UNICEF NextGen Fellowship & Graduate Programs – 2025 Roles Available!

UNICEF NextGen Fellowship & Graduate Programs – 2025 Roles Available! Are you a dynamic young leader or a passionate recent graduate ready to dedicate your skills to advocate for children’s rights worldwide? UNICEF offers various pathways for early-career professionals, including its Internship Programme, Junior Professional Officer (JPO) Programme, and engagement with the UNICEF NextGen community. While a direct “NextGen Fellowship” in the traditional sense is primarily focused on a network of young philanthropists and influencers, opportunities for direct program and advocacy work for graduates are abundant in 2025 across UNICEF’s global operations, often with competitive stipends for interns and salaries for professional roles.

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Background & Job Description

UNICEF, the United Nations Children’s Fund, works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential. Early career opportunities at UNICEF are designed to attract talented individuals passionate about social impact and humanitarian work. The Internship Programme offers hands-on experience for students and recent graduates, providing exposure to UNICEF’s operations in areas like health, education, child protection, and emergency response. The Junior Professional Officer (JPO) Programme is a government-sponsored initiative for young professionals to gain experience as international civil servants. Additionally, the broader UNICEF NextGen community involves young investors and advocates who support UNICEF’s mission, and while not a direct “job program,” it signifies UNICEF’s commitment to youth engagement in shaping the future.

Tasks

Tasks vary significantly across UNICEF’s diverse programs and roles. For early-career positions, they may include:

• Assisting in program design, planning, implementation, and monitoring in areas like health, nutrition, education, child protection, WASH, and social policy.
• Conducting research and analysis to support evidence-based programming and advocacy efforts.
• Contributing to the development of reports, proposals, communication materials, and advocacy briefs.
• Supporting data collection, entry, and analysis for monitoring and evaluation purposes.
• Participating in field visits (if applicable and safe) to observe program implementation.
• Collaborating with national and international partners, government counterparts, and local communities.
• Providing administrative and logistical support to teams and projects.

UNICEF NextGen Fellowship & Graduate Programs – 2025 Roles Available!

Qualifications

Education and Certification

• Internships: Must be at least 18 years old, and currently enrolled in an undergraduate, graduate, or PhD program, or have graduated within the past two years.
• Junior Professional Officer (JPO) Programme: Requires an advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) and is typically open to nationals of specific donor countries, usually under the age of 32.
• Professional Staff (Entry Level): A Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in a relevant field (e.g., Public Health, International Relations, Development Studies, Economics, Social Work, Education, Communications, Data Science, Human Rights) is required.
• Proficiency in at least one of UNICEF’s working languages (English, French, or Spanish) is essential. Fluency in the working language of the office you are applying to may also be required.

Experience

• Internships: No prior professional work experience is explicitly required, but relevant volunteer work, academic projects, or previous internships are advantageous.
• Junior Professional Officer (JPO) Programme: Typically requires 1-2 years of relevant professional experience.
• Professional Staff (Entry Level): Depending on the P-level (e.g., P-1, P-2), 0-2 years of relevant professional work experience is generally sought.
• Strong academic performance and motivation are crucial.
• Demonstrated interest in children’s rights and humanitarian/development work.
• Excellent communication, analytical, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a multicultural environment and adapt to challenging contexts.

Additional Information

UNICEF internships typically last between 6 and 26 weeks and provide a monthly stipend, with a potential one-time lump sum for travel/visa costs if funding is available. JPO positions are paid and offer comprehensive benefits. Full-time professional staff positions offer competitive salaries and benefits packages. UNICEF roles are available in headquarters (New York, Copenhagen, Geneva), regional offices, and over 150 country offices worldwide. Many roles are in-person, but remote opportunities (especially for consultancies and some internships) are also advertised.

Application deadlines are rolling throughout 2025 for internships and many entry-level roles. JPO application periods are specific and managed by donor governments. Interested candidates should frequently check the official UNICEF Careers Portal.

Links to Positions:

• UNICEF Careers Portal – Main Vacancies Page: This is the best place to find all current job openings, including internships, consultancies, and fixed-term contracts for various levels. Use the filters to narrow down by “Work type” (Internship, Consultancy, Fixed-Term), “Position level,” and “Location.”
  • Link: UNICEF Careers – Vacancies
• UNICEF Careers – Internships Page: Specific information and listings for the internship program.
  • Link: UNICEF Careers – Internships
• UNICEF Careers – Junior Professional Officer (JPO) Programme: Learn about this government-sponsored program. Applications are typically through the donor country’s government.
  • Link: UNICEF Careers – Junior Professional Officer
• UNICEF Next Generation: While not a job portal, this page provides context on UNICEF’s engagement with young leaders and philanthropists, who may be involved in various UNICEF initiatives.
  • Link: UNICEF Next Generation

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