Field Operations & Emergency Support Internship Kenya 2024

Looking to kickstart your career in humanitarian and developmental assistance? UNICEF offers an exciting internship opportunity in Field Operations and Emergency Support at the Kenya Country Office in Nairobi. This internship program provides hands-on experience and exposure to UNICEF’s impactful work, catering to students or recent graduates passionate about making a difference in children’s lives.

As a participant, you’ll support critical initiatives aimed at addressing various emergencies, including droughts, floods, and disease outbreaks, while gaining valuable skills in programmatic, administrative, and logistical tasks.

Take the first step towards making a meaningful impact by applying online today and submitting your cover letter, CV, and three referees. Join us in our mission to provide life-saving interventions to vulnerable communities across Kenya. Apply now to embark on a rewarding journey with UNICEF.

Background Information on UNICEF:

UNICEF, originally known as the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund and now officially called the United Nations Children’s Fund, operates as a United Nations agency dedicated to providing humanitarian and developmental assistance to children worldwide.

Context of the Internship Programme:

In recent years, Kenya has faced various emergencies, including severe drought from 2020 to 2023 in the Horn of Africa, resulting in five consecutive failed rainy seasons. Additionally, the country has dealt with El Niño-enhanced floods, disease outbreaks such as measles and cholera, and an increased influx of refugees.

The seasonal forecasts for March to May 2024 predict wetter-than-normal conditions across much of the country, increasing the risk of flooding in flood-prone areas. This poses significant challenges, including loss of life, disease outbreaks, displacement, and property damage, affecting nearly one million people. Proactive measures are essential to mitigate these potential impacts.

While the forecasted rainfall may improve food security, vulnerable communities still face challenges, including slow recovery from drought and the aftermath of El Niño-induced floods, leaving them highly susceptible to food insecurity. The likelihood of flooding during the 2024 MAM season could worsen food security in localized areas, with women and children being the most vulnerable.

UNICEF collaborates with the government, partners, and UN agencies to provide life-saving interventions to emergency-affected populations in arid and semi-arid lands, urban informal settlements, and refugee camps like Kakuma and Dadaab.

Duties and Responsibilities: The UNICEF internship aims to provide students with practical work experience, exposure to UNICEF’s work, and assist UNICEF offices with qualified students or recent graduates in various professional fields. The internship involves providing programmatic, administrative, and logistical support to the Emergency and Field Operations (FOE) Section. Tasks include:

Assisting with programmatic, administrative, and logistical requests and queries.
Scheduling appointments with internal and external stakeholders.
Planning meetings, taking minutes, and following up on action points.
Managing emergency reports schedule and alerting team members on deadlines.
Supporting the consolidation and dissemination of reports.
Maintaining the online filing system for FOE documents.
Assisting in planning and reporting for field missions and workshops.
Supporting the implementation of training and learning activities.
Providing support for coordinated Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR) efforts.

Eligibility & Minimum Requirements:

Applicants must meet the following requirements:

Enrolled in a degree program in social sciences or a related discipline, or recently graduated within the last two years.
Proficiency in at least one of UNICEF’s working languages: English, French, or Spanish, and fluency in the working language of the office of assignment.
Strong academic performance demonstrated by recent university records.
Prior experience in program support functions is advantageous.
No immediate relatives working in any UNICEF office or in the line of authority to which the intern will report.

Qualification and Skills:

Applicants should demonstrate UNICEF’s core values and competencies, including building and maintaining partnerships, self-awareness, drive for results, innovation, strategic thinking, and collaboration.

Conditions: Interns will receive a stipend in accordance with UNICEF guidelines. There is no expectation of employment at the end of the internship. UNICEF will not cover costs arising from accidents or illness during the internship. Interns are responsible for obtaining visas and health insurance. They may take up to 2.5 days off per month and must adhere to UNICEF’s rules and regulations.

Application Process:

Interested and qualified candidates should apply online and submit a cover letter, CV, and three referees.

Take the first step towards humanitarian impact: Apply for the UNICEF Kenya internship now by clicking here

Note: UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct incompatible with its objectives, including sexual exploitation and abuse, harassment, abuse of authority, and discrimination. All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks.