Women's Economic Empowerment (WEE) Intern

Job Posting Organization:
UN Women was established in July 2010 as the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. It was created as part of the UN reform agenda to consolidate resources and mandates for greater impact in the area of gender equality and women's empowerment. The organization merges and builds upon the work of four previously distinct parts of the UN system that focused on gender issues, namely DAW, OSAGI, INSTRAW, and UNIFEM. UN Women operates globally, with a regional representation for East and Southern Africa (ESA) that includes 12 Country Offices and support to 11 UN Country Teams. The organization is committed to 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" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security. UN Women’s ESA region is characterized by its complexity and diversity, with varying levels of governance and stability across different countries.

Job Overview:
The Women's Economic Empowerment (WEE) Intern will play a crucial role in supporting the WEE portfolio at UN Women. This position is designed for individuals who are passionate about gender equality and women's economic empowerment, particularly in the context of the East and Southern Africa region. The intern will assist the Policy Specialist in various tasks, including conducting economic empowerment-related research from a gender economics perspective, managing and implementing programs, and contributing to communication efforts such as writing position papers, creating social media content, and drafting articles for the website. The internship aims to enhance the intern's knowledge of gender equality and women's economic empowerment, as well as provide insights into the operational aspects of working within UN Women. The intern will also gain valuable experience in the intersection of gender and economics in development, particularly in the African context.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The intern will be responsible for a variety of tasks that support the Policy Specialist, including:

• Reviewing and conducting research related to economic empowerment from a gender economics perspective.
• Assisting in the management and implementation of programs related to women's economic empowerment.
• Supporting various communications tasks, such as writing position papers, talking points, and website articles.
• Developing content for social media posts to promote the WEE initiatives.
• Performing administrative tasks as required to support the Policy Specialist and the overall WEE portfolio.
• Engaging in learning opportunities to enhance knowledge on gender equality and women's economic empowerment, as well as the operational aspects of UN Women.

Required Qualifications:
Applicants must meet one of the following requirements to be eligible for the internship:

• Be enrolled in a postgraduate degree program (such as a master’s program or higher) in feminist/gender economics or a related field.
• Be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree program (such as a bachelor’s degree or equivalent) in feminist/gender economics or a related field.
• Be enrolled in a mandatory national service program of which the internship may form a part.
• Have recently graduated with a university degree as defined in (a) and (b) above, and if selected, must start the internship within two years of graduation.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this internship includes enrollment in a postgraduate degree program or being in the final year of a bachelor's degree program in feminist/gender economics or a related field. This ensures that candidates possess the necessary academic foundation to engage with the complex issues surrounding women's economic empowerment and gender equality.

Experience:
While specific prior work experience is not mandatory for this internship, candidates should demonstrate a strong understanding of feminist/gender economics and development issues, particularly in the context of East and Southern Africa. This can be shown through academic coursework, volunteer work, or relevant projects that highlight the candidate's commitment to gender equality and women's empowerment.

Languages:
Excellent communication skills in English, both written and oral, are required for this position. Additionally, having a working knowledge of another UN language is considered an advantage, as it may facilitate communication and collaboration within the diverse international environment of UN Women.

Additional Notes:
The internship is designed to provide valuable experience in the field of women's economic empowerment and gender equality. Interns who do not receive financial support from other sources will receive a stipend from UN Women to help cover basic living costs during the internship. The position is part-time and may require flexibility in working hours to accommodate various tasks and responsibilities. UN Women is committed to diversity and inclusion, ensuring that all candidates are evaluated based on their qualifications and competencies, regardless of their background.