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, a future…
The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does; in programmes, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an equal opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favouritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life – in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions – her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens – addressing inequity – not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfil their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. Therefore, the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.
However, despite decades of strong work in these sectoral areas, inequity remains. While progress is being made, something different is required to accelerate progress towards long term and sustainable development improvements. One method of driving significant impacts for the most vulnerable and excluded children who may still be left behind, is to ensure the use of more focused use of data, and in particular geospatial data. Geospatial data helps to unmask disparities by reaching the most remote, and hard to reach areas during both development and humanitarian situations.
UNICEF Malawi and more specifically the Programme Planning and Monitoring (PPM) section seeks to recruit five (5) national Data and Analytics Interns who are interested to enhance their educational experience through practical work assignments while being exposed to UNICEF’s mandate and operations as well as learning on child rights and equity in Malawi and across the globe. The internship programme is also expected to provide Malawi with the assistance of qualified students specialized in the data and analytics field. The Data and Analytics interns will perform data management and analysis functions. They will be given an opportunity to contribute to the ongoing data ecosystem review, data and information tools design, development and implementation, quality reviewing and training materials development. They will also support the implementation of a bespoke data intelligence platform – the “4P2C Data Intelligence Node”. They will be expected to actively participate, collaborate, and work across the Malawi Country Office sections promoting data-driven programming by ensuring relevance, accuracy, completeness, timeliness and consistency of data and information for children are available. All these learning and performing elements should be consistent with the overall goal of meeting the needs and requirements for UNICEF programmes by strengthening data demand, supply and use for supporting planning and programmatic decision making, while at the same time accessing development opportunities.
How can you make a difference?
The primary purpose of the internship programme will be to support the development and enhancement of the interns’ professional and educational experience through practical work assignments, to expose the interns to UNICEF’s work, as well as well as to promote learning for the intern on child rights and equity.
The Data and Analytics Interns will be responsible for assisting programme sections in the collection, cleaning, processing, analysis and presentation of data to produce information products useful for programming. The interns will be part of the team where defined roles and responsibilities are shared, and the objective of the team effort to ensure convergence, collaboration, and complementarity in the shared tasks for optimal results.
The interns are expected to produce actionable information products. This requires familiarization with both traditional and non-traditional sources of data in day-to-day work. They should be organized and able to implement assigned data centric projects from start to finish. They should be able to present technical information and findings in a way that is easily understood by the sector members and the management, such as data visualization, mapping, narrative writing, and in-person communication.
Main Responsibilities and Tasks:
• Learning new developments in the application of geospatial and remote sensing data and technology to advance child rights and promote equity issues.
• Participating in capacity building and training activities (online and offline) related to geospatial data, remote sensing technologies, complex data analysis using statistical software packages, creating dashboards and producing visual products to better communicate information – workshops and trainings will be organized where needed
• Engaging in the timely preparation, maintenance, and provision of information requested by sections to which s/he is assigned.
• Collecting, processing and analyzing data, including geospatial and thematic data as well as creating and updating databases.
• Assisting in performing quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) on all products generated and disseminated by the Data Intelligence Node, including data and maps.
• Participating in field data collection activities using Global Positioning System (GPS) devices and mobile data collection applications.
• Assisting in drone imagery acquisition, processing, analysis, dissemination, and hosting
• Providing support to programme monitoring activities, including on-line monitoring tools.
• As requested, supporting with the sharing of geospatial data with programme sections, other UN agencies, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and the Malawi Government.
• Producing and updating information products such as charts, infographics, maps and thematic profiles to support planning, monitoring, communication, knowledge management and decision-making needs.
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
Enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate (Masters or higher) degree programme or be a recent graduate (graduated within the past two years) in the field of geography, health, computer science, information systems or related subjects with a strong quantitative component. A degree programme with a strong Geographic Information Systems (GIS) component will be an asset.
Applicants must have excellent academic performance demonstrated by recent university or institution records.
Technical skills and knowledge requirements
– Proficiency in use of geospatial mapping software such as Google Earth, ArcGIS, ArcGIS Online, QGIS
– Experience in using SPSS or R software for statistical analysis
– Proficiency in using Google sheets and MS Excel
– Demonstrated experience in data collection, processing, maintenance and production of information products (maps, infographics, dashboards, etc.) will be considered as added advantage
Work experience required
– While experience in data collection, processing, and presentation will be considered as an added advantage, it will not be prerequisite.
Languages
– Fluency in English is required – both verbal and written skills are required.
Other requirements
• Applicants must be at least 18 years old.
• Ability to communicate clearly.
• Strong analytical and good report writing and presentation skills.
• Able to demonstrate UNICEF core values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability as well as core competencies such as self-awareness and ethical awareness, working collaboratively with others, innovates and embraces change and drive to achieve impactful results.
• Applicants must have no relatives (e.g., father, mother, brother, sister) working in any UNICEF office and must have no other relatives in the line of authority which the intern will report to.
Please refer to the attached full Terms of Reference 
Terms of Reference_Data and Analytics Interns.pdf for more details on the internship and requirements.
HOW TO APPLY…
Interested candidates should provide the following:
- Curriculum Vitae
- Motivation letter
- Proof of studies/Certified copies of qualifications
- Examples of previous related work (information, products etc.)
- Reference details
For every Child, you demonstrate…
UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values
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.
During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels: competency framework here.
UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.
We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.
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 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.
Remarks:
UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government 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.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.
