Internship: Supporting the dissemination of the Parenting Program messaging on mass media

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,

The main mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child everywhere. More specifically UNICEF's programmes promote equity and target the children and families who are most disadvantaged and excluded. UNICEF Lao PDR Country Office works with government and civil society organizations to ensure that the child rights and the mandate as outlined in the Convention on the Rights of the Child is fulfilled and contributes towards the country’s development programmes.

Early childhood development (ECD) is one of key programme areas of the current UNICEF Lao PDR country programme cycle 2022-2026. While Laos has made significant advances in health and social outcomes for children over the past decade, challenges still exist. Twenty-seven percent of children under the age of 5 years are underweight, and 36% are stunted. Child mortality remains high at 88 deaths per 1,000 live births, and immunization coverage remains low. Over three quarters of children aged 2 to 14 years are subject to at least one form of psychological or physical aggression from an adult in their household, and almost 40% of the population has no sanitation facilities. Only 51% of children aged 3-4 years are enrolled in early childhood education (ECE) programmes while enrolment among 5-year-olds is 82.8%. This puts children at risk of repeating Grade 1 and dropping out. Moreover, aggregate data hide substantial geographical, gender, social and ethnic disparities. Children from rural areas, girls and children from non-Lao-Thai ethnic groups fare more poorly than other children across health, nutrition, education and protection indicators; social exclusion is an ongoing barrier for children and families affected by disability.

In response to this situation, UNICEF has been working with relevant ministries of the Lao PDR Government to develop and support parenting education and ECD programmes. Recognizing the impact that parents and caregivers can have on the first years of their children’s lives and their future cognitive, social and emotional development, UNICEF Laos has committed to working with the Lao Women’s Union (LWU) and other Government counterparts and development partners to develop and deliver a parenting education package Love and Care for Every Child (LCEC) that empowers and motivates parents to adopt healthy behaviors that contribute to their children’s optimal development.

How can you make a difference?

UNICEF Lao PDR Country Office is looking for an Intern to support the dissemination of the Parenting Program messaging on mass media.

Under the direct supervision of the Social and Behavior Change Specialist and the intern will undertake the following tasks:

• Assist in the planning, implementation, monitoring and reporting of the dissemination of Parenting Program messaging activities through mass media of Lao’s Women Union.
• Prepare/ revise relevant parenting information disaggregated data for the targeted districts and villages, with the use and expansion of innovation;
• Assist in the collection, analysis and revision of indicators, databases and tools for monitoring programme progress.

Results/Expected Outputs:

• Assist the social and behavior change specialist and M&E focal point on the coordination, monitoring of activities and organization of events;
• Data interpretation, reporting and presentation on the related M&E,
• Contribute to documentation of activities, and submit for publications, social media/websites, newsletters.
• Under supervisor’s guidance, assist in weekly tasks that contribute to the outputs for Social and Behaviour Change Communication (SBCC).

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

• Enrolled in a degree programme in an undergraduate or graduate school, or be a recent graduate;
• Applicants must be at least 18 years old.
• Proficient in at least one of UNICEF’s working languages: English, French or Spanish and fluent in the working language of the office they are applying to;
• Have excellent academic performance as demonstrated by recent university or institution records.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA).

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

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.