Internship Experience at UNICEF Regional Office for South Asia (Thavrith Sara)

My internship with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) at the Regional Office for South Asia (ROSA) has been an incredibly enriching learning experience. This was my first exposure to working at an international-level regional office.

This experience provided me with the opportunity to enhance my analytical skills and contribute to evidence-based decision-making processes. My responsibilities primarily revolved around producing education data and evidence, facilitating policy decisions through data-driven insights, and drafting analytical papers addressing critical issues relating to access to education, dropout, and children’s foundational learning skills. Most of my tasks required working with various datasets, applying advanced statistical techniques, and deriving insights instrumental in shaping education policies and programs across the South Asian region. Additionally, my role focused on bridging the gap between raw data and policy formulation through effective data visualizations. These visual tools highlighted key trends, challenges, and opportunities within the education sector, comparing South Asia with other regions and analyzing country-specific performance within South Asia itself.

Besides data analysis, my responsibilities included conducting comprehensive literature reviews, performing data analysis, and synthesizing key findings into structured reports that could guide UNICEF’s education initiatives. Another critical part of my role involved assessing the status and trends of UNICEF’s funding. Through this process, I was able to assess the effectiveness of different education strategies and provide recommendations for improvement. I also improve my strategic thinking skill, translating research into actionable policies. Time management and prioritization were essential, as I had to balance multiple tasks. Despite these challenges, I gained valuable lessons from the experience. Effective communication proved to be crucial in translating complex data into actionable insights. Furthermore, continuous learning and adaptability were essential in dealing with the evolving landscape of education policies and strategies.

In conclusion, my internship at UNICEF ROSA was an invaluable experience that strengthened my analytical, research, and policy engagement skills. The opportunity to contribute to evidence-based decision-making in education fueled my enthusiasm for utilizing data for positive change. Moving ahead, I hope to utilize the knowledge and experience I obtained during my internship to my future career. I am grateful for the chance to be a part of this critical effort, and I cannot wait to apply what I learnt from UNICEF in the future. Last but not least, I want to thank my Ph.D. supervisor, Professor Keiichi Ogawa, and UNICEF supervisor, Mr. Matt Brossard, for their ongoing support during this internship. I also want to extend my thanks to Dr. Matthew Townshend for his insights and cooperation, and to the education team at UNICEF ROSA for their help, ensuring my enjoyable stay in Nepal.