The Position:

The inclusive UNFPA Internship Programme offers outstanding students the opportunity to acquire direct exposure to UNFPA operations. It is designed to complement development-oriented studies with practical experience in various aspects of UNFPA work.

Applicants should be interested in the field of development, have the ability to adapt to new environments, and work with individuals from different cultural backgrounds. Interns work as part of agile teams that support and hold each other accountable. In addition, they will have supervisory support from an assigned UNFPA staffer. The backgrounds of the interns match the needs of the organization.

How you can make a difference:

UNFPA is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe, and every young person's potential is fulfilled. UNFPA’s strategic plan (2022-2025), reaffirms the relevance of the current strategic direction of UNFPA and focuses on three transformative results: to end preventable maternal deaths; to end unmet needs for family planning; and to end gender-based violence and harmful practices. These results capture our strategic commitments to accelerating progress towards realizing the ICPD and SDGs in the Decade of Action leading up to 2030. Our strategic plan calls upon UN Member States, organizations, and individuals to “build forward better”, while addressing the negative impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on women’s and girls’ access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, recovering lost gains, and realizing our goals.

In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff who embody these international norms and standards and who will defend them courageously and with full conviction.

UNFPA is seeking candidates that transform, inspire, and deliver high impact and sustained results; we need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them, and who commit to delivering excellence in programme results.

Job Purpose: The external relations intern will support the systematization of the UNFPA Regional Office’s experiences in engaging in intergovernmental processes to advance the rights of women and young people, achieving gender equality in the context of profound demographic shifts and successfully addressing pushbacks to gender equality and human rights. The person will also be involved in the engagement between UNFPA and National and Regional Organizations and their communities, policymakers, alumni, and other stakeholders. The successful candidate will work under the supervision of the Strategic Partnerships Adviser and in close collaboration with the UNFPA regional team. She/He will also deliver a variety of tasks that include support for events, preparation of engagement reports, facilitation of activities with external partners, creation of information packs, organization of visits, and performing other tasks assigned by the supervisor.

Qualifications and Experience:

The applicants must meet the following educational and other eligibility requirements:

Educational requirements

  1. A bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in political science, international relations, public relations, gender studies, or a science-policy program.
  2. Be enrolled in a postgraduate degree programme (such as a master’s or higher) in political science, gender studies, or international relations.
  3. Ability to start the internship during the period of March–April 2024.

    Other eligibility requirements

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