Deadline: December 19, 2025
The UNICEF Education Cannot Wait Internship 2026 offers an exceptional opportunity for young professionals seeking hands-on experience in monitoring, evaluation, and global education programming within humanitarian and development contexts. This internship is designed to provide practical exposure to real-world data analysis, reporting, and programme support in one of the world’s leading organisations focused on education in emergencies and protracted crises.
About the Internship
The UNICEF Education Cannot Wait Internship 2026 is a structured Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) internship within the Education Cannot Wait (ECW) Fund, hosted by UNICEF. It provides interns with the opportunity to contribute to ECW’s mission of delivering inclusive, equitable education for children and adolescents affected by conflict and crisis.
Interns will work directly with the M&E team, supporting essential tasks such as data collection, qualitative and quantitative analysis, reviewing programme documentation, and contributing to annual results reporting.
Application Deadline
- 19 December 2025 (midnight EST)
Interested candidates are encouraged to apply before the stated deadline to ensure full consideration.
Internship Duration
- 5 to 6 months
- Expected start: February or March 2026
The structured timeframe provides sufficient opportunity for interns to develop advanced M&E skills while contributing meaningfully to ECW’s deliverables.
Work Location and Modality
Successful candidates may be based in:
- New York
- Geneva
- Copenhagen
Depending on location and team needs, remote work arrangements may also be considered. Office space is available in all listed duty stations for those working in person.
Key Responsibilities
Interns will support a wide range of Monitoring & Evaluation functions, including:
- Collecting, cleaning, and analysing qualitative and quantitative data.
- Supporting production of ECW’s 2025 Annual Results Report.
- Reviewing and coding documentation from ECW-funded programmes.
- Assisting with knowledge-sharing products, information synthesis, and dashboard updates.
- Contributing to the improvement of data systems, tools, and methodologies.
- Supporting additional M&E initiatives as assigned.
Stipend and Benefits
The internship offers a competitive monthly stipend, aligned with UNICEF’s global internship policy:
- Approximately USD 1,700 per month for duty stations such as New York, Geneva, and Copenhagen.
- For other duty stations, stipends align at 70% of the UN GS-3 Step 1 salary scale.
This ensures equitable financial support for interns across diverse locations.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must meet the following requirements:
Minimum Requirements
- Be at least 18 years old.
- Be currently enrolled in a master’s degree programme, or have graduated from a bachelor’s or master’s programme within the last 3 years.
- Academic background relevant to:
- Education
- International development
- Humanitarian studies
- Social sciences
- Or other related fields
- Strong data analysis skills, including familiarity with:
- Excel (advanced functions)
- STATA or R
- PowerQuery
- Kobo or survey tools
- Experience synthesising information and drafting analytical reports.
- Proficiency in English (French or Spanish is an added advantage).
Additional Requirements
- No immediate family members working with UNICEF or the ECW Secretariat.
- Ability to meet UNICEF’s child safeguarding and ethical standards.
Who Should Apply?
This internship is ideal for:
- Early-career researchers or analysts
- Graduates interested in Monitoring & Evaluation
- Individuals passionate about education in emergencies
- Young professionals aiming for future roles in:
- The UN system
- International development
- Humanitarian programming
The internship provides practical exposure to data-driven programme management and enhances competitiveness in global development pathways.
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