Background

UN Women, grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, works for the elimination of discrimination against women and girls; the empowerment of women; and the achievement of equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action and peace and security. 

In this role as the global voice and advocate for gender equality and the empowerment of women, UN Women must deliver to an ambitious agenda as a centre of excellence on knowledge, partnerships, advocacy and social mobilization, as well as a convener, thought leader and champion of gender equality and women’s empowerment. 

2025 will mark the 30th anniversary of the Fourth UN World Conference on Women and adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (1995), the international blueprint for gender equality and women’s empowerment.  

In view of the crucial contribution of civil society organizations in the advancement of gender equality, women’s empowerment and women’s rights, the role of young people especially young women and adolescent girls is fundamental in the full realization of the Beijing+30 agenda. UN Women’s unique and critical role in engaging civil society and partnership building with women’s organizations including youth and girl-led organizations as stakeholders to achieve gender equality and women’s empowerment will be key drivers in helping UN Women achieve its strategic goals and fulfil its organizational mandate.   

Under the general guidance and direction of the Deputy of the Civil Society Division and in light of significant international events, including Beijing+30, CSW69, and International Day of the Girl, this consultancy will contribute to the organization’s strategic efforts on youth and adolescent engagement, supporting the planning and mobilization efforts across multiple platforms. 

Duties and Responsibilities

Beijing+30 and CSW69 preparation processes 

• Support the Team’s strategic outreach to youth organisations/networks and member states.  

• Support the database of engaged youth. 

• Support the scheduling of meetings with partners and the youth constituency. 

• Provide logistical support to the Beijing+30 Youth Leaders Committee, ensuring the smooth planning of activities leading up to Beijing+30 and CSW69. 

• Provide support for the development of talking points, briefing notes, and background materials as needed for high-level meetings and events related to youth and adolescent engagement. 

• Support the creation of a youth intranet page 

• Support communication strategies that enhance youth leadership and participation in these processes.  

Support to Civil Society Division 

• Supporting logistics for Civil Society Division events and meetings 

Support to events. 

• Support the organization and execution of key events such as  

• Beijing+30 youth and adolescent capacity strengthening session. 

• CSW69 youth events 

• The CSW69 Girl Adolescent Girl Leadership Town Hall 

• Global meetings on CSW69 preparations with youth and adolescents  

• Support the early mobilization efforts for the 16 Days of Action against Gender-Based Violence in November, focusing on strategic outreach and engagement of adolescents. 

Knowledge Management 

• Document outcomes, key discussions, and lessons learned from adolescent and youth leadership engagement. 

• Support on the publishing of on the YOUth Newsletter  

• Assist with designing and developing communications outreach products for events (flyers, report covers, brochures etc) 

Learning objectives 

• Increased understanding of UN Women’s work related to global normative processes and public policies. 

• Gained knowledge about NGOs working on gender issues and the global Sustainable Development Goals and Agenda 2030 that stimulate action in areas of critical importance for humanity and the planet. 

• Familiarity with the role of the Civil Society Division of UN Women, the issues it covers and its collaboration and relationship to other parts of the United Nations system. 

• Familiarity with the functions of the Commission on the Status of Women and its intergovernmental outcomes, including a set of concrete recommendations for governments, intergovernmental bodies and other institutions, civil society actors and other relevant stakeholders, to be implemented at the international, national, regional and local level. 

Competencies

Core Values: 

• Respect for Diversity 

• Integrity 

• Professionalism 

Core Competencies: 

• Awareness and Sensitivity Regarding Gender Issues 

• Accountability 

• Creative Problem Solving 

• Effective Communication 

• Inclusive Collaboration 

• Stakeholder Engagement 

• Leading by Example 

• Please visit this link for more information on UN Women’s Core Values and Competencies:  

• https://www.unwomen.org/en/about-us/employment/application-process#_Values 

  Functional competencies: 

• Knowledge of gender equality and women's rights issues. 

• Demonstrated ability to interact effectively with partners, especially women’s right organisations, girl and youth organizations. 

• Networking skills, and ability to mobilize support on behalf of UN Women. 

• IT skills, including databases, extranet and office software packages. 

• Analytical and interpersonal skills. 

•  

Required Skills and Experience

Education: 

• University studies in one of the following disciplines: social sciences, international relations, communications, women's studies, or other relevant subjects is required.  

• Meet one of the following:  

1. Be enrolled in a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher);  
2. Be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum Bachelor's level or equivalent);  
3. Have graduated with a university degree and, if selected, must commence the internship within a two-year period of graduation; or  
4. Be enrolled in a postgraduate professional traineeship program which is part of a degree programme and undertake the internship as part of the program requirements.  

Language: 

• communication skills (written and oral) in English are required;  

• Working knowledge of another UN language is an advantage. 

Renumeration:  

Interns who are not in receipt of financial support from other sources such as universities or other institutions will receive a stipend from UN Women to partially subsidize their basic living costs for the duration of the internship. 

Application Information:  

• All applicants must submit a completed and signed P.11 form with their application. 

• Due to the high volume of applications received, UN Women can ONLY contact successful candidates. 

• The successful candidate will be required to provide proof of enrollment in a valid health insurance plan at the duty station of the internship, proof of school enrollment or degree, a scanned copy of their passport/national ID and a copy of a valid visa (as applicable).   

Note: 

In July 2010, the United Nations General Assembly created UN Women, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. The creation of UN Women came about as part of the UN reform agenda, bringing together resources and mandates for greater impact. It merges and builds on the important work of four previously distinct parts of the UN system (DAW, OSAGI, INSTRAW and UNIFEM), which focused exclusively on gender equality and women's empowerment. 

At UN Women, we are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. UN Women recruits, employs, trains, compensates, and promotes regardless of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, ability, national origin, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, competence, integrity and organizational need.   

  If you need any reasonable accommodation to support your participation in the recruitment and selection process, please include this information in your application.   

  UN Women has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UN Women, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination.  All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to UN Women’s policies and procedures and the standards of conduct expected of UN Women personnel and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. (Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.)