Youth Engagement internship, YPA Secretariat Generation Unlimited, Global Programme Division, NYHQ, 26 weeks (Full-time / Remote) 2 positions

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff diverse opportunities for professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture.., coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, Hope

UNICEF has partnered with leading public and private organizations to launch a global partnership dedicated to expanding opportunities for young people, aged 10-24.  Generation Unlimited (GenU) is centered on finding new ways to help every young person to get into school, learning, training, or employment by 2030 — with a focus on those in the greatest danger of being left behind, including girls, the poorest, those with disabilities, young people on the move and those affected by conflict and natural disasters.  

GenU brings together leaders from governments, UN agencies, the private sector, academia, international and civil society organizations, and young people themselves. The partnership will identify, co-create, resource, and scale-up innovative solutions to expand opportunities for young people. Effective programmes will be matched with financing and technical support; investors will find viable solutions to invest in and strong accountability mechanisms that provide adequate assurance of results and fiscal management; and young people will participate meaningfully in the co-creation of solutions, informing, advising, and helping implement at every step of the way.

How can you make a difference? 

Under the direct supervision of either the Youth Engagement and Entrepreneurship Lead and Senior Adviser of Global Programmes and in close collaboration with the overall Programme Team, the intern will support the following:

Youth Engagement and Entrepreneurship Hub (1 position)

• Youth Engagement: Assist in designing and implementing strategies for meaningful youth engagement in GenU programming. This includes supporting the operationalization of the the work of the Young People’s Action Team, globally and regionally; the implementation of the Youth Centrality Strategy and Youth Centrality Index; feedback from young people, particularly marginalized groups, to inform program design and implementation.
• Entrepreneurship Programming: Assist in the execution of entrepreneurship initiatives, including organizing workshops and mentorship sessions, supporting the development of entrepreneurial skills among youth, and facilitating connections with potential partners.
• Program Support: Contribute to the development and execution of youth-centric programs, ensuring alignment with GenU’s strategic priorities, particularly programmes around youth-led entrepreneurship and meaningful youth engagement.
• Advocacy and Outreach: Support the development of advocacy materials, such as blogs and digital content, to amplify the voices and priorities of young people within GenU initiatives as well as support young people in participating and advocacy forums.

Global Solutions Hub (1 positions)

• Global Solutions Portfolio: Assist in developing resources that will support UNICEF Country Offices to engage in the Learning to Earning agenda and deploy GenU programming.
• Straetgic planning: Assist in the process of designing GenU’s strategic plan 2026-2029, including supporting with technical notes, country consultation, strategic plan development and review, etc.
• Knowledge Sharing: Help with creating and disseminating knowledge resources (blogs, reports, etc.). and peer-to-peer learning among global youth networks, leveraging tools such as webinars, thought leadership pieces, online platforms etc.

General Responsibilities

• Collaboration: Work closely with the GenU Programme Team and external partners to ensure cohesive and integrated support across the different hubs.
• Research and Analysis: Conduct res