Internship Spotlight: United Nations Internships in New York!

VGIF is an international fund that provides small grants for grassroots projects that empower women and girls in developing countries.  VGIF is in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and the Department of Public Information (DPI) at the United Nations.  VGIF is seeking interns/volunteers to give 15 hours per week in the areas of data gathering, writing, monitoring UN and NGO calendars of events and meetings, and attending meetings of UN bodies and NGOs at and around the UN in New York. 

Such volunteers, along with the VGIF Main Representatives to ECOSOC and DPI will constitute the VGIF Team of Representatives at the UN.  The Main Representatives are responsible for reporting to the VGIF Board of Directors through its UN Committee, President and Executive Director.

Dates of service are from late January through December 2014, with the opportunity to continue through the next Commission of the Status of Women (CSW).

The position is an uncompensated, voluntary position; some funds are available for expenses in connection with events and limited local travel. Credit may be available through your university. Please check with them directly for requirements.

Flexible hours:Because students and volunteers have specific issues around classes, exams and other school-related, family and community commitments, we are aware of the need to schedule volunteer somewhat flexible hours. However, it must be possible for the accepted candidate(s) to attend a major portion of the CSW 58 (March 10 – March 21, 2014).

Qualifications:

·       Passionate about women’s global concerns, including issues affecting girls

·       Commitment to the internship 

    Self-starter, self-directed and goal-oriented

    Team player, comfortable with a collaborative work environment

    Well-organized; Excellent written and verbal communication skills

·       Recommended by at least one teacher/professor and one non-profit official or volunteer coordinator

·       We expect this voluntary commitment to be managed as one would manage a paid work commitment

Responsibilities may include the following, but will be negotiated with each person accepted according to interests and time available:

·       Time to attend training and participate in scheduled meetings

·       Data collection: Sources to include the UN website,  NGO postings, NGO Committee sites and new articles to advise the Team about meetings at and around the UN and to provide briefing papers about issues related to women’s issues and development

·       Writing reports of meetings; articles for various publications of VGIF; and other assignments

·       Monitoring the UN Journal and developing a calendar of assignments/events

·       Attending meetings at the UN on issues of interest to VGIF; attending meetings of NGO committees; writing brief summaries about such meetings; following up where it is in VGIF’s interest to be part of the process

·       Reports to:  Main representative of VGIF for ECOSOC or DPI and the VGIF Program Director

How to apply: Please send a cover letter and resume to aconstantineau@vgif.org and include "VGIF-UN intern/volunteer" in the Subject Line of the email.  We will send the application form upon receipt.

Deadline for receiving applications is November 30, 2013.  Interviews will occur before the end of the fall semester and candidates will be notified before December 15.  Start date in late January, to be negotiated.