Intern Social Behavior Change & Behavioral Insights– Sustainability and Operations (Remote, 6 months)

Title: Intern Social Behavior Change & Behavioral Insights– Sustainability and Operations
Duty Station: Remote (no office space required), with flexibility to work with/during CET time zone.
Duration: Full-time, 6 months
Start Date: [To be confirmed]
Supervisor: Administrative Manager, Inclusive and Sustainable Operations Unit
Division: Division of Finance & Administrative Services

1. Background

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to protect the rights of every child, everywhere. Sustainability is a core UNICEF value and a critical enabler of long-term impact. In April 2022, Sustainability was formally endorsed as a core value, reinforcing UNICEF’s commitment to environmentally responsible, inclusive, and accessible operations. In 2023, UNICEF also launched the UNICEF’s Sustainability and Climate Action Plan (SCAP), a global commitment to protecting the planet.

The Inclusive and Sustainable Operations (ISO) Unit supports the implementation of the SCAP, specifically Objective 3, which focuses on reducing the emissions and environmental footprint within UNICEF, support its global network of partners to do the same, and advocates for the fulfilment of ambitious international sustainability and climate change agreements. A key aspect is related to strengthening staff engagement, leadership commitment, and behaviour change for sustainability across operations.

Over the past years, the ISO team has implemented data collection, awareness-raising initiatives and behaviour-focused activities, including the Green Pulse survey and the Environmental Footprint and Accessibility Assessment (EFAAT). These efforts have generated valuable qualitative and quantitative data and insights. The next phase requires consolidating this evidence through a more structured Social and Behaviour Change (SBC) lens to inform practical, scalable interventions that translate awareness into sustained behavioural actions.

To support this next phase, ISO is seeking an intern with Social Behaviour Change and behavioural insights competencies to assist with analysis, behavioural diagnostics, leadership engagement and staff motivation strategies, and targeted behaviourally informed communications.

 

1. Purpose of the Internship

The purpose of this internship is to support the integration of Social and Behaviour Change principles into UNICEF’s sustainability agenda by contributing to behavioural analysis, evidence synthesis, and strategy development related to SCAP Objective 3.

1. Expected results

 

The intern will support ISO with analytical and preparatory work that helps identify behavioural barriers, motivational drivers, and communication opportunities linked to four priority areas identified through the Green Pulse Survey conducted in 2025:

 

1. Capability: Skills & knowledge
2. Opportunity: Environmental & social factors
3. Motivation: Intentions & attitudes
4. Behaviour: Observable actions

The role is primarily analytical and strategic, with communications and graphic design skills considered an asset to support knowledge translation and internal engagement.

1. Duties and Responsibilities

Working directly under the supervision of the Administrative Manager, Inclusive and Sustainable Operations Unit, the intern will be responsible for the following general/specific tasks:

4.1 Behavioural Insights Review & Evidence Synthesis

The intern will support a rapid behavioral review by:

• Consolidating existing evidence from:

1. 1. Existing awareness raising campaigns and behavior change interventions
   2. 2024/2025 EFAAT Report
   3. 2025 Green Pulse Survey
   4. SCAP progress documents

• Organizing and coding findings using SBC and behavioural science models (COM‑B, Behavior Change Wheel, norms, incentives, heuristics).
• Assisting in identifying key behavioural barriers, motivational drivers, environmental opportunities, and social norms influencing staff behaviour.
• Producing concise synthesis outputs (for example, insight briefs / slide summaries) that translate evidence into “so what” implications for staff actions, leadership engagement, operational choices and opportunities for behavioural nudges.

4.2 Behavioural Diagnostics & Prioritization

• Support the formulation of clear behavioural problem statements, grounded in evidence and behavioural science principles, to inform leadership engagement and strengthen staff motivation.
• Contribute to defining priority target behaviours by helping draft behaviour selection criteria such as impact potential, behavioural bottlenecks, psychological frictions, and system constraints.
• Assist in mapping pathways of change using COM‑B (Capability, Opportunity, Motivation) and related behavioural frameworks to identify the drivers and barriers influencing the desired behaviours.
• Support the development of a prioritisation rationale including feasibility, impact likelihood, behavioural leverage points, measurability, equity/access considerations, and risk ensuring recommended behaviours and interventions are grounded in behavioural evidence and context realities.

 

4.3 Strategy Development Support

The intern will assist in developing early components of the SBC strategy for sustainability, including:

• Drafting behavioural objectives for leadership, staff, and Green Teams that clarify the specific, observable actions required to drive sustainability.
• Developing high‑level behavioural intervention concepts, including nudges and light‑touch prototypes (e.g., prompts, commitment devices, timely feedback cues) to encourage everyday sustainable practices.
• Articulating behavioural messaging principles for internal communications, ensuring messages reduce friction, highlight social norms, and make desired actions easy and timely.
• Designing behaviourally informed travel‑related decision tools or guidance to support low‑carbon choices (e.g., default options, checklists, choice architecture).
• Providing recommendations to strengthen leadership visibility and accountability, using behavioural levers such as commitments, feedback loops, and timely reinforcement.
• Recommending implementation measures including light‑touch routines, default choices, prompts, and checklists accompanied by assumptions, behavioural rationale, and suggested measurement approaches.
• Supporting the team in identifying feasible early‑phase tests or pilots, determining which interventions can be trialed quickly to generate behavioural insights during initial implementation.

 

4.4 Coordination & Consultation Support

• Support the organization of consultations with COs, Green Teams, and internal SBC colleagues (agenda drafting, note‑taking, synthesis).
• Prepare internal briefs summarizing behavioral insights and recommendations.
• Support alignment with Communications, HR, Operations, and Sustainability teams.
• Support coordination and documentation under the guidance of the supervisor.

4.5 Knowledge Management & Documentation

• Contribute to maintaining clean documentation of insights, emerging behaviors, and recommendations for continuity within ISO.
• Help prepare slides, reports, and internal materials to support the dissemination of findings.

1. Expected Deliverables

• Behavioral Insights Synthesis: consolidated review of Green Pulse, EFAAT, and additional inputs through an SBC lens.
• Behavioral Prioritization Draft: target behaviors for leadership, travel, and staff motivation.
• Draft SBC Strategy Components: including pathways of change, proposed levers, behavioral objectives, and early intervention concepts.
• Behaviorally Informed Prototype Ideas: e.g., messaging frames, prompts, choice architecture ideas.
• Final Internship Report: summarizing outputs, insights, and recommendations.

1. Learning Opportunities for the Intern

The intern will:

• Gain applied experience using behavioral science and SBC approaches within a global organization
• Work with real organizational data and contribute to strategy development linked to sustainability and climate action
• Develop skills in behavioral analysis, research synthesis, and evidence-informed planning
• Gain exposure to leadership engagement, staff motivation, and institutional behavior change challenges
• Become more familiar with working in a United Nations / international organization and in a diverse, multicultural, and remote working environment

1. Eligibility Requirements

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

• Be at least 18 years old or above
• Be enrolled in or have recently completed (within the last two years), Master’s degree programme or advanced degree programme in behavioral Science, Psychology, Social & Public Policy, Development Studies, Sociology, Anthropology or a related social science field.
• PhD-track candidates may be considered where they demonstrate strong applied behavioural science orientation and the ability to deliver practical outputs.
• Demonstrated academic exposure to SBC frameworks or behavioral science approaches
• Familiarity with qualitative and/or quantitative research methods, tools and survey analysis using diverse research applications
• Strong interest in sustainability, climate action, or organizational behavior.
• Communications, data visualization, graphic design skills and knowledge of AI tools are assets.
• Excellent computer literacy (Microsoft 365 Office products)
• Fluency in English is required; knowledge of French or Spanish is an asset

Additional requirements:

• Strong academic performance, supported by academic records or a reference letter
• No immediate relatives working in UNICEF and no relatives in the line of authority
• Access to a personal computer and required software to perform the tasks
• Flexibility to work with/during CET time zone

1. Technical competencies

• Familiarity with behavioral science frameworks (COM‑B, BCW, MINDSPACE/EAST, norms theory).
• Ability to analyze qualitative and quantitative data.
• Strong writing and synthesis skills.
• Experience with stakeholder interviews or literature review.
• Ability to translate evidence into clear, usable deliverables such as briefs, slides and concept notes.

1. Personal Competencies
2. Cost/Expenses:

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

Stipend (monthly) will depend on the location of the intern:

1. USD 1,700 per month in the following offices: New York, Geneva, and Copenhagen; or
2. 70% of the net monthly salary of GS level 3 step 1 in all the other duty stations; [UN GS Salary Scales]

Travel: N/A

1. 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.

1. Other Relevant Information

• The candidate selected will be governed by and subject to UNICEF’s General Terms and Conditions for interns.
• As an intern, you will respect the confidentiality of information that you 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 programme is not connected with employment and there is no expectancy of such. Interns cannot apply for posts advertised internally to UNICEF staff during the period of internship.

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

UNICEF’s active commitment to diversity and inclusion is critical to delivering the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable qualified candidates from all national, religious, and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, are encouraged to apply.