Background

UN Women 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.

Unit/ Project Background:

The role of the Civil Society Division (CSD) is to catalyze, promote and facilitate UN Women's engagement with civil society. The Division develops strategies for partnerships with civil society organizations (CSOs), women's rights organizations and networks, and our Civil Society Advisory Groups at the country, regional and global level. CSD also leads the work on supporting civil society movement building, movement protection and solidarity. CSD's work is anchored in the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, as well as the Beijing Platform for Action, and focuses on amplifying the principles of leaving no one behind. As such, the Division employs an intersectional approach to its catalytic work. The Division supports civil society participation in a number of intergovernmental processes, including the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), which is the principal global intergovernmental body exclusively dedicated to the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women.

Duties and Responsibilities

Description of Responsibilities
Under the supervision of the Civil Society Division, the intern shall perform the following assignments, which may vary in accordance with the priorities of the Division:

  • Assist with the strategic outreach to civil society partners (women’s rights organizations, youth led organizations, men and boys’ groups, trade unions, refugee and migrant groups, US and Europe based NGOs, disability organizations, faith-based actors etc.), by researching and mapping of CSO partnerships and initiatives
  • Support the Division’s other priority areas including the use of arts advocacy for social justice movement building, research on feminist faith engagement, LGBTI issues etc. as needed
  • Assist in preparing meeting notes, briefing notes and talking points for the Division chief and other UN Women senior representatives
  • Assist with NGO written statements (mild editing and formatting)
  • Assist with designing and developing communications outreach products for events (flyers, report covers, brochures etc)
  • Support NGO online registration for CSW, including by monitoring and responding to email requests
  • Assist with the scheduling of CSW side events on UN premises
  • Assist with NGO onsite check-in prior and during CSW
  • Assist with the CSW information desk during the session
  • Assist with social media activities concerning the Civil Society Division via the organization’s specialized social media platforms. 

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 will stimulate action over the next fifteen years 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: http://www.unwomen.org/-/media/headquarters/attachments/sections/about%20us/employment/un-women-employment-values-and-competencies-definitions-en.pdf

Functional Competencies:

  • Analytical and academic research skills
  • Ability to think logically and work with great attention to detail;
  • Ability to write proficiently, clearly and concisely;
  • Ability to work harmoniously with staff members of different national and cultural backgrounds.
  • Familiarity with communications, social media and office software suites

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

  • The intern must have studies in communications, social science, political science, law, public policies, human development, public administration or other similar subject at the university level.
  • 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

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)

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

UN Women Internship Policy:

1.) Applicants to the United Nations internship programme must at the time of application meet one of the following requirements:

(a)    Be enrolled in a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher);

(b)    Be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum Bachelor’s level or equivalent);

(c)    Have graduated with a university degree (as (a) (b) above) and, if selected, must commence the internship within a one-year period of graduation.

2.) UN Women internship programme does not provide a salary or remuneration for the internship;

3.) All the expenses connected with the internship will be borne by the intern, sponsoring Government or institution;

4.) UN Women accepts no responsibility for costs arising from accidents and/or illness or death incurred during the internship;

5.) The intern is responsible for obtaining necessary visas and arranging travel to and from the duty station where the internship will be performed;

6.) Interns are not eligible to apply for, or be appointed to positions in the professional and above category in UN WOMEN during the period of the internship or for six months immediately following the expiration date of internship;

7.) The intern must provide proof of enrollment in a health insurance plan, proof of school enrollment, a scanned copy of his/her passport, two letters of recommendation, and application