About the UNICEF Social Policy Internship
UNICEF Zambia is accepting applications for a full-time Social Policy Internship focused on Child Data and Public Finance. The four-month internship is based in Lusaka and is listed under Job Number 595216. UNICEF advertised the opportunity on 20 August 2026, with applications due by 28 August 2026.
The internship sits within UNICEF’s Social Policy work and is particularly connected to the Public Finance Management team. It is suitable for recent graduates who want practical experience with data, public finance, policy analysis and evidence used in programmes for children.
What the Intern Will Work On
The main purpose of the internship is to support the development and population of an internal online dashboard covering child wellbeing and social-sector financing. The intern will help compile, clean, organise and visualise information from national surveys and budget documents.
The goal is to make the dashboard useful, updateable and easy for teams to use in programme planning, advocacy and engagement with government and other partners. This gives the successful intern exposure to the practical side of turning survey, budget and administrative information into evidence that can support policy discussions and programme decisions.
Who Can Apply
UNICEF is looking for applicants who graduated within the last two years with either a bachelor’s or master’s degree in a relevant discipline. Listed fields include data analytics, statistics, economics, public finance, public policy, demography, research methods, data science and information systems. A closely related qualification may also be considered.
Applicants should have strong academic performance shown through recent university or institutional records. Proficiency in English is required, while knowledge of a local language is an advantage.
Skills UNICEF Is Looking For
The vacancy highlights communication, research and organisational skills. Candidates should be comfortable working carefully with information and checking data consistency. Experience with Microsoft Excel is important, and familiarity with visualisation tools such as Power BI is described as highly desirable.
Strong analytical ability and attention to detail are particularly relevant because the work involves documenting data sources, cleaning information and preparing it for a dashboard that needs to remain understandable and updateable. Relevant experience in development, fragile settings or humanitarian contexts is listed as desirable rather than a core requirement.
Internship Details
- Organization: UNICEF
- Job Number: 595216
- Programme: Social Policy Internship – Child Data and Public Finance
- Contract Type: Internship
- Duration: 4 months
- Schedule: Full-time
- Duty Station: Lusaka, Zambia
- Deadline: 28 August 2026
Additional Eligibility Point
UNICEF states that applicants must not have immediate relatives such as a parent, sibling, brother or sister working in a UNICEF office, and must not have another relative in the direct line of authority to which the intern would report. Applicants should review this requirement together with the full official terms of reference before submitting.
How to Apply
The application is submitted through UNICEF’s official recruitment platform. Prepare a current CV or employment profile, academic information and any other documents requested by the online system. Your application should make it easy for the reviewer to see your degree, graduation date, data-related skills and experience with tools such as Excel or Power BI.
Because the application window is short, check the official posting early and complete the online form before the deadline rather than waiting until the final day. UNICEF does not charge an application fee during recruitment.
