INTERN - SOCIAL SCIENCES (GENDER EQUALITY AND WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT)

Assist in gender equality and women's empowerment projects.

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UNESCAP - Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific

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Application deadline 2 months ago: Sunday 17 May 2026 at 03:59 UTC

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Overview

Assist in gender equality and women's empowerment projects.

You have:

  • Have completed a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent) or a first university degree programme (minimum bachelor's level or equivalent).
  • Demonstrated keen interest in the work of the United Nations and a personal commitment to the ideals of the Charter.
  • Ability to successfully interact with individuals of different backgrounds and beliefs.
  • Fluency in English; knowledge of an additional official UN language or another language from the Asia-Pacific region is an asset.
  • Experience in research and writing skills with the ability to summarize information for speeches, analytical papers, presentations, etc.
  • Experience organizing and supporting workshops and meetings would be an asset.
  • Experience working on issues related to gender equality and women’s empowerment, particularly with regards to care economy or entrepreneurship.

Contract

This is a I-1 contract. It usually requires 0 years of experience, depending on education. More about I-1 contracts.

Work Location

Bangkok or remote, with a preference for part of the internship being onsite in Bangkok

Expected duration

3-6 months

Duties and Responsibilities

The Social Development Division/ Gender Equality and Social Inclusion Section internship is for 3-6 months. The Social Development Division consists of three sections namely: 1) Sustainable Demographic Transition Section (SDTS); 2) Sustainable Socio-economic Transformation Section (SETS) and 3) Gender Equality and Social Inclusion Section (GESIS), covering the thematic areas of inequality and social protection, population dynamics, ageing, migration, gender equality, disability and youth. The Gender Equality and Social Inclusion Section (GESIS) of the Social Development Division covers the thematic areas of gender equality and women's empowerment, gender mainstreaming and disability inclusion in all areas of ESCAP work. For this internship, GESIS is looking for several candidates to support our work on gender equality and women’s empowerment, including through projects related to care economy and entrepreneurship and our gender mainstreaming work. Daily responsibilities will depend on the individual's background and the intern's assigned tasks as well as the internship period. Duties may include, but are not limited to the following: - carrying out research, including data analysis, on selected aspects of critical areas of concern related to gender equality and women's empowerment, such as economic participation, leadership and engagement in decision-making, as well as on the Sustainable Development Goals; - assisting in organizing and convening meetings and workshops; - contributing to the preparation of various written outputs and data visualization, e.g. draft background papers, speeches, PowerPoints and inputs to publications; - providing substantive and administrative support to the implementation of technical cooperation projects on women's economic empowerment and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development; - performing other duties as might be assigned by the Chief of Section. The internship is unpaid and full-time. Interns work five days per week (37.5 hours) under the supervision of a staff member in the Gender Equality and Social Inclusion Section.

Qualifications/special skills

Applicants must, at the time of application, meet one of the following requirements: (a) Be enrolled in, or have completed, a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher); or, (b) Be enrolled in, or have completed, the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum bachelor's level or equivalent). Have demonstrated keen interest in the work of the United Nations and have a personal commitment to the ideals of the Charter. Have demonstrated the ability to successfully interact with individuals of different backgrounds and beliefs, which include willingness to try and understand and be tolerant of different opinions and views. Competencies •Communication: -Speaks and writes clearly and effectively -Listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately -Asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication -Tailors language, tone, style and format to match the audience -Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed •Teamwork: -Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals -Solicits input by genuinely valuing others' ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others -Places team agenda before personal agenda -Supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position -Shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings •Client Orientation: -Considers all those to whom services are provided to be "clients" and seeks to see things from clients' point of view -Establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect -Identifies clients' needs and matches them to appropriate solutions -Monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients' environment to keep informed and anticipate problems -Keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects -Meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client •Planning & Organizing: -Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies -Identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required -Allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work -Foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning -Monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary -Uses time efficiently No working experience is required to apply for the United Nations Internship Programme, however experience in the following would be an asset: research and writing skills with the ability to complete summarize information for use in speeches, analytical papers, presentations etc. in a timely manner; organizing and supporting workshops and meetings; and/or experience working on issues related to gender equality and women’s empowerment, particularly with regards to the care economy or entrepreneurship.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Fluency in English is required for the internship. Knowledge of an additional official UN language or another language from the Asia-Pacific region is an asset.

Additional Information

In your motivation statement, you must include the following information: - Planned internship period and mode: Please specify the expected internship duration, starting and ending dates, and whether it will be conducted onsite, remotely or a mix. Note that a commitment to a 6-month internship and most of the internship being onsite could be advantageous Please note that due to the large number of applicants, ONLY short-listed applicants will be contacted for further consideration.

Intern Specific text

Interns are not financially remunerated by the United Nations. Costs and arrangements for travel, visas, accommodation and living expenses are the responsibility of interns or their sponsoring institutions. Interns who are not citizens or permanent residents of the country where the internship is undertaken, may be required to obtain the appropriate visa and work/employment authorization. Successful candidates should discuss their specific visa requirements before accepting the internship offer.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.

Potential interview questions

Describe a time when you worked with a diverse team. How did you ensure everyone's voice was heard? This question assesses your teamwork and interpersonal skills in diverse settings. Highlight your approach to fostering inclusive discussions and valuing different perspectives.
Can you share an example of a research project you've been involved in? What was your role? Understanding your research experience is crucial for this internship. Pro members can see the explanation.
What does gender equality mean to you, and why do you think it is important? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
How would you handle a situation where a team member disagrees with your ideas? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
What strategies would you use to prioritize tasks during your internship? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
Please describe a time when you had to communicate complex information clearly. What was the context? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
What do you hope to achieve during this internship? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
How do you stay informed about developments in gender equality issues? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
Added 3 months ago - Updated 2 months ago - Source: careers.un.org