Background

UNWOMEN Iraq shares  UNWOMEN’s global objectives in promoting women’s political participation, ending all forms of violence against women and girls, economic empowerment, engaging women in peace and security and providing further support to government in setting their national plans and budgets from a gender lens perspective.  In 2013 UNWOMEN Iraq   set up a sub-office in Kurdistan to support the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and  Iraqi Kurdistan civil society organisations in their endeavors to achieve  and equal and equitable society that corresponds to the needs of its people equally. The UNWOMEN Kurdistan office would like to encourage the involvement of  international interns to support the implementation of ongoing 2014 programmes and projects and to assist the office in drawing up new proposals and work plans to improve the situation of women in Iraqi Kurdistan. .

• Enhance student’s educational experience through practical and supervised hands-on
  experience and involvement in UNWOMEN’s  projects in Iraqi Kurdistan;
• Expose student to the working environment of an international multilateral organization;
• Provide a better understanding of UNWOMEN Iraq’s goals and activities;
• Build student’s regional understanding as well as in-depth understanding of factors of poverty and conflict that effect women and men’s lives;
• Expose student to concrete tools, methods and practices to help student’s professional  development in equality and equity measures.

Duties and Responsibilities

The specific assignments of the intern at the Programme Unit will be determined based on intern’s interests and capabilities, but they may include:

• Research work on related subjects, especially on Gender-informed local planning and Gender Mainstreaming; Women and Girls empowerment; Civil Society Empowerment
• Writing reports, summaries, briefs, communications; data collection and cataloguing information
• Assisting in preparing presentations, budget sheets, concept notes or project proposals
• Supporting the design of projects through own insight and expertise in consultation with program staff in the office and CSOs
• Other supportive tasks as requested by the intern’s supervisor/mentor.

Competencies

Strong writing, research and analytical skills

• Strong written communication skills: experience in writing reports, letters, summaries or briefings in a concise, detailed and structured manner. Attention given to the structure and quality of the text so that minimal post-editing is needed.
• Highly developed ability to problem solve, utilising multiple analytical techniques within a focused results-based orientation.
• Ability to formulate accurate and clearly defined research questions with consideration on qualitative and quantitative aspects of the study.
• Ability to independently and proactively conduct research with minimal supervision.
• Ability to collect and analyze data critically, as well as effectively triangulate and cross-validate data.
• Experience in project management is a strong asset.
  

Strong organizational and personal skills and characteristics

• Organized and independent, able to perform tasks assigned in a timely, efficient and careful manner with minimum supervision.
• Good skills with word processor, spreadsheet and other office software.
• Self-confident, focused, proactive and motivated.
• Results-oriented, timely and efficient
• Perseverance, patience and flexibility: able to cope with stress
• Multitasking and time management skills

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences, Gender Studies, Political Science, Sociology, Public Administration, Economics, Development Studies.   All Candidates must be enrolled for a full time course of study.   Preference will be given to candidates in her/ his final year of a Master’s programme.

Experience:

• Professional or voluntary experience in relief organizations, non-governmental organizations, and/or in the developing world is considered a strong asset.

Language:

• Knowledge of Kurdish or Arabic languages is a plus.

Conditions:

Interns are not financially remunerated by UNWOMEN. All costs such as living expenses, travel, medical and life insurance costs, visa application fees (if required) and any other costs related to the internship MUST be borne by the intern or by the nominating institution. UNWOMEN Iraq will incur no costs except for travel that is relevant to the tasks assigned.

UNWOMEN Iraq will provide the intern with necessary facilities, incl. working space and laptop.

• Medical Certificate of Good Health from a recognized physician. (Must indicate whether the intern is fit to travel and has had the required inoculations for Iraq;)
• Proof of medical insurance valid for Kurdistan/Iraq in which the internship will be carried out; and,
• Proof of life/accident insurance for Kurdistan/Iraq in which the internship will be carried out;
• A recommendation Letter/ or a Certificate regarding current Master study from the University.

Interns are considered gratis personnel. They are not staff members and may not represent UNWOMEN in any official capacity. The purpose of the Internship Programme is not to lead to further employment with UNWOMEN but to complement an intern’s studies. Therefore, there should be no expectation of employment at the end of an internship.

The UNWOMEN is an equal employer. Women and men with special needs or disabilities are highly encouraged to apply.