Background
Organisational 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.
The United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) was formed in July 2010 as part of the UN reform agenda, bringing together resources and mandates of parts of the UN system working on all aspects of gender equality and empowerment of women.
UN Women’s vision is a world where societies are free of gender-based discrimination, where women and men have equal opportunities, where the comprehensive development of women and girls is ensured so that they can continue to be active agents of change, where gender equality and women’s empowerment are achieved and where women’s rights are upheld in all efforts to further development, human rights, peace and security.
UN Women’s mandate builds on inter-governmental agreements articulated in the Beijing Platform for Action (PFA), the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), the Millennium Declaration, and relevant Security Council resolutions. Central to UN Women leads coordination of the UN system efforts to ensure that commitments on gender equality and gender mainstreaming translate into concrete action at the country level.
Unit / Project Background:
UN Women’s Multi-Country Office (MCO) in Fiji, covers 14 Pacific Island countries and territories, with field presences in Kiribati, Nauru, Samoa (covering Cook Islands, Niue and Tokelau), Solomon Islands and Vanuatu and a programme presence in Tonga. UN Women is also represented through the United Nations Joint Presence Offices in Federated States of Micronesia, Palau, Republic of Marshall Islands, Tonga and Tuvalu. Outside of the Fiji MCO, UN Women also has a separate, fully fledged office in Papua New Guinea, with country-specific programming.
The UN Women Fiji MCO works with governments and civil society organisations with a focus on four programmatic areas: ending violence against women and girls; gender and protection in humanitarian action; women’s economic empowerment (including Markets for Change); and political participation, leadership and human rights.
Its Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (EVAWG) programme has begun work with the new Pacific Partnership to End Violence Against Women and Girls (Pacific Partnership). The Pacific Partnership brings together governments, civil society organisations, communities and other partners to promote gender equality, prevent violence against women and girls (VAWG), and increase access to quality response services for survivors.
To achieve this, the Pacific Partnership aims to transform the social norms that allow violence against women and girls to continue; to ensure survivors have access to quality response services; and to support national and regional institutions to meet their commitments to gender equality and prevention of violence against women and girls. Working through partners, it will promote equal rights and opportunities for all Pacific people, through innovative approaches to education, access to essential services, and policy development.
The programme’s outcome areas are jointly coordinated through a partnership between the Pacific Community (SPC) Regional Rights Resource Team (RRRT), the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS), and UN Women Fiji Multi-Country Office (MCO).
The EUR18.2 million partnership is primarily funded by the European Union (12.7m) that supports all outcome areas of the programme, with the Australian Government providing targeted funding to the second outcome (EUR4.9m or AUD$7.6m) together with UN Women (EUR0.6m or USD$0.75m).
The work of the Intern will be based at the UN Women MCO in Fiji, undertaking communications work primarily for the Pacific Partnership, along with global initiatives and knowledge products that UN Women may support.
Duties and Responsibilities
Description of Responsibilities & Learning Objectives:
Responsibilities:
The intern will provide Pacific Partnership communications support and assistance to the Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (EVAW) programme team and, in addition, also receive capacity development opportunities to further improve communications skills and strategic approaches.
With guidance and overall supervision from EVAWG’s Communications and Visibility Specialist, and working in collaboration with EVAWG Deputy Programme Manager and the team, and the MCO Communications Unit, the Intern is expected to undertake the following tasks:
Monitors:
- Monitor and track media coverage and social media activity in relation to EVAWG.
- Gain experience working in the field of communications and advocacy that directly relates to the rights of women and girls.
Develops:
- Assist to develop and implement communications and advocacy activities for the Pacific Partnership.
- Assist to develop Pacific Partnership content updates and general maintenance of the EVAWG section on the UN Women regional web site, intranet, MCO web-based knowledge management system.
- Assist to coordinate Pacific Partnership and EVAWG social media stories and photos. Social media is a key part of the Communications Strategy, providing a platform for reaching a larger and more diverse audience.
- Assist where practicable, with the development of publications, merchandise, advocacy materials and media outreach.
- Develop personal communication skills with diverse audiences.
Reviews:
- Track and share latest research data and other information sharing, while honing personal research skills and awareness of legislation and programs to help EVAWG.
- Contribute when possible to the team’s common work and communications activities (e.g. assisting in organizing and running activities, events, media activity, etc.)
Learning Objectives:
- Increase understanding of UN Women’s work and the UN system, particularly the role UN Women plays in the larger UN landscape.
- Learn different aspects of women’s work to EVAWG
- Increase knowledge and understanding of issues related to ending violence against women.
- Increased knowledge of issues related to women’s empowerment
- Build and develop professional relationships with UN Women colleagues in other units.
- Work as a team member in a multicultural setting.
- Develop project management and evaluation skills.
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:
Functional Competencies:
- Excellent written, verbal, & interpersonal communication skills;
- Exemplary client service and relationship management skills;
- Understanding of issues relating to gender equality and ending violence against women and girls;
- Ability to work effectively in a team environment;
- Ability to exercise good judgment, use discretion, work with limited supervision;
- A self-starter; able to anticipate issues and propose solutions.
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
- The intern must have studies in communications, international studies, development or other similar subjects at the university level. Master’s degree students preferred.
- According to UN Women rules, one of the following must be applicable to the Intern:
- Be enrolled in a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher)
- Be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum Bachelor's level or equivalent)
- Have graduated with a university degree and, if selected, must commence the internship within a one-year period of graduation.
?Language:
- Excellent communication skills (written and oral) in English are required;
- Working knowledge of another UN language a distinct advantage
Special Note:
- Interns are not financially remunerated by UN Women.
Application Information:
- UN Women will only be able to respond to those applications in which there is further interest.
- Selected applicants must provide the internship application, two letters of recommendation, proof of health insurance and school enrollment, passport, and visa (if applicable).