UN Women Internship: Push Forward for Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment

Job Posting Organization:
UN Women was established in July 2010 as part of the UN reform agenda to enhance the impact of gender equality and women's empowerment efforts. It merges the work of four previously distinct parts of the UN system focused on gender issues. UN Women operates globally, with a mission to eliminate discrimination against women and girls, empower women, and achieve equality between women and men. The organization plays a central role in advancing global norms and standards for gender equality and works with various stakeholders, including governments, civil society, and the private sector, to promote transformative change. The Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia (ECARO), established in Istanbul in 2014, provides strategic guidance and technical support to country-level efforts across the region, collaborating with national mechanisms and partners to address gender equality challenges.

Job Overview:
The internship-position" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">internship position at UN Women focuses on supporting the Push Forward Task Force in finalizing, piloting, and implementing the Regional Push Forward Strategy for Europe and Central Asia. The intern will play a crucial role in strengthening coordination across regional and country-level workstreams, enhancing collaboration with Country Offices, and engaging with HQ colleagues to ensure alignment between regional implementation and global learning. The role requires a candidate with strong research experience to contribute to the regional research initiative on gender push-back narratives, analyzing and documenting findings, practices, and emerging trends. The intern will gain practical experience in supporting regional strategy implementation and develop a strong understanding of how UN Women addresses gender equality in complex contexts marked by backlash against women's rights.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The intern will support the Push Forward Task Force under the guidance of a designated supervisor. Expected tasks include: conducting research and analysis on gender push-back narratives and related trends; contributing to the finalization and implementation of the Regional Push Forward Strategy; coordinating with Country Offices to gather inputs and document practices; assisting with knowledge management, including synthesizing research findings and preparing internal materials; collaborating with HQ colleagues to align regional work with global learning; and providing logistical and substantive support for meetings and consultations.

Required Qualifications:
Applicants must meet one of the following requirements: be enrolled in a postgraduate degree program, be in the final year of a first university degree program, be enrolled in a mandatory national service program, or have recently graduated with a university degree. Candidates must demonstrate sound analytical writing skills, a strong interest in gender issues, and excellent communication skills in English. A working knowledge of another UN language is an advantage. Additionally, candidates must not have any direct family relationship with UN Women personnel to be eligible for the internship.

Educational Background:
Candidates should be enrolled in or have completed a degree program relevant to gender studies, international development, social sciences, or a related field. The internship is suitable for those pursuing postgraduate studies or in the final year of their undergraduate studies, as well as recent graduates.

Experience:
The position requires candidates to have strong research skills and experience in analytical writing. While specific prior work experience is not mandatory, familiarity with gender issues and previous involvement in related projects or internships will be beneficial. The intern should be able to work effectively in collaborative settings and manage multiple tasks efficiently.

Languages:
Proficiency in English, both spoken and written, is mandatory. Knowledge of another UN language is considered an asset and may enhance the candidate's application.

Additional Notes:
The internship is unpaid, but interns who do not receive financial support from other sources may receive a stipend from UN Women to help cover basic living costs. Candidates must submit a CV and a motivation letter indicating their availability for the internship. Due to the high volume of applications, only successful candidates will be contacted. Selected candidates will need to provide proof of enrollment in a valid health insurance plan, proof of school enrollment or degree, and other documentation as required. The internship is intended to provide professional experience in an international development environment, focusing on collaboration, knowledge management, and support for multi-stakeholder processes.