Background

UN Women – Regional Office for Arab States (ROAS) in Cairo is facilitating the Knowledge Gateway for Women’s Economic Empowerment (www.empowerwomen.org). This online portal seeks to respond to the demand for a multilingual and multi-dimensional one-stop platform that offer information and knowledge sharing solutions for evidence-based cutting-edge research, data, technical resources and good practices that are replicable and scalable. It will also provide mentoring and networking opportunities for women entrepreneurs and gender equality advocates practitioners and policy makers and programme managers from around the world.

The ultimate goal of the Knowledge Gateway is to contribute to economic empowerment of women, including excluded groups of women. It is expected that this goal will be achieved through enhanced knowledge of what works so that women, practitioners and gender advocates may influence policies and strategies for women’s economic empowerment through the knowledge and information available on the Knowledge Gateway. The Knowledge Gateway will aim to achieve the following:

• Increased collaboration and networking on women’s economic empowerment by connecting users from developing and developed countries;
• Increased access to, use of, and sharing of information, knowledge and resources on women’s economic empowerment by users from developing and developed countries;
• Greater influence by women and gender equality advocates on policies and strategies to promote women’s economic empowerment.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision and guidance of the Regional Coordinator of the Knowledge Gateway for Women’s Economic Empowerment, and through a collaborative working relationship with other members of the Knowledge Gateway Team, the intern will assist the Knowledge Gateway Team with the development and implementation of a global portal “The Knowledge Gateway”. A work plan with achievements for the duration of the Internship and learning opportunities will be agreed upon:

Tasks and responsibilities:

• Conduct a comprehensive research on the existing economic empowerment policies across the regions and identify the national legislative frameworks that effectively addressed the issue of women’s unequal participation in the economy;
• Assist in the mapping of resources for the Knowledge Library and training opportunities for the Learning Center;
• Assist in the drafting of knowledge products, and occasionally in translating short text pieces into Arabic and English/French languages;
• Support the proof reading of translations into Arabic;
• Identify experts and regionally diverse organizations with expertise on women’s economic empowerment and invite them to register to the Knowledge Gateway;
• Assist in the consultations with key stakeholder groups/partners working on women’s economic empowerment;
• Support the drafting of the KM strategy and the partner mapping;
• Assist with media and social media outreach and monitoring;
• Assist in the preparation of any events that may take place during their internship duration;
• Assist in the monitoring and assessment of registered users’ usage of the Knowledge Gateway;
• Support any other task relevant to the effective development and implementation of the Knowledge Gateway.
• Draft brief summaries following e-discussions and other meetings on women’s economic empowerment.
• Any other relevant tasks to support the Knowledge Gateway Team.

Competencies

• Demonstrate consistency in upholding and promoting the values of UN Women in actions and decisions, in line with the UN Code of Conduct.

• Demonstrate professional competence and expert knowledge of the pertinent substantive areas of work.

• Demonstrate an appreciation of the multicultural nature of the organization and the diversity of its staff;
• Demonstrate an international outlook, appreciating difference in values and learning from cultural diversity.

Ethics and Values:

• Demonstrate and safeguard ethics and integrity.

Organizational Awareness:

• Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment.

Development and Innovation:

• Take charge of self-development and take initiative.

Work in teams:

• Demonstrate ability to work in a multicultural, multi ethnic environment and to maintain effective working relations with people of different national and cultural backgrounds.

Communicating and Information Sharing:

• Facilitate and encourage open communication and strive for effective communication.

Self-management and Emotional Intelligence:

• Stay composed and positive even in difficult moments, handle tense situations with diplomacy and tact, and have a consistent behavior towards others.

Conflict Management:

• Surface conflicts and address them proactively acknowledging different feelings and views and directing energy towards a mutually acceptable solution.

Continuous Learning and Knowledge Sharing:

• Encourage learning and sharing of knowledge.

Appropriate and Transparent Decision Making:

• Demonstrate informed and transparent decision making.

• Excellent communication skills. Communicates sensitively, effectively and creatively across different constituencies;
• Demonstrates very good understanding of and experience in communications and outreach;
• Proven networking skills, and ability to generate interest in UN Women’s mandate;
• Strong initiative-taker;
• Very effective at multi-tasking;
• Focuses on impact and results for the client;
• Interacts effectively with all levels of the organization, including senior management;
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
• Identifies opportunities and builds strong relationships with clients and partners;
• Demonstrates exceptional ability to remain calm, in control and good humored even under pressure and tight deadlines;Ability to think and work logically and work precisely with attention to detail;
• Ability to write clearly and concisely;
• Initiative, sound judgment and demonstrated ability to work harmoniously with staff members of different national and cultural backgrounds.

Required Skills and Experience

• Currently enrolled in a degree in economics, gender studies, law, international development or other related field.

Languages:

• Fluency in Arabic is a must and proficiency in English or/and French is a plus.

Interns are not financially remunerated by UN Women. The costs associated must be borne by the nominating institution, related institution or government, which may provide the required financial assistance to its students; or by the student, who will have to obtain financing for subsistence and make his or her own arrangements for travel, accommodation, visa, etc.