Social Policy Intern, Beirut, Lebanon (2 months)

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, an advocate

Lebanon is still grappling today with one of its worst crises since decades as the economic situation continues to deepen, adding further pressures on already weak public institutions and weighing down on public finances/resources and social protection.

In terms of social protection, the current system is highly fragmented and defined by a number of characteristics that makes it inefficient, ineffective, and inequitable, leaving a significant part of the population unprotected, especially with the lack of sustained social assistance programmes to vulnerable households. The fragmentation of several uncoordinated and parallel systems, and the lack of cross-sector coordination and dialogues has led to a number of weaknesses including the absence of a national framework or strategy. As such, there is an urgent need to develop the national social protection system, especially in the absence of any policy or legal framework.

Decades of weak public finance management have affected the lives of almost all citizens, and more specifically the poorest and socially excluded. As the situation of vulnerable individuals in Lebanon continues to worsen, including children, it is important to support government in maximizing resources for disadvantaged and vulnerable groups, prioritizing children’s issues, and allowing access to social services.

How can you make a difference?

The objective of this internship is for you to contribute to UNICEF’s work in relation to the social protection agenda and public finance management activities, in response to requests on ad-hoc and needs-led basis.

Scope of Work:

1. **Social Protection****: UNICEF has been leading the technical support to the Government of Lebanon – Ministry of Social Affairs in moving toward a national social protection framework since 2019.
2. **Public finance management****: UNICEF has identified Public Finance for Children (PF4C) as a priority area of engagement, with the aim of making children more visible in the national budget.

Deliverables:

As an intern you will contribute to UNICEF’s work in relation to the social protection agenda and public finance management activities throughout the duration of the assignment:

• Support in ongoing work on the development of the national social protection strategy.
• Support in analysis of public finances including government revenues, expenditures and public debt, with a particular focus on social spending.
• Support in analysis of national budget proposals, including the impact of new measures and policy decisions, with a particular focus on social line ministries.
• Support in ongoing work with the Institute of Finance under the project related to enhancing budget transparency, accountability and inclusiveness in Lebanon.
• Support in ongoing partnerships with CSOs, NGOs and thinktanks that aim to advocate for social justice and social protection, and to inform and shape the policy debate on social policies.
• Take minutes of meetings, and compile data and information on subject matters relevant to the work to facilitate preparation of reports, working papers, and presentations when necessary.

The supervisor together with other team members will provide training and guidance.

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

• Enrolled in a degree programme in an undergraduate or graduate school in one of the following fields: Economics, Public Finance Management, Public Policy and/or Administration, Social Sciences and other relevant disciplines. Or have graduated within the past 2 years
• Excellent academic performance as demonstrated by recent university or institution records.
• Excellent written communication skills.
• Good knowledge of MS Office and computer skills (MS applications, especially Word, Publisher and Excel).
• Strong command of English is essential. Knowledge of Arabic and/or French is considered an asset.
• A high level of individual responsibility, commitment and initiative.
• Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

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.

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

Click here to learn more about UNICEF’s values and competencies.

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.