Communications Intern (GiPHA & WPEL)

Background

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.

The United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) was formed in July 2010 as part of the UN reform agenda, bringing together resources and mandates of parts of the UN system working on all aspects of gender equality and empowerment of women.  

UN Women’s vision is a world where societies are free of gender-based discrimination, where women and men have equal opportunities, where the comprehensive development of women and girls is ensured so that they can continue to be active agents of change, where gender equality and women’s empowerment are achieved and where women’s rights are upheld in all efforts to further development, human rights, peace and security.

UN Women’s mandate builds on inter-governmental agreements articulated in the Beijing Platform for Action (PFA), the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), the Millennium Declaration, and relevant Security Council resolutions. Central to UN Women leads coordination of the UN system efforts to ensure that commitments on gender equality and gender mainstreaming translate into concrete action at the country level.

Unit/ Project Background

UN Women’s Multi-Country Office (MCO) in Fiji, covers 14 Pacific Island countries and territories, with field presences in Kiribati, Nauru, Samoa (covering Cook Islands, Niue and Tokelau), Solomon Islands and Vanuatu and a programme presence in Tonga. UN Women is also represented through the United Nations Joint Presence Offices in Federated States of Micronesia, Palau, Republic of Marshall Islands, Tonga and Tuvalu. Outside of the Fiji MCO, UN Women also has a separate, fully fledged office in Papua New Guinea, with country-specific programming.

The UN Women Fiji MCO works with governments and civil society organisations with a focus on four programmatic areas: ending violence against women and girls; gender and protection in humanitarian action; women’s economic empowerment (including Markets for Change); and political participation, leadership and human rights.

UN Women Fiji MCO works on Women’s Political Empowerment and Leadership (WPEL) through two country-based projects. The Women in Leadership Samoa and the Consolidating Peace, Stability & Social Cohesion in Solomon Islands post RAMSI.

The Women Peace and Humanitarian Fund supports women to meaningfully participate in humanitarian preparedness and responses through (1) strengthening the capacities of local women’s organisations and women to engage and lead in national and local humanitarian activities, (2) build the capacity of protection networks and support coordination at provincial and local levels and (3) support local organisations to deliver services before during and after emergencies. The Fiji MCO supports eight projects across five countries. Since 2017, in the Pacific, WPHF has directly benefited 11,573 women and girls, reached a total of 20,150 persons and indirectly benefited 1,919,243people. Women have primarily (57%) benefited from WPHF programming.  

Duties and Responsibilities

The intern will provide communications support and research assistance to develop lessons learned and stories of change from UN Women’s programming in women’s leadership and participation in humanitarian action. The intern will also assist in the development of a funding proposal for the Peacebuilding Fund for the next phase of the joint UN Women/UNDP project Consolidating Peace, Stability and Social Cohesion in Solomon Islands post RAMSI.

With guidance and overall supervision from Programme Specialist GEWRG, and working in collaboration with Gender & Humanitarian Analyst and WPEL the team, and the MCO Communications Unit, the Intern is expected to undertake the following tasks:

Monitors:

• Monitor and track media coverage and research studies in relation to WPHF & WPEL
• Gain experience working in the field of communications and advocacy that directly relates to the rights of women and girls.

Develops:

• Assist in the development of a funding proposal for the Peacebuilding fund incorporating lessons learned and findings from key studies including a conflict analysis and project evaluation.
• Assist to develop and implement communications and advocacy activities for the WPEL & GPIHA.
• Assist to develop content updates and general maintenance of the GIPHA & WPEL section on the UN Women regional web site, intranet, MCO web-based knowledge management system.
• Assist to coordinate GPiHA & WPEL media stories and photos. Social media is a key part of the Communications Strategy, providing a platform for reaching a larger and more diverse audience.
• Assist where practicable, with the development of publications, merchandise, advocacy materials and media outreach.
• Develop personal communication skills with diverse audiences.

Reviews:

• Track and share latest research data and other information sharing, while honing personal research skills and awareness of legislation and programs to help GIPHA & WPEL
• Contribute when possible to the team’s common work and communications activities (e.g. assisting in organizing and running activities, events, media activity, etc.)

Learning Objectives

• Increased understanding of UN Women’s work and the UN system, particularly the role UN Women plays in the larger UN landscape;
• Learn different aspects of WPEL & GPiHA programming;
• Increased knowledge and understanding of issues related to WPEL & GPiHA;
• Increased knowledge of issues related to women’s empowerment;
• Build and develop professional relationships with UN Women colleagues in other units;
• Work as a team member in a multicultural setting;
• Develop project management and evaluation skills. 

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

• Excellent written, verbal, & interpersonal communication skills;
• Exemplary client service and relationship management skills;
• Understanding of issues relating to gender equality and ending violence against women and girls;
• Ability to work effectively in a team environment;
• Ability to exercise good judgment, use discretion, work with limited supervision;
• A self-starter; able to anticipate issues and propose solutions.

Required Skills and Experience

Education

• The intern must have studies in communications, international studies, development or other similar subjects at the university level;
• According to UN Women rules, one of the following must be applicable to the Intern;
• 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.

Additional Information

UN Women Intership Policy

• Applicants to the United Nations internship programme must at the time of application meet one of the following requirements:
• 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 (as in (a) and (b) above) and, if selected, must commence the internship within one year.
• UN Women internship programme does not provide a salary or remuneration for the internship;
• All the expenses connected with the internship will be borne by the intern, sponsoring Government or institution;
• UN Women accepts no responsibility for costs arising from accidents and/or illness or death incurred during the internship;
• The intern is responsible for obtaining necessary visas and arranging travel to and from the duty station where the internship will be performed;
• Interns are not eligible to apply for, or be appointed to, any position in the professional and above categories at UN WOMEN during the period of the internship or for six months immediately following the expiration date of internship;
• 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.

General Working Conditions

• Although the intern is not considered a staff member of UN Women, he/she is subject to the authority of the Executive Director and the authority delegated by her to the Heads of Sections/Units and Offices. 
• The intern is not entitled to the privileges and immunities accorded by member states to UN Women, its officials and staff members.
• UN Women accepts no responsibility for costs or fatality arising from illness or accidents incurred during the internship; therefore, the intern must carry adequate and regular health and life insurance. 
• The intern will respect the confidentiality of information that is collected or that he/she is exposed to at UN Women.  No reports or papers may be published based on information obtained from UN Women without the explicit written authorization of the Head of Section or Office.