Children in China continue to face a range of evolving health and nutrition challenges, including gaps in early childhood care and services, childhood overweight and obesity, unhealthy food environments and the growing burden of non-communicable diseases. These challenges cannot be addressed through individual behaviour change alone. They are shaped by policies, services, markets, commercial practices and the wider environments in which children live, learn and grow, and addressing them therefore requires stronger public policies, high-quality evidence, multisectoral coordination and sustained advocacy that places children's rights, needs and wellbeing at the centre.
UNICEF China works with government institutions, academic organizations, civil society, the private sector and other partners to improve child health and nutrition outcomes. This work includes generating and synthesizing evidence, supporting policy dialogue, strengthening programme design, promoting multisectoral action and building strategic partnerships. The internship will provide an opportunity for a university student or recent graduate to contribute substantively to UNICEF's work on child health and nutrition policy, supporting evidence-informed advocacy and programme development across selected priority areas while gaining practical experience in policy research, stakeholder engagement and programme coordination within an international organization.
🥗 Areas of Work
Under the supervision of the Nutrition Officer and in close collaboration with UNICEF colleagues and relevant external partners, the intern will provide research, analytical, coordination and knowledge-management support to ongoing health and nutrition policy and advocacy initiatives:
📚 Conduct desk reviews of relevant national and international policy documents, research reports, academic literature and technical guidance related to child health and nutrition priorities, which may include early childhood care services and standards, healthy retail food environments, fiscal measures for health and nutrition, and other relevant policy interventions
📝 Support the preparation of policy briefs, evidence summaries, concept notes, presentations, background documents and advocacy materials for different audiences
🎪 Support the planning and coordination of technical meetings, consultations, workshops and stakeholder discussions, including the preparation of agendas, background materials, presentations and other meeting documents
🤝 Support communication and routine coordination with government counterparts, academic institutions, research organizations, implementing partners and other stakeholders under the guidance of UNICEF staff
🌐 Support the translation, editing, formatting and proofreading of materials in English and Chinese, ensuring accuracy, clarity and consistency
🗂️ Provide administrative and operational support directly related to programme implementation, consultations and advocacy activities, including routine documentation and follow-up
🧩 Undertake other related assignments agreed with the supervisor in response to programme priorities and the intern's skills and learning objectives
📊 A placement inside another international institution based in the same country: Internship in 🇨🇳 China 🏦 Global Internship Programme at the New Development Bank 📊 → https://youthworkshub.org/20536
🎓 Learning Objectives
The intern will work closely with UNICEF technical specialists and external partners while contributing to real-world policy and advocacy initiatives aimed at improving child health and nutrition outcomes, gaining practical exposure to:
🔬 Evidence-informed policymaking: developing skills in synthesizing global and national evidence, translating research findings into policy-relevant messages, and supporting advocacy strategies grounded in scientific evidence
📖 Policy research and analysis: strengthening capacities in conducting literature reviews, analyzing policy and regulatory frameworks, identifying evidence gaps, and preparing technical briefs for decision-makers
🏛️ Government and stakeholder engagement: interacting with government counterparts, academic experts, research institutions, development partners, civil society organizations and private-sector stakeholders, gaining insight into multi-sectoral policy processes and consensus-building
🤝 UNICEF programme operations and partnership management: developing an understanding of how UNICEF supports policy reform, evidence generation, advocacy and partnerships to achieve sustainable impact for children
🌍 Exposure to international development and the United Nations system: acquiring first-hand experience working within a leading international organization and understanding how global evidence, international best practices and country-level priorities are translated into policy action
✅ Qualifications
🎓 Be enrolled in a degree programme in undergraduate study, above 18 years old, or postgraduate study, majoring in nutrition, public health, finance, governance, social science or a related field, and experience or coursework related to nutrition policy, health promotion, fiscal policies or public policy analysis is highly desirable
🧠 Possess strong analytical skills, with the ability to critically review, synthesize and summarize evidence from multiple academic and policy sources
📚 Demonstrate experience in conducting literature reviews, desk research or policy analysis through academic coursework, research projects, dissertations or previous internships
💼 Previous experience supporting health policy research, programme coordination, or working with research institutions, government agencies or international organizations would be an asset
🗣️ Fluency in English and Mandarin is required
👨👩👧 Have no immediate relatives working in any UNICEF offices
🌟 UNICEF Competencies
🤝 Builds and maintains partnerships
🪞 Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness
🎯 Drive to achieve results for impact
💡 Innovates and embraces change
🧭 Manages ambiguity and complexity
📊 Thinks and acts strategically
👥 Works collaboratively with others
UNICEF's core values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability and Sustainability underpin everything the organisation does and how it does it.
🏥 A comparable placement helping people navigate health systems: Internship in the 🇺🇸 United States 🤝 Healthcare and Benefits Navigation at a Humanitarian Organisation 🏥 → https://youthworkshub.org/20534
⚠️ Who Can Apply
This internship is onsite and open to Chinese nationals only.
📌 Additional Information
🌈 UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, and is committed to include everyone, irrespective of race or ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority or any other status, and it encourages applications from all qualified candidates and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence
♿ UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process, and shortlisted candidates who require accommodation should get in touch with the recruiter directly
🛡️ UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, and all selected candidates undergo rigorous reference and background checks, including verification of academic credentials and employment history
🩺 UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance, and appointments are conditional on the selected candidate's willingness to comply with current or future vaccination requirements
🚫 UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection and hiring processes, and will not ask for applicants' bank account information
📋 The Details
📍 Duty station: Beijing, China
📄 Contract type: Internship
📌 Level: Internship
⏳ Duration: 6 months
🗂️ Categories: Social Policy, Health and Nutrition
🆔 Job number: 594681
📅 Advertised: 23 July 2026, China Standard Time
📩 How to Apply
Apply online through the UNICEF careers portal for this job number.
⏰ Deadline
06 August 2026, China Standard Time.
🔗 Link
📝 Job opening and application: https://jobs.unicef.org/cw/en-us/job/594681
