Job Opportunity: Internship – Social Policy at UNICEF

UNICEF works in 190 countries and territories to protect the rights of every child. UNICEF has spent 70 years working to improve the lives of children and their families. Defending children’s rights throughout their lives requires a global presence, aiming to produce results and understand their effects. UNICEF believes all children have a right to survive, thrive and fulfill their potential – to the benefit of a better world.

For every child, sustenance.

UNICEF has been working in Cameroon since 1975 to allow women and children to fully realize their rights to development without restriction, as enshrined in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. UNICEF provides financial and technical support to Cameroon across seven areas to fully realize the rights of women and children. These areas include Health, HIV/AIDS, Water-sanitation-Hygiene, nutrition, education, child protection, and social inclusion. UNICEF focuses mainly on children and the most vulnerable and excluded families. Cameroon’s 2020 population is estimated at 26,545,863 people according to UN data. The population is young and generates strong socioeconomic demand. In rural areas, limited access to basic social services and the effects of climate changes lead to household impoverishment and severe child deprivations. The task is immense but not insurmountable; it requires the energy of all stakeholders in Cameroon and out of Cameroon: also, women, men, youth and children, government, technical and financial partners, donors, civil society, the private sector, parliamentarians, communities. Everyone is invited to take part in the struggle to meet the challenges that lie ahead. Together, we will act for Cameroon, a country that summarizes the challenges and hopes of Africa.

To learn more about UNICEF Cameroon, use the below

link  https://unicef.sharepoint.com/sites/CMR/SitePages/AboutUs.aspx

How can you make a difference?

UNICEF Cameroon is looking for interns to support the Social Policy section in general guidance and direction as well as be responsible for supporting stages of social policy programming and related advocacy from strategic planning to the formulation of delivery of concrete and sustainable results. This includes programs aimed at improving public policies to reduce child poverty; social protection coverage and impact on children; the transparency, adequacy, equity, and efficiency of child-focused public investments and financial management; and (d) governance, decentralization, and accountability measures to increase public participation and the quality, equity, and coverage of social services.

This may involve:

• Establish the section’s annual work plan with the social policy team. Set priorities and targets and monitor work progress to ensure results are achieved according to schedule and performance standards
• Oversees the collection, analysis, and user-friendly presentation of data on multidimensional and monetary child poverty, including strengthening national capacity to collect routinely, report, and use data for policy decision-making.
• Provides timely, regular data-driven analysis for effective prioritization, planning, and development; facilitates results-based management for planning, adjusting, and scaling-up specific social policy initiatives to reduce child poverty. 
• Analyzes the macroeconomic context and its impact on social development, emerging issues, and social policy concerns, as well as implications for children, and proposes and promotes appropriate responses in respect of such issues and concerns, including government resource allocation policies and the effect of social welfare policies on the rights of children
• Collaborates with the central and local authorities to strengthen capacity on quality data collection, analysis for policy development, planning, implementation, coordination, and monitoring of essential social services, with emphasis on community participation and accountability.
• Ensures effective and efficient planning, management, coordination, monitoring, and evaluation of the country programme. Ensures that the social planning project enhances policy dialogue, planning, supervision, technical advice, management, training, research, and support; and that the monitoring and evaluation component strengthens monitoring and evaluation of the social sectors and provides support to sectoral and decentralized information systems
• Identifies policy options for improved domestic financing of child-sensitive social protection interventions

As an advocate for every child, you will have…

• Current enrollment in a degree program at the Bachelor’s or master’s level or recent graduate (up to 2 years) in Economics, Public Policy, Social Sciences, International Relations, Political Science, or another relevant technical field
• Fluency in French and English is required
• Intermediate to advanced knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
• Knowledge of e-learning authoring tools is an asset
• Ability to work in a team environment
• Strong commitment and drive for results demonstrated
• Background and/or familiarity with emergency
• Eligible applicants must be Non-Cameroon Nationals
• The selected intern will be required to provide proof of enrollment in a health/accident plan prior to taking up the assignment.

Contract Duration and Terms

• This contract is for a 6-month duration, full-time.
• Intern is expected to work at Yaounde Cameroon Country Office
• The anticipated start date of this internship is 15 February 2023.
• This internship is paid with a stipend of net XAF 350,000 / Month
• Maximum 40 working hours per week are possible
• Individuals must have proof of medical insurance covering their time at the duty station
• Individuals are personally responsible for obtaining any required visa or residence permit, covering the entire period of their internship
• The office will cover a one-round travel trip, for interns selected from outside of the commuting distance of the duty station.
• 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

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s Core Values ​​of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability (CRITA) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get Acquainted with Our Values ​​Charter:  https://uni.cf/UNICEFValues

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.

To view our competency framework, please visit:  https://uni.cf/Competencies

During the recruitment process, candidates may be tested following the competency framework. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels:  UNICEF’s Competency Framework here .

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

Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

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  A diverse and inclusive workforce  to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

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 will be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Appointments are also subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (COVID).