UNDP’s mission is helping to eradicate poverty, reduce inequalities and exclusion, and build resilience so countries can sustain progress. As the UN’s development agency, UNDP plays a critical role in helping countries achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

The UNDP Sub-Regional Hub for West and Central Africa (UNDP WACA) covers 24 countries, ranging from high and middle-income economies to least developed countries and countries in crisis and post-crisis situations. UNDP works with its national counterparts in the sub-region to support the implementation of national development priorities and achieve the sustainable development goals.

One of the UNDP WACA flagships is its Regional Stabilization Facility, which it has been implementing in the Lake Chad Basin Region since 2019 and in the Liptako Gourma Region since 2021. The overall objective of these projects is to reduce the risk of violence in the target areas in order to enable the implementation of longer-term peacebuilding, recovery and development program. These projects aim to stop the spiral of insecurity, forced displacement and conflict and to strengthen social cohesion.

Gender inequality remains a major barrier to human development ²and at the epicenter of all these challenges. Girls and women have made major strides, but they have not yet gained gender equity. The disadvantages facing women and girls are a major source of inequality. And all too often, women and girls are discriminated against in health, education, political representation, labor market, etc.—with negative consequences for development of their capabilities and their freedom of choice.

Gender Equality is one of the core objectives of UNDP and is implemented throughout the organization in a two-pronged approach: mainstreaming gender in all core practices; and dedicated interventions that empower women and promote gender equality, for example through the Gender Seal[3], the Gender Marker, the Gender in Stabilization Guidance Note and knowledge management.

The Gender and Stabilization intern will support with knowledge management as such it will support with the collection of best-practices, and a community of practice. Moreover, the intern will assist with the reporting, communication, planning and implementation of activities that fall under the Stabilization program. This internship position is remunerated.

[1] WEF_Global Gender Gap Report_2024.pdf (weforum.org)

[2] 2023 Gender Social Norms Index (GSNI) | Human Development Reports (undp.org)

[3] UNDP Gender Equality Seal Initiative for UNDP entities | United Nations Development Programme

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the guidance and supervision of the Gender Specialist, the Gender and Stabilization intern will provide support as follows:

• Support with knowledge management, such as the collection of the gender best-practices, bi-monthly gender meetings with the stabilization gender focal points
• In cooperation with the Regional Bureau for Africa, assist with the development of a community of practice.
• Support with drafting progress reports, concept notes and terms of reference (inter-agency) meeting minutes, as well as proofreading technical documents.
• Support with the monitoring of the Stabilization programme implementation, with a focus on the gender related activities
• Assist in preparing (mid-annual) reports, proofread and provide feedback.
• Support the communications team in carrying out ongoing activities (event coverage, banners, various communications media, etc.).

Competencies

During the assignment, the intern will gain experience in:

• Knowledge Management
• Gender Equality
• Drafting and preparation of reports and minutes;
• Programme Management at a regional level, and understanding its complexities;
• Hands-on planning and implementation of stabilization programs, and gender activities;
• Gender mainstreaming in large, multi-country programs.

Required Skills and Experience

• Current student in a higher education program, or recently graduated, in the field of social sciences, gender studies, international relations, economics, conflict studies, or humanitarian action.
• Language proficiency in English and French. Excellent proficiency in one, and working-knowledge of the other is required.
• Pre if you have existing Gender expertise or knowledge of the context in West Africa.