UNICEF is offering two valuable internship opportunities based in New York for students and recent graduates looking to gain hands-on experience in education and financial management within an international development context. These internships are part of the Education Cannot Wait (ECW) Secretariat, a global fund hosted by UNICEF that supports education during emergencies and protracted crises.
Internship Opportunities at UNICEF – Education Cannot Wait Secretariat
1. Grants Management Internship
This role involves providing technical and operational support across various grant processes under the supervision of the Chief of Finance and Operations and Programme Funding Manager. Interns will manage grants-related data, track reporting from grantees, organize documentation, support assurance activities like audits, and facilitate internal knowledge management.
Key Responsibilities:
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Manage grants data in the ECW Grants Database.
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Organize grant documents, including contracts and reports.
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Track and monitor grantee report submissions and approvals.
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Support grant-making by coordinating information and answering inquiries.
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Summarize assurance activity reports and recommend actions.
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Maintain and improve the ECW internal knowledge management platform.
2. Programme Development and Quality Control Internship
This position supports ECW’s Programme Development & Quality Team, focusing on program management, quality assurance, and monitoring of education programmes under First Emergency Response (FER) and Multi-Year Resilience Programme (MYRP) investment windows. The intern will assist with program design, documentation review, data analysis, stakeholder communication, and coordination.
Key Responsibilities:
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Assist in planning and coordinating programme portfolios under FER and MYRP.
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Review and ensure quality assurance of partner-submitted reports and documentation.
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Support monitoring and evaluation by collecting and analyzing programme data.
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Maintain programme information systems and facilitate knowledge sharing.
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Help prepare reports, presentations, and materials for stakeholder engagement.
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Provide administrative support for meetings, workshops, and consultations.
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Assist with logistical support and document management related to funding processes.
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Track deadlines and progress for programme cycles and funding applications.
Eligibility and Application Criteria
Applicants must:
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Be enrolled in undergraduate or graduate studies, or have graduated within the past two years.
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Have a strong academic background preferably in business administration, international humanitarian development, accounting, financial management, information management, data science, social statistics, or related social sciences with quantitative emphasis.
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Be at least 18 years old.
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Demonstrate high proficiency in English; French fluency (DELF B2 or above) is highly desirable.
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Have excellent academic performance.
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Have no immediate relatives working at UNICEF or in the line of authority they will report to.
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Comply with UNICEF Child Safeguarding Standards.
Internship Details
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Duration: Preferred minimum of six months, starting between October and November 2025.
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Location: Primarily home-based (remote) with flexible full-time hours (35 hours/week) arranged with supervisors.
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Stipend: USD 1,700 per month for New York-based interns.
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Time off: Up to 2.5 days off per month; additional absences reduce stipend.
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Diversity and inclusion are strongly encouraged, especially applications from ECW programme countries.
UNICEF’s Commitment and Values
UNICEF’s core values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability guide their work. The organization promotes a diverse, inclusive, and respectful workplace culture. Flexible working arrangements and comprehensive benefits, including parental leave and accommodations for persons with disabilities, are offered.
UNICEF maintains strict zero tolerance for misconduct, including sexual exploitation, harassment, abuse of authority, and discrimination. All candidates undergo rigorous vetting and background checks before appointment, including verifying vaccination status and academic credentials.
Application Deadline
Applications are open until October 7, 2025, Eastern Daylight Time. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for further selection stages.
For detailed information and to apply, visit UNICEF’s official careers portal.
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