNICEF's working languages. Fluency in the working language of the office you are applying to is required. (refer to the "Language Proficiency" for a specific requirement for this internship).
  • 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 which the intern will report to.

Individuals must demonstrate strong academic performance through recent university or institution records.

Additional consideration will be given for any past experience.

7. Qualifications 

Education: 

Enrolled or recently graduated in a field of social phycology or sociology. Studying towards PhD or PhD diploma will be an asset. 

Working experience: in data analyses, social sciences, behavioural insights/economics, anthropology, business, economics, public health or similar discipline.  

Skills required: 

  • Strong research and analytical skills, including the ability to distil lengthy and often complex content into brief summaries; 
  • Strong skills in data analysis, including mastering of adequate software packages for the purpose, for example: R, SPSS, Stata, etc; 
  • Strong communication skills, written English skills, and ability to write clearly, succinctly and for a variety of audiences; 
  • Knowledge of standard Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint) and computer skills such as SharePoint; 
  • Knowledge of child rights and UNICEF’s engagement strategy globally and in the region. 

It will be an asset to have:

  • Strong skills in data visualization, including mastering of any adequate software packages/languages for the purpose, for example: PowerBI, Tableau, Dash, etc; 

 Functional competencies:  

  • Demonstrate initiative, creativity and enthusiasm;
  • Able to work well in a team environment and relate to diverse staff;
  • Ability to quickly understand instructions, ask for clarification when needed, adapt and work independently to produce results on time;
  • Be enthusiastic, creative and happy to take and learn from feedback.

 Language proficiency: 

  • Fluent in English, spoken and written is required. Knowledge of Russian language is an asset.


[1] Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, BiH, Bulgaria, Croatia, Georgia, Greece, Kazakhstan, Kosovo (UNSCR 1244), Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan.

 

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) 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. Interns are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws. Selected candidate will be required to provide a proof of medical and accident coverage valid for the duration of the internship and will be asked to complete the mandatory online trainings. 

 

This vacancy is now closed.
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