UNICEF

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Internship - Social & Behavior Change, 26 weeks, Colombo Sri Lanka (Sri Lankan nationals only)

Colombo·Posted today

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Full job description

Duty station: Colombo

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, how can you make a difference?

Background

UNICEF Sri Lanka, Social & Behavior Change (SBC) programming is in need of short-term support. Social and Behaviour Change in UNICEF is a cross-cutting programme strategy that analyses and addresses the cognitive, social and structural determinants of individual practices and societal changes in both development and humanitarian contexts. SBC uses the latest in social and behavioral sciences to understand people, their beliefs, their values, the socio-cultural norms and the economic and institutional contexts that shape their lives, with the aim of engaging them and increasing their influence in the design of solutions for change. SBC brings social and behavioral evidence generation together with participation in community-led and human-centered processes.

In addition to the regular SBC programming, UNICEF Sri Lanka SBC team plays a key role in advancing Accountability to Affected People (AAP) by promoting people-centred approaches across humanitarian responses. As a co-lead of the AAP Working Group, UNICEF supports coordination, strengthens complaints and feedback mechanisms, builds partner capacity, and ensures community voices inform decision-making throughout emergency response and recovery.

Key tasks and responsibilities

Under the supervision of the Social & Behavior Change (SBC) Officer,

The intern will be responsible for implementing following tasks:

• Support the design and dissemination of timely, relevant, and actionable information with communities and strengthen meaningful community participation

• Support to coordinate the AAP Working Group, support partner capacity building, and monitor the progress

• Generate and use SBC evidence, data, and assessments for response, recovery, and resilience.

• Participate in programme monitoring exercises and make recommendations on required revisions of the programmes

• Provide technical and administrative support for the development, implementation and monitoring of evidence-based SBC strategies and activities

• Identify, document and disseminate best practices and innovative approaches

• Engage and sustain collaborations with the influencers for the implementation of SBC in humanitarian and development actions

• Provide flexible support for any additional SBC/AAP-related needs that arise during the assignment

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Eligibility Requirements

To be considered for an internship, applicants must meet the following requirements:

Be enrolled in an undergraduate, graduate, or Ph.D. degree programme or have graduated within the past two years.
Applicants must be at least 18 years old.
Be proficient in at least one of UNICEF's working languages: English, French or Spanish. Fluency in the working language of the office you are applying to is required.
Have excellent academic performance as demonstrated by recent university or institution records.
Have no immediate relatives (e.g. father, mother, brother, sister) working in any UNICEF office; and have no other relatives in the line of authority that the intern will report to.
Additional consideration will be given for any past experience.

Required Education, Skills, and Experiences:

• Recently completed a University Degree in Social and behavioural science, including sociology, anthropology, communication studies/communication for development, psychology and/or related field

• A minimum of one year of professional experience in one or more of the following areas is required: social development programme planning, communication for development or social and behaviour change, public advocacy, or another related area.

• Prior experience in strengthening community structures and platforms - ensuring Accountability to the Affected People (AAP) is required.

• Excellent oral and interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners, and authorities at different levels.

Functional Competencies:

• Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines

• Accuracy and professionalism during the documentation and content production

• Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment; ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel.

• Experience of working with UN (United Nations) is an asset but not a prerequisite

• Recent leadership in child/youth/CSO movements and networks is an asset

Language Proficiency:

Fluency in spoken and written English is required.

Duration : 26 weeks

Learning Opportunities for the Intern:

General understanding of the work and mission of the UNICEF programme in Sri Lanka
Insight and hands-on experience on UNICEF related to Social & Behavior Change (SBC)
Become more familiar with working in a United Nations / international organization and in a multicultural environment

Cost/Expenses:

Interns receive a stipend from UNICEF and must make own arrangements for living expenses. Living accommodations and other expenses are also their own responsibilities.

Stipend (monthly): LKR 109,370/- per month (five day work week - Monday to Friday)

Insurance:

UNICEF accepts no responsibility for costs or fatality arising from illness or accidents incurred during the internship; therefore, the intern must have adequate medical insurance.
Applicants for internship must show proof of valid medical and life/accident insurance for the duty station for which they will work.

Intern Status within UNICEF:

• Interns are considered gratis personnel and as such they are not staff members.

• Interns are not entitled to the privileges and immunities accorded by member states to UNICEF's officials and staff members.

• Interns may not be sought or accepted as substitutes for staff to be recruited against authorized posts.

• Interns may not represent UNICEF in any official capacity.

Other Relevant Information

• The candidate selected will be governed by and subject to UNICEF’s General Terms and Conditions for interns.

• Interns will respect the confidentiality of information that they collect or are exposed to at UNICEF.

No reports or papers may be published based on information obtained from UNICEF without the explicit

written authorization by the Head of Office or Division Director.

• The UNICEF internship program is not connected with employment and there is no expectancy of such.

Interns cannot apply for posts advertised internally to UNICEF staff during the internship period

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels: competency framework here.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Remarks:

UNICEF’s active commitment towards diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable applicants are encouraged to apply.

Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

If you think this position might be for you, please take the time to review our Country Office Mutual Agreements before you apply.

If you believe you can team member that can uphold these everyday, then we look forward to receiving and reviewing your application.

Advertised: 13 Oct 2026 Sri Lanka Standard Time
Deadline: 22 Oct 2026 Sri Lanka Standard Time

Listing sourced from UNICEF careers. Applications are handled entirely by the employer.