Youth Participation Intern

Job Posting Organization:
UNICEF, established in 1946, operates in over 190 countries and territories with a mission to save children's lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential. The organization is committed to promoting the rights of every child and offers diverse opportunities for professional and personal development to its staff. UNICEF emphasizes a culture of belonging and growth, aiming to create a positive impact on children and communities worldwide.

Job Overview:
The Youth Participation Intern will support the Lifelong Learning, Protection, and Development section of UNICEF Eswatini, focusing on youth participation. This role is designed to enhance the intern's educational experience through practical, hands-on assignments that contribute to UNICEF's mandate and program priorities. The intern will engage in various activities aimed at empowering youth, ensuring their voices are heard, and facilitating their active participation in community development. This position is an opportunity to make a meaningful impact on the lives of vulnerable children and communities, while also gaining valuable professional experience.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The intern will be responsible for several key tasks, including:

• Supporting the establishment of a transparent and youth-friendly selection and onboarding process for new members of the Youth Advisory Board for the period 2026–202
• Assisting the Youth Advisory Board in creating an alumni network to maintain engagement and institutional memory for transitioning members.
• Studying the functions and benefits of the Youth Online Mentoring and Advocacy (YOMA) platform and developing high-quality communications and presentation materials for its introduction and promotion in Eswatini.
• Mapping and supporting UNICEF’s engagement with potential partners for YOMA and contributing to a broader youth-skills ecosystem.
• Supporting the conceptualization, preparation, launch, and management of the YOMA program and the Youth4Change (Y4C) initiative in Eswatini, ensuring youth perspectives enhance relevance and impact.
• Facilitating knowledge-sharing activities through dialogues on skilling and employability, and drafting success stories that highlight youth leadership and innovation.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must be currently enrolled in or have recently graduated from a Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD program in social sciences, sociology, anthropology, psychology, communications, marketing, or related fields. Applicants should demonstrate excellent academic performance through recent university records. Strong analytical skills, excellent report writing and presentation skills, and effective communication abilities are essential for this role.

Educational Background:
The position requires candidates to be enrolled in or have completed a degree in relevant fields such as social sciences, sociology, anthropology, psychology, communications, or marketing. Recent graduates (within the past two years) are also eligible to apply, provided they have maintained a strong academic record.

Experience:
A minimum of 1 year of relevant experience in youth participation, accountability, and advocacy for youth-related issues is required. This includes experience in areas such as education, health, mental health, HIV, sexual and reproductive health and rights, skilling, and employability.

Languages:
Fluency in English is mandatory, with excellent verbal and written communication skills required for effective interaction and reporting.

Additional Notes:
The internship will be conducted in Eswatini, with periodic travel to districts as needed. The intern will work full-time during official office hours, with a structured payment schedule based on monthly invoices. Interns are entitled to take up to 2.5 days off per month, with stipulations regarding payment for absences. All travel and visa costs are the responsibility of the intern, and they must provide proof of health insurance prior to starting the internship. The intern must be at least 18 years old and cannot have relatives working in UNICEF. The internship is subject to UNICEF’s DHR Procedure on Internship Programme and requires completion of mandatory training before commencement.