UNICEF co-chairs the UN Innovation Network (UNIN), an informal, collaborative community of UN innovators interested in sharing their expertise and experience with others to promote and advance innovation within the UN System. To date, over 350 representatives from over 50 UN entities have joined the Network.
For innovation practitioners, the Network hosts regular knowledge sharing sessions to introduce new innovation trends and how they can contribute to achieving the SDGs. It also helps Agencies share tools and resources, as well as best practices for overcoming challenges for driving innovation within the UN. The UNIN also engages with senior leaders and advises them on how to build structures to promote innovation, activate innovation partnerships and create a culture of innovation in their organisations.
An Innovation Toolkit
In May 2018, the Secretary-General tasked the UNIN to develop a toolkit to foster and scale innovation across the UN System and UNIN will facilitate this process by working closely with different UN Agencies, the UN High-Level Committee on Management as well as external partners. One element of this toolkit will be a curated registry of available (UN-internal and external) trainings and e-learnings to help aspiring innovators familiarise themselves with key innovation methodologies and UNIN is looking to hire an intern to lead this work.
Main responsibilities will be:
- Conduct research on existing innovation resources available within the UN (e.g. UN internal trainings) and externally (e.g. courses offered by Universities or platforms like IDEO)
- Develop a core training curriculum for innovation practitioners in the UN; consider differentiating and expanding this curriculum for different contexts
- Review and assess the identified resources and develop a short-list of recommended tools
- Develop a curated registry of innovation resources to help practitioners understand which resources are most suitable for them
- Support the user-testing of the curated registry and incorporate feedback from this
Benefits
As a UNICEF Innovation Intern, you will:
- Get to work on a specific project of strategic value to the team. You’ll get to present your ideas and outputs to the team at the end of the summer.
- Receive dedicated mentorship from a member of a multidisciplinary team related to your project and your career and development plans
- Be part of a dedicated induction programme to UNICEF and UNICEF Innovation
- Have a fun and inspiring internship experience
- Selected candidates will receive a monthly stipend
Eligibilities
- Be enrolled in an undergraduate, graduate or Ph.D. degree programme in international development, economics, innovation or other related and relevant field, or have graduated within the past two years. Applicants must be at least 18 years old.
- Have excellent academic performance as demonstrated by recent university or institution records.
- Have no immediate relatives (e.g. father, mother, brother, sister) working in any UNICEF office.
- Have no other relatives in the line of authority which the intern will report to.
- Additional consideration will be given for any past experience
- Past experience in the entrepreneurial ecosystem, in a local start-up or investing is a plus; familiarity with common innovation concepts and methodologies (e.g. HCD) is an asset.
- Have excellent communication and written skills.
- Fluency in English is required. Working knowledge of the local language a plus.
Conditions
- Individuals must have proof of medical insurance covering their time at the duty station.
- This internship expects a full-time commitment.
- Individuals are expected to provide their own laptop.
- Selected candidates will receive a monthly stipend
- Individuals must fund their own travel and living expenses.
- Individuals are responsible for arranging any visa or immigration requirements.
Application Process
- Apply online through the given link.
- Applications must include:
- Cover letter
- CV
- 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.
- Remarks:
- Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.
Application Deadline: September 12, 2018
Application ClosedOfficial link
