UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff diverse opportunities for professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture.., coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

UNICEF has been the leading child-rights organization, and a respected partner, for saving and improving children’s lives. In Ghana, UNICEF cooperates with the Government and other partners to advocate for the protection of children's rights, to ensure equitable access to quality social services, and to expand children’s opportunities to reach their full potential. With offices in Accra and Tamale, the UNICEF team seeks to achieve results in strategic programme areas. The overall goal is for every child to survive and thrive, to live in a safe and clean environment, to learn, to be protected from violence and exploitation, and to have an equitable chance in life. The current Country Programme of cooperation is aligned with the Government priorities, the UN Sustainable Development Framework (UNSDF) and Key Results for Children (KRCs) in the West and Central African Region (immunization, nutrition, learning outcomes, ending violence and open defecation). UNICEF main strategies include evidence-based advocacy, system strengthening, integrated programming across sectors, emergency preparedness and response, and innovation.

Kindly click on the link https://www.unicef.org/ghana/ to know more about what we do.

How can you make a difference?

The Advocacy and Communication section plays a key role in advancing the organization’s mandate by shaping public narratives, strengthening visibility, and supporting advocacy goals through strategic communication. Media engagement is central to ensuring that key messages reach target audiences effectively.

The purpose of the internship is to support UNICEF Ghana's advocacy work by conducting research, generating evidence, and analyzing policy and development trends to inform advocacy strategies and decision-making. The intern will contribute to research on key priority areas, including child rights, education, health, climate change, plastic pollution, and water systems, while supporting stakeholder mapping, policy analysis, knowledge management, and the development of evidence-based advocacy products such as briefs, presentations, and reports.

Tasks to be completed

Research and Evidence Generation

Conduct desk reviews and literature reviews on priority advocacy issues.
Gather and analyze data from national, regional, and global sources.
Monitor emerging trends, policy developments, and legislative processes relevant to advocacy priorities.
Support the development of evidence summaries, fact sheets, and briefing notes.

Policy and Stakeholder Analysis

Assist in mapping key stakeholders, influencers, and decision-makers.
Support analysis of policies, laws, budgets, and government commitments.
Track progress on national and international development commitments.

Knowledge Management

Maintain advocacy research databases and repositories.
Organize research findings and support documentation.
Support the preparation of presentations, reports, and knowledge products.

Advocacy Planning and Monitoring

Assist in monitoring advocacy activities and documenting outcomes.
Support the collection of data for advocacy indicators and reporting.
Contribute to the preparation of advocacy progress reports and updates.

Communication Support

Translate research findings into accessible advocacy messages.
Support the development of presentations, talking points, and policy briefs.
Assist in preparing content for advocacy campaigns and stakeholder engagement activities.

The intern may support research, evidence generation, and policy analysis related to UNICEF Ghana's advocacy priorities, including:

Birth registration and legal identity.
Foundational learning.
Health and nutrition commodities.
Child rights, social protection, and youth engagement.

Emerging and Cross-Cutting Advocacy Areas

The intern may additionally support research and analysis on emerging environmental and climate-related issues affecting children and vulnerable populations, including:

Climate Change and Children's Rights,
Plastic Pollution
Environmental Health, Water Systems,
WASH and Water Security.

Expected Deliverables

Produce literature reviews and research summaries on assigned topics.
Develop stakeholder mapping and policy analysis reports.
Support the drafting of policy briefs, presentations, and evidence-based advocacy materials.
Maintain an updated repository of advocacy-related research and data.

Supervision and Reporting Arrangement

The intern will work under the supervision of and report to the Chief of Advocacy and Communication, and in close coordination with the Advocacy and Communication team members.

Payment and Payment Schedule

Interns not receiving stipends from governmental or non-governmental bodies will receive a monthly stipend.

Status

•Interns are not considered staff members. Notwithstanding this status, they shall observe all applicable rules, regulations, instructions and procedures and directives of UNICEF.

•Interns shall not be sought or accepted as substitutes for staff to be recruited against posts.

•Interns shall respect the impartiality and independence required of UNICEF and shall not seek or accept instructions regarding the services performed under the internship agreement from any Government or from any authority, external to UNICEF.

•Unless otherwise authorized by the receiving office/division, interns may not communicate at any time to the media or to any institution, person, Government or any external source any information which has become known to them by reasons of their association with UNICEF. They may not use any such information without the written authorization, and such information may never be used for personal gain. These obligations do not lapse after the end of the internship.

•Interns shall refrain from any conduct that would adversely reflect on UNICEF and not engage in any activity which is incompatible with the aims and objectives of UNICEF.

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

Minimum requirements:

Education:

•Proof of enrolment in an undergraduate or advanced degree programme in a reference letter from school confirming student requires internship or Up-to-date university transcript or Statement of result/certificate evidencing completion of a degree within the last two years (if applicable).

•Applicants must be at least 18 years old.

•Academic background in Communications, Journalism, International Relations, International Development, Public Administration, Public Health, and related disciplines.

•Demonstrated ability in report writing qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis.

•Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) and/or local language(s) is an asset.

•Have no relatives (father, mother, brother or sister) working in any UNICEF office.

•Have no other relatives in the line of authority which the intern will report to.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

The 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

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). 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 based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. 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, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks:

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position, eligible and suitable candidates are encouraged to apply.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions 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.

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF’s Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.

National Intern: Advocacy (Research), Accra Ghana (26 weeks)