UNICEF Social Policy Intern 2026: Child Data and Public Finance Internship in Zambia, Eligibility and How to Apply

Overview

UNICEF Zambia is offering a four-month, full-time internship in its Social Policy section in Lusaka, Zambia (Job No. 595216). The intern joins the Public Finance Management team and helps build and populate an internal online dashboard on child wellbeing and social-sector financing. The dashboard is meant to support UNICEF's programme planning, advocacy and engagement with government institutions and development partners.

What you get

The work centres on data. The intern compiles information from national surveys and government budget documents, cleans and organizes datasets, checks data consistency, documents data sources and supports visualization so that the dashboard is user-friendly and easy to update. The placement gives practical exposure to public finance analysis, social policy research, dashboard development and evidence-based decision-making within a United Nations organization.

Who can apply

Applicants must have graduated within the last two years with a Bachelor's or Master's degree in a relevant field such as data analytics, statistics, economics, public finance, public policy, demography, research methods, data science or information systems. Strong academic performance is required. Professional experience is not mandatory, but candidates should show strong research, analysis, communication, organization and attention to detail. Experience with Microsoft Excel is important, and knowledge of Power BI or other visualization tools is highly desirable.

English is required and knowledge of a local language is an advantage. Country-level experience in development programmes, fragile settings, humanitarian contexts or social policy is desirable. Interns must not have immediate relatives working in any UNICEF office or other relatives within the reporting line. UNICEF encourages applications from diverse backgrounds, including persons with disabilities.

How to apply

Applicants should prepare an updated CV and recent academic records and apply through the UNICEF recruitment system. UNICEF does not charge any fee at any stage of recruitment, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Key dates

The post was advertised on 20 August 2026. The deadline is 28 August 2026, South Africa Standard Time.