Intern for the EntreprenHER Programme

Job Posting Organization:
UN Women was established in July 2010 by the United Nations General Assembly as the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. The organization is dedicated to eliminating discrimination against women and girls, empowering women, and achieving equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action, and peace and security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security. UN Women operates globally, focusing on various initiatives that promote gender equality and women's empowerment. The EntreprenHER Programme, funded by the De Beers Group since 2018, is one of the key initiatives implemented by UN Women South Africa Country Office (SACO), which supports women-owned micro-enterprises through various capacity-building interventions. UN Women aims to create a diverse and inclusive environment, ensuring that all employment decisions are based on qualifications, competence, integrity, and organizational need.

Job Overview:
The Intern for the EntreprenHER Programme will play a crucial role in supporting the implementation of the programme in partnership with the Local Economic Development (LED) Units in the Blouberg and Musina Local Municipalities. The intern will work under the direct supervision of the EntreprenHER Programme Analyst and collaborate closely with the respective Municipal Leads. The primary focus of this position is to provide structured programme, administrative, logistical, communications, and data support to ensure effective implementation of the EntreprenHER Programme. The intern will assist in various aspects of the programme, including logistical preparations for trainings and events, maintaining organized programme files, collecting and organizing data, and supporting communication efforts to enhance visibility during events. This role offers an opportunity to gain hands-on experience in programme coordination and implementation while contributing to the empowerment of women micro-entrepreneurs in South Africa.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Programme & Logistical Support: Assist with logistical preparations for trainings, mentorship sessions, graduations, exhibitions, and stakeholder events. Support the preparation of materials such as attendance registers, name tags, certificates, and visibility items. Provide on-site support during activities and field visits.
• Administrative & Coordination Support: Maintain organized electronic and physical programme files. Update simple trackers, beneficiary contact lists, and activity schedules. Assist with follow-up communication to beneficiaries and partners as guided.
• Data and Monitoring Support: Collect and organize attendance registers and supporting documents. Support basic data entry and upload information onto programme platforms under guidance. Check completeness of documentation before submission.
• Communication Support: Coordinate with communications teams for visibility during events. Ensure correct branding materials are displayed at programme activities.
• Stakeholder Support and Learning: Attend selected meetings as an observer and assist with note-taking where required. Support basic meeting logistics and coordination. Gain exposure to partnership coordination between UN Women, municipalities, trainers, and entrepreneurs.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess strong administrative and organizational skills, as well as the ability to work collaboratively with municipalities and community stakeholders. A basic knowledge of entrepreneurship development or small business support programmes is preferred. The intern should demonstrate good time management and multitasking abilities, along with a commitment to gender equality and women's empowerment. Additionally, the intern should have effective communication skills and the ability to work in rural and community-based settings.

Educational Background:
The ideal candidate should have completed or be enrolled in university or TVET studies in disciplines such as Entrepreneur/Business studies, Development Studies, Social Studies, Public Administration, or other relevant subjects. Candidates must meet one of the following criteria: 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 must commence the internship within a two-year period of graduation; or 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.

Experience:
The position requires candidates to have some level of experience in administrative support or programme coordination, preferably in a non-profit or development context. While specific years of experience are not mandated, familiarity with community engagement and support for micro-enterprises will be advantageous. The intern should be eager to learn and gain practical experience in the field of gender equality and women's empowerment.

Languages:
Excellent communication skills (written and oral) in English are required. Additionally, proficiency in Sepedi and/or Xivhenda is required, as these languages will facilitate better communication with local beneficiaries and stakeholders.

Additional Notes:
Interns who are not receiving 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. 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). 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.