Intern Social Behavior Change & Behavioral Insights– Sustainability and Operations (Remote, 6 months)

Title: Intern Social Behavior Change & Behavioral Insights– Sustainability and Operations
Duty Station: Remote (no office space required), with flexibility to work with/during CET time zone.
Duration: Full-time, 6 months
Start Date: [To be confirmed]
Supervisor: Administrative Manager, Inclusive and Sustainable Operations Unit
Division: Division of Finance & Administrative Services

1. Background

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to protect the rights of every child, everywhere. Sustainability is a core UNICEF value and a critical enabler of long-term impact. In April 2022, Sustainability was formally endorsed as a core value, reinforcing UNICEF’s commitment to environmentally responsible, inclusive, and accessible operations. In 2023, UNICEF also launched the UNICEF’s Sustainability and Climate Action Plan (SCAP), a global commitment to protecting the planet.

The Inclusive and Sustainable Operations (ISO) Unit supports the implementation of the SCAP, specifically Objective 3, which focuses on reducing the emissions and environmental footprint within UNICEF, support its global network of partners to do the same, and advocates for the fulfilment of ambitious international sustainability and climate change agreements. A key aspect is related to strengthening staff engagement, leadership commitment, and behaviour change for sustainability across operations.

Over the past years, the ISO team has implemented data collection, awareness-raising initiatives and behaviour-focused activities, including the Green Pulse survey and the Environmental Footprint and Accessibility Assessment (EFAAT). These efforts have generated valuable qualitative and quantitative data and insights. The next phase requires consolidating this evidence through a more structured Social and Behaviour Change (SBC) lens to inform practical, scalable interventions that translate awareness into sustained behavioural actions.

To support this next phase, ISO is seeking an intern with Social Behaviour Change and behavioural insights competencies to assist with analysis, behavioural diagnostics, leadership engagement and staff motivation strategies, and targeted behaviourally informed communications.

 

1. Purpose of the Internship

The purpose of this internship is to support the integration of Social and Behaviour Change principles into UNICEF’s sustainability agenda by contributing to behavioural analysis, evidence synthesis, and strategy development related to SCAP Objective 3.

1. Expected results

 

The intern will support ISO with analytical and preparatory work that helps identify behavioural barriers, motivational drivers, and communication opportunities linked to four priority areas identified through the Green Pulse Survey conducted in 2025:

 

1. Capability: Skills & knowledge
2. Opportunity: Environmental & social factors
3. Motivation: Intentions & attitudes
4. Behaviour: Observable actions

The role is primarily analytical and strategic, with communications and graphic design skills considered an asset to support knowledge translation and internal engagement.

1. Duties and Responsibilities

Working directly under the supervision of the Administrative Manager, Inclusive and Sustainable Operations Unit, the intern will be responsible for the following general/specific tasks:

4.1 Behavioural Insights Review & Evidence Synthesis

The intern will support a rapid behavioral review by:

• Consolidating existing evidence from:

1. 1. Existing awareness raising campaigns and behavior change interventions
   2. 2024/2025 EFAAT Report
   3. 2025 Green Pulse Survey
   4. SCAP progress documents

• Organizing and coding findings using SBC and behavioural science models (COM‑B, Behavior Change Wheel, norms, incentives, heuristics).
• Assisting in identifying key behavioural barriers, motivational drivers, environmental opportunities, and social norms influencing staff behaviour.
• Producing concise synthesis outputs (for example, insight briefs / slide summaries) that translate evidence into “so what” implications for staff actions, leadership engagement, operational choices and opportunities for behavioural nudges.

4.2 Behavioural Diagnostics & Prioritization

• Support the formulation of clea