Introduction
Across health, education, nutrition, child protection, and climate resilience, social and behaviour change (SBC) approaches play a critical role in transforming policies into real-life outcomes for children and communities. Evidence shows that even the strongest programmes fail without sustained community engagement, trust-building, and behaviour change strategies that reflect local realities.
In recognition of this, UNICEF is hiring a National Social Behaviour Change Intern for 2026, offering a competitive stipend and hands-on exposure to one of the most impactful practice areas within the UN system. This internship is designed for students and recent graduates who are passionate about community engagement, public health, communication, social research, and child rights.
This opportunity allows interns to work closely with UNICEF programme teams to support behaviour change strategies that directly influence how families, caregivers, and communities adopt healthier, safer, and more inclusive practices for children.
This article is published by an independent job and opportunity-curation platform. It is shared for informational purposes only and is not affiliated with UNICEF. The platform does not participate in recruitment or selection decisions. All applications must be submitted through UNICEF’s official recruitment systems.
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Background & Internship Description
About UNICEF
UNICEF operates in over 190 countries and territories, working to protect children’s rights and ensure that every child survives, thrives, and reaches their full potential. UNICEF combines humanitarian response, development programming, and policy advocacy to deliver results at scale.
Social and Behaviour Change is a core cross-cutting function within UNICEF, supporting programme areas such as:
- Health and nutrition
- Immunization and maternal care
- Education and early childhood development
- Child protection and gender equality
- WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene)
- Climate and environmental resilience
About the Social Behaviour Change Internship
The National Social Behaviour Change Intern role supports the design, implementation, and monitoring of SBC strategies at country level. Unlike purely academic internships, this position offers practical exposure to real community-focused interventions, data-driven communication strategies, and evidence-based behaviour change models.
Interns work alongside UNICEF specialists to help translate research and policy into messaging and engagement approaches that influence attitudes, norms, and behaviours affecting children.
UNICEF National Social Behaviour Change Intern 2026: Paid Internship with Competitive Stipend
Key Responsibilities
While specific tasks depend on country context and programme focus, typical responsibilities include:
- Supporting social and behaviour change strategies aligned with UNICEF programme priorities
- Assisting in community engagement planning, including outreach and participation initiatives
- Contributing to formative research, behavioural insights, and situation analyses
- Supporting development of SBC materials, such as briefs, messaging frameworks, and content drafts
- Assisting with monitoring and evaluation of behaviour change interventions
- Supporting coordination with partners, including government counterparts, NGOs, and community groups
- Documenting lessons learned and best practices for internal knowledge sharing
These responsibilities give interns exposure to both the strategic and operational dimensions of behaviour change programming.
Qualifications
Education and Certification
Competitive candidates are typically:
- Enrolled in or recent graduates of a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Social Sciences, Public Health, Communications, Development Studies, Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology, or related fields
- Demonstrating academic interest in behaviour change, community engagement, or public health communication
Formal certifications are not required, but coursework in social research methods or communication strategy is an asset.
Experience
- Prior professional experience is not mandatory
- Relevant academic projects, volunteering, internships, or community-based work are strong advantages
- Experience with data collection, surveys, focus groups, or qualitative research is beneficial
Core Skills
Successful candidates often demonstrate:
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Analytical thinking and attention to detail
- Cultural sensitivity and community awareness
- Ability to work collaboratively in multidisciplinary teams
- Interest in child-focused development and social impact
Why Apply for This Internship
This internship offers significant value for early-career professionals.
From a learning perspective, interns gain hands-on experience in one of the most in-demand skill areas in global development: social and behaviour change programming. SBC expertise is increasingly required across NGOs, UN agencies, public health institutions, and research organizations.
From a career perspective, UNICEF internship experience is globally recognized and strengthens future applications for UN roles, NGO positions, graduate studies, and donor-funded programmes.
From an impact perspective, the role contributes directly to improving how communities adopt practices that protect children’s health, safety, and wellbeing.
The competitive stipend also improves accessibility, allowing talented candidates from diverse backgrounds to participate.
Application Tips & Insights
Strong applications typically:
- Clearly demonstrate interest in community engagement and behaviour change
- Highlight relevant coursework, research, or volunteer experience
- Show understanding of how communication and social norms influence outcomes
- Reflect alignment with UNICEF’s child-rights mandate
Applicants are encouraged to avoid generic internship applications and instead connect their skills and motivations to real-world behaviour change challenges.
Additional Information
- Position: National Social Behaviour Change Intern
- Organization: UNICEF
- Internship Type: Full-time internship
- Duration: As specified in the official vacancy announcement
- Stipend: Competitive, aligned with UNICEF internship frameworks
- Eligibility: Students and recent graduates (national applicants)
UNICEF is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion and encourages applications from qualified candidates of all backgrounds.
How to Apply
Interested candidates should:
- Access UNICEF’s official careers system
- Search for National Social Behaviour Change Intern positions
- Review eligibility criteria and required competencies carefully
- Prepare required documents (CV, cover letter, academic records if requested)
- Submit the application before the stated deadline
Applicants should rely only on official UNICEF recruitment platforms and should not pay any recruitment fees.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this internship paid?
Yes. UNICEF offers a competitive stipend for internship roles.
Is prior UN experience required?
No. Relevant academic background and motivation are sufficient.
Who is considered a “national” intern?
National internships are typically open to citizens or residents of the duty station country.
What skills are most important for this role?
Communication, analytical thinking, community awareness, and interest in behaviour change.
Can this internship lead to future UNICEF roles?
While not guaranteed, UNICEF internship experience significantly strengthens future applications.
Suggested Focus Keywords
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