UNICEF – ECW Internship 2026: Your Path to Humanitarian & Education Work
What Is ECW & What Does This Internship Involve
The Education Cannot Wait (ECW) is a global multilateral fund focused on providing education to children and youth (ages 3–18) in countries affected by crisis — wars, disasters, or protracted emergencies. The fund is hosted by UNICEF, which provides administrative and operational support.
The 2026 Internship Programme with ECW offers a Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) Internship for qualified post-graduate students or recent graduates. Interns will contribute to ECW-supported programmes, reviewing reports, analyzing qualitative and quantitative data, and supporting the production of ECW’s annual results report — gaining first-hand experience in humanitarian-development data and impact evaluation.
Who Can Apply — Eligibility & Requirements
To qualify for the ECW M&E internship, candidates should meet the following:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Be currently enrolled in a Master’s degree programme, or have graduated within the past three years from Bachelor’s or Master’s studies
- Have an academic background in education, international humanitarian/development studies, social sciences, or related fields
- Possess strong quantitative and/or qualitative data analysis skills — familiarity with data tools and methods, data cleaning/management, statistical or evaluation techniques is a plus
Additional attributes that strengthen applications include interest in humanitarian-education, attention to detail, good analytical thinking, and passion for global development.
Internship Duration, Format & What to Expect
- This internship is offered on a 6-month basis, and may be remote, depending on the duty station and office policy.
- Interns will be assigned a portfolio of ECW-supported programmes (depending on geography, language skills, and thematic interest) and will work on report reviews, data coding, analysis of qualitative/quantitative datasets, and drafting sections of annual or evaluation reports.
- Work may also involve research, data-management tasks, supporting monitoring activities, and contributing to learning-and-accountability processes within ECW’s mandate of Education in Emergencies.
- Interns will collaborate under supervision of ECW’s M&E and Secretariat teams, gaining exposure to international humanitarian work, programme evaluation, and global education challenges.
Why This Internship Is a Valuable Opportunity
- Real Impact on Education in Emergencies — You contribute to meaningful work that aims to provide education for children affected by crises worldwide.
- Professional Experience in Humanitarian & Development Sector — The internship provides hands-on experience in monitoring, evaluation, data analysis and programme management under an internationally renowned fund.
- Remote Opportunity — For many interns, remote work provides flexibility (especially for those outside Switzerland/UNICEF offices), making it accessible globally.
- Strong Skill Development — Through data work, evaluation tasks, report drafting, and exposure to humanitarian-education operations — you build valuable analytical, research, and writing skills relevant for NGOs, international agencies, policy, or academia.
- Resume Booster for Global Careers — Having a UNICEF-ECW internship on your CV demonstrates experience in international development, global education, and humanitarian action — attractive for future roles or further studies.
What to Prepare Before Applying
If you’re considering applying (especially from outside Europe or from a developing country), here are recommended steps:
- Ensure your academic credentials match requirements (recent graduate or enrolled in Master’s, relevant field)
- Prepare a strong CV highlighting any data-analysis, social-science, education, or humanitarian-related coursework / experience
- Be ready to demonstrate data analysis skills (statistics, data cleaning, evaluation methods) — these are often central to M&E roles
- Show motivation and understanding of education in emergencies, humanitarian challenges, and global development
- Be open to remote work and able to manage time zones / communication across global teams
- Ensure you meet age and other eligibility requirements
The UNICEF–ECW M&E Internship 2026 is a powerful stepping stone for students and recent graduates passionate about education, humanitarian aid, and global development. With real-world impact, professional exposure, and an opportunity to contribute to crisis-response education, this internship can become a meaningful first step in a global-oriented humanitarian career.