UN Women, CSD Stakeholder Engagement Intern, New York, USA

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. 

UN Women plays a central role in facilitating the effective participation of civil society in the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), supporting inclusive engagement across global, regional, and national levels. This includes enabling civil society contributions to preparatory processes, formal and informal CSW engagements, and follow-up actions to strengthen implementation and accountability. CSW71 provides a critical platform to advance global commitments on gender equality and to strengthen implementation of international normative frameworks, including the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. In a context marked by persistent inequalities, shrinking civic space, and evolving global challenges, there is a need to reinforce inclusive and participatory approaches to multilateral processes. Meaningful engagement of civil society—particularly women’s rights organizations and youth-led movements—is essential to ensure that policy discussions and outcomes are informed by diverse perspectives, grounded in lived realities, and responsive to emerging priorities.

Under the overall guidance and supervision of the Advocacy and Partnership Specialist, the intern will support UN Women’s efforts to engage civil society organizations in the context of CSW71. 

Description of Responsibilities

Under the supervision of the Advocacy and Partnership Specialist, the intern will:

• Support the organization of inclusive, intergenerational, and intersectional civil society consultations to inform CSW71 processes and outcomes. This includes logistical arrangements and preparation of supporting documents for the consultations;
• Assist in coordination of meetings with diverse civil society organizations, including women’s rights organizations, grassroots groups, and youth-led movements, across global, regional, and national levels to contribute to CSW71 preparatory processes;
• Support the implementation of the Civil Society Engagement Strategy for CSW71, including outreach, stakeholder mapping, and coordination of inputs into key processes such as Expert Group Meetings, consultations, and multistakeholder engagements;
• Assist in facilitating civil society participation in formal and informal CSW71 processes, including reviewing and uploading written statements on CSW website, supporting consultation meetings, and advocacy efforts aligned with the priority theme;
• Support preparation of background materials, summaries of civil society inputs, and knowledge products;
• Support the drafting of briefing notes and meeting records by integrating technical inputs and data visualizations based on ongoing engagement activities.

Learning Opportunities

• Increased understanding of UN Women’s work related to global normative processes and public policies.
• Gained knowledge about civil society organizations working on gender issues and the global Sustainable Development Goals and Agenda 2030.
• Familiarity with UN Women, the issues it covers, and its collaboration and relationship to other parts of the United Nations system. 
• Familiarity with the functions, processes, and impact of the Commission on the Status of Women.

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

Functional Competencies: 

• Understanding of gender equality, women’s empowerment, and women's rights issues.
• Ability to think logically and detail oriented.
• Ability to work in a multicultural environment.
• Familiarity with civil society organiz