Internship Communications & Advocacy, London, UK, Education Outcomes Fund (EOF), 6 months, REMOTE, Req: 563616

Contract

This is a Internship contract. It usually requires 0 years of experience, depending on education. More about Internship contracts.

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, OPPORTUNITY

There are few greater challenges faced by the global community than the twin crises of learning poverty and youth unemployment. In response, the Education Commission (chaired by Gordon Brown, former UK Prime Minister and UN Special Envoy for Global Education) and the Global Steering Group for Impact Investment (chaired by Sir Ronald Cohen) came together to create EOF. We aim to improve the education and employment outcomes of 10 million children and youth by supporting governments to utilize a range of innovative finance instruments at scale, including outcomes funds and other results-based financing (RBF) instruments.

EOF supports improvements in the quality of education and skills programs, with a special focus on underserved populations, including the hardest to reach, rural populations, girls, children with disabilities, and refugees. It measures (and pays for) what matters – both core skills like literacy and numeracy, but also critical 21st Century skills such as socio-emotional skills, ICT skills, and other broader fundamentals of a quality education. It helps close the persistent gap between the skills needed by employers and those attained by today’s youth by paying for employment and retention outcomes.

For all the above, EOF pays primarily on the basis of the results achieved, ensuring that taxpayer-funded domestic resources, aid, and philanthropic funds are only used to pay for what works. This is a game-changing way to finance results in education. It is more than just a fund – it is a powerful new set of partnerships and way of working.

Together with our supporters, we believe this is the early stages of a much larger movement. Our approach is at the cutting edge of development finance, shifting risk to the private sector, crowding in private capital, and harnessing the capacity and capability of non-state actors, with huge potential to achieve better outcomes for children and youth around the world.

How can you make a difference?

Purpose of the assignment

The Communications & Advocacy intern will become a core part of EOF’s communications and advocacy team and support the team with all aspects of our external communications. The intern will report directly to the Head of Communications. You will also collaborate with all members of the EOF team.

DESCRIPTION OF ASSIGNMENT (TASKS)

Responsibilities will include, but not be limited to, the following -

• Develop external communications material, including articles, website content, and social media content, showcasing EOF, and driving reach and engagement.
• Provide editorial support through proofreading external communications assets produced across EOF teams.
• Provide logistical support for in-person and virtual EOF events and convenings. This includes external communications, event preparation and execution.
• Support the communications team to build relationships with peer organizations and potential partners through, for example, participating in calls and webinars and managing key communications with external parties.
• Advance the communications team’s internal co-ordination of cross-team projects and tasks through regular engagement with colleagues in other EOF teams.
• Write proposals and prepare pitch materials to promote EOF to potential partners and fundraising prospects. This could include, for example, narrative on the broader innovative finance eco-system and where EOF fits in.
• Prepare supporting materials to be presented at quarterly governance meetings with our board and our Communications and Advocacy sub-committee.

The majority of EOF’s team are London-based, and candidates may need to be available during a significant portion of UK working hours (to be determined on a case-by-case basis). Remote and hybrid working options will be considered. Please note that EOF cannot currently sponsor interns to work in the UK.

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

• Enrolled in a degree programme in an undergraduate or graduate school, or a recent graduate (within the last 2 years).
• Excellent academic performance as demonstrated by recent university or institution records.
• Excellent written skills. You can convey complex ideas clearly and engagingly and you can adjust your style to reach a variety of different audiences.
• At least 18 years old.
• 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.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset. Proficiency in French, Spanish or Arabic is desirable.

Desirable:

• Ability to thrive in a high-energy, fast-paced and entrepreneurial organization. Start-up experience would be an advantage.
• Ability to manage a high workload in a fast-paced environment, with strong attention to detail and a high bar for quality; manage concurrent timelines, independently prioritize tasks and work.
• Additional consideration will be given for any relevant communications and/or advocacy experience. Experience implementing communications strategies in a complex or international environment, and experience with digital channels and web design is desirable.
• A degree in a relevant subject, such as communications, international development, political science, education, or a related field, would be preferred.
• Experience or an interest in international development, the global education sector, and international aid is desirable.

We have a global mandate and a global team, with staff based across most continents. However, the majority of our team are London-based, and candidates may need to be available during a significant portion of UK working hours (to be determined on a case-by-case basis). Remote and hybrid working options will be considered. Please note that EOF cannot currently sponsor interns to work in the UK.

A stipend will be provided for the duration of the internship, which will be determined based on the location of the successful candidate according to current UNICEF rules and regulations.

The internship is expected to start on Monday 04 September 2023 and finish on Friday 01 March 2024. Please note that candidates who cannot commit to a six-month internship, working full-time, cannot be considered for the positions.

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.

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. For this position, eligible and suitable candidates from all nationalities, gender, cultures, and religions are encouraged to apply.

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.