Internship Programs

UN Women Internships

Unpaid Internships

The goal of the UN Women Internship program is to provide students interested in international development with a better understanding of the work and challenges of UN Women. Therefore, it is suitable for those who seek to complement their education with a professional experience in issues related to gender equality and women’s empowerment. In addition, the organization’s diverse environment fosters cultural and experience exchange among professionals of various nationalities and different educational and professional backgrounds.

In pursuit of its mission, the OpenIGO network has prepared a comprehensive eBook and support and guidance services, with the aim of highly increasing your chances of success in these competitive processes. These services include revising your UN internships application documents (curriculum vitae/resume and cover letter) and a mock interview, as per the United Nations model. We also offer a range of packages that combine the eBook with different services.

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UN Internships – PDF eBook

UN Women Overview

UN Women is a United Nations agency dedicated to promoting gender equality and the empowerment of women. To this end, UN Women works in partnership with government and civil society organizations to design policies, laws, programs and services that aim primarily to increase women’s participation, end violence against women, engage women in peace and security processes, enhance women’s economic empowerment and promote gender equality in national development planning. Headquartered in New York (United States), the agency also has regional, country, multi-country and liaison offices worldwide.

UN Women’s main focus: To promote gender equality and the empowerment of women.

Themes addressed by UN Women:

Leadership and political participation
Economic empowerment
Ending violence against women
Peace and security
Humanitarian action
Youth
Governance and national planning
Sustainable development agenda
HIV and AIDS

Description of the UN Women Internship

What are the fields of study required for the UN Women Internship?
This internship program includes students and recent graduates from the most diverse fields of knowledge. The areas of study with the highest demand in this program are:

Social Sciences
International Development
Gender Studies
Law
Political Science
Other related areas

What are the tasks performed by the selected for the UN Women Internship?
The activities performed vary according to the opening and the requirements of the different departments to which interns are allocated. However, generally speaking, the main duties are:

Support the design, implementation and evaluation of UN Women projects;
Research subjects relevant to the agency’s activities;
Write and review articles, documents and publications;
Provide operational and administrative support;
Help organize events and conferences;
Take part in training sessions with staff members.

What is the duration of the UN Women Internship?
The internship period ranges from at least 2 months to up to 6 months at most.

What is the weekly workload of the UN Women Internship?
There are openings for part-time e fulltime (40 hours per week) internships.

Where are the locations of the UN Women Internship?
Most openings are for UN Women’s headquarters in New York, but there may also be opportunities in its various Regional, Country and Liaison Offices:
Regional/Country Offices: Africa, Arab States/North Africa, Asia & the Pacific, Europe & Central Asia, Americas & the Caribbean.
Liaison Offices: Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), Brussels (Belgium), Geneva (Switzerland), Tokyo (Japan) and Copenhagen (Denmark).

When does the UN Women Internship start?
The initial date of the internship shall be coordinated between the intern and the organization.

Is there any feedback following the completion of the UN Women Internship?
At the end of the internship, the supervisor is in charge of preparing an assessment report of the intern’s performance.

Subsequent employment:
Participation in the internship is not related to future employment with the agency. During the internship period and within six months immediately after the program you will not be eligible to apply for or be appointed to any effective position in the organization. However, the UN Women Internship experience will be a distinctive feature in your curriculum, which may facilitate your hiring by other organizations inside or outside the UN System.

UN Women Internship Salary

The internship is unpaid.

UN Women Internship - Requirements

What is the education requirement of the UN Women Internship Program?

Be enrolled in a graduate school program (Master’s or PhD), or;
Be enrolled in the last school year of an undergraduate school program (Bachelor’s level or equivalent), or;
Have graduated from an undergraduate or graduate course in the last 12 months.

What is the language requirement of the UN Women Internship Program?
Fluency in English (written and oral) is required. Working knowledge of another UN official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Spanish, Russian) may be an asset in the selection process.

What is the age requirement of the UN Women Internship Program?
Applicants must be at least 18 years old at the time of enrolment. There is no upper age limit.

What is the Nationality requirement of the UN Women Internship Program?
Applicants must be a citizen of a UN Women state member.

What are the competencies required for the UN Women Internship?
The main competencies required are: Respect for diversity, integrity, professionalism, awareness and sensitivity regarding gender issues, accountability, creative problem solving, effective communication, inclusive collaboration, stakeholder engagement and leading by example.

Other requirements of the UN Women Internship:
Most internships require no work experience. However, previous experiences may be an advantage in the selection process.

What are the restrictions of the UN Women Internship?

An applicant may not be a child or sibling of a UN Women staff member;
UN Women is not responsible for losses/accidents or any other misfortune befalling the intern during the internship period;
Interns shall not be accepted as substitutes for actual UN Women staff;
Interns shall not be able to represent UN Women in any official capacity.

UN Women Internship - Application process

When to apply for the UN Women Internship Program?
Application deadlines vary depending on the openings and the needs of organization. Therefore, it is important search for internship opportunities through information on the UNDP E-recruitment System and website.

How to apply for the UN Women Internship Program?
The internship application process is done via the UNDP E-recruitment System (UN Women does not have its own application process), where all openings are published, and comprises the following steps:

Initial registration;
Filling out the candidate profile (academic and professional background);
Search for an opening in your field of interest;
Filling out the application form;
Submit the application.

What are the phases of the selection process for the UN Women Internship?
The selection process may vary depending on the department or office to which the intern is applying, but generally comprises the following steps:

Creating a profile and preparing an application;
Submitting the application;
Evaluation of the application;
Competency-based interview;
Selection notifications.

How is the UN Women Internship interview?
Usually, only selected applicants will be contacted for the interview, which lasts about 30 minutes and may be done via Skype or phone. The main points covered in the interview vary according to the opening and department chosen. In general, however, the questions address subjective or behavioral aspects, such as your expectations about the job, your interests in the area of expertise you are applying for and your previous experiences.

What are the documents to submit for the UN Women Internship Program?
Documents for the online application process:

UN Women Personal History Form (P11);
Cover Note/Letter;
CV/Résumé.

Documents required if selected:

Two letters of recommendation;
Proof of health insurance coverage;
Proof of school enrollment or graduation;
Scanned copy of passport;
Internship agreement form.

What is the evaluation criteria of the UN Women Internship?
You will be evaluated regarding your previous experience, skills and competencies, and educational background.

Other information:
UN Women seeks to promote diversity and reduce gender inequality in its workforce. It is therefore recommended that members of minority groups, indigenous peoples or individuals with special needs apply for internships.

Costs incurred

The organization offers no financial aid to cover costs related to preparing for or doing the internship. However, you may request financial aid from a sponsoring institution, for example, a university and/or government agency in your country.

Visa:
You or your sponsoring institution will be responsible for the costs and arrangements of obtaining the visa (if needed to do the internship).

Insurance:
You or your sponsoring institution will be responsible for the costs of enrolling in a valid global medical insurance plan.

Accommodation:
You or your sponsoring institution will be responsible for accommodation expenses during the internship period.

Other:
You or your sponsoring institution will be responsible for the costs and arrangements of the trip to the workplace to which you have been assigned.