Gender Equality and Social Inclusion Mainstreaming Intern

The Infrastructure and Project Management Group (IPMG) provides policy, standards guidance and support in three UNOPS service lines of Project Management, Infrastructure and Financial Management Services (Grant Support and Fund Management). IPMG leads the design and implementation of a project, programme and portfolio management (P3M) system centered around the needs of UNOPS partners, beneficiaries and frontline personnel. IPMG also drives UNOPS efforts to leverage sustainable, resilient and inclusive infrastructure and maximize local capacity through grant support management to achieve sustainable development. Through thought leadership, we aim to position UNOPS with its partners, foster innovative solutions for sustainable and inclusive development, and accelerate the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This includes speeding up the implementation of urgent infrastructure and scaling up infrastructure service delivery, particularly in relation to climate action and energy. Our delivery approach to project management, infrastructure and grant support management prioritizes development needs, empowers institutions and communities, builds partners’ capacity, champions gender equality and social inclusion and reduces environmental impact. IPMG translates policy into practice by providing strategic direction, standards and oversight, while facilitating knowledge sharing and capacity-building for UNOPS teams globally.

UNOPS is on a transformation journey to meet the ambitions of its Strategic Plan 2026–2029, which emphasizes providing practical solutions to help partners accelerate the 2030 Agenda and bridge implementation gaps in challenging contexts. 

Within this framework, the Infrastructure and Project Management Group (IPMG) provides policy, standards guidance and support in three UNOPS service lines of Project Management, Infrastructure and Financial Management Services (Grant Support and Fund Management). 

Guided by the IPMG Strategy 2026-2029, the group focuses on five strategic pillars: Operational Agility and Delivery Excellence, Sustainability and Impact, Intelligence, Capability Building, and Partnering. IPMG leads the design and implementation of a project, programme and portfolio management (P3M) system centered around the needs of UNOPS partners, beneficiaries and frontline personnel. IPMG also drives UNOPS efforts to leverage sustainable, resilient and inclusive infrastructure and maximize local capacity through grant support management to achieve sustainable development. Through thought leadership, we aim to position UNOPS with its partners, foster innovative solutions for sustainable and inclusive development, and accelerate the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This includes speeding up the implementation of urgent infrastructure and scaling up infrastructure service delivery, particularly in relation to climate action and energy. Our delivery approach to project management, infrastructure and grant support management prioritizes development needs, empowers institutions and communities, builds partners’ capacity, champions gender equality and social inclusion and reduces environmental impact. IPMG translates policy into practice by providing strategic direction, standards and oversight, while facilitating knowledge sharing and capacity-building for UNOPS teams globally.

The GESI Team, part of the Environmental, Social, and Sustainability Team at IPMG, is the lead for the Gender Equality and Social Inclusion Mainstreaming in Projects and Programmes Strategy 2026–2029. This strategy’s vision is a world where all humans, in all their diversity, have access to human rights, peace, and sustainable development, supported by inclusive infrastructure and the transparent use of public resources. Therefore, the GESI Team mobilizes efforts to embed GESI principles across all UNOPS projects and programmes, and to develop methodologies and tools to improve program and project outcomes in infrastructure and project management. The team also assists in promoting UNOPS capacity in GESI at the highest levels in related fields.

This internship position offers a unique opportunity to contribute to the mainstreaming of Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) within UNOPS' Infrastructure and Project Management Group (IPMG). The intern will support various initiatives, including global awareness campaigns, knowledge management, data collection, and training, contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The role involves working with diverse international teams and networks, providing exposure to high-impact projects and fostering professional growth in a dynamic international environment.

The Gender Equality and Social Inclusion Mainstreaming Intern will support the GESI Specialist in implementing various initiatives aimed at mainstreaming GESI across IPMG's projects and programs. The intern will assist in campaign management, knowledge systematization, reporting, training, technical research, and administrative coordination, contributing to the unit's annual work plan and the achievement of organizational goals.

Required:

• The applicant must be currently enrolled in a university programme such as Bachelor, Masters or Ph.D. (or the equivalent) or have graduated from such studies within three (3) years prior to the application date of the internship.
• Completion of secondary school or equivalent is required.

Desired:

• Area of study should preferably be in Gender Studies, International Relations / International Development, Political Science, Sociology, Social Work or related field.
• Training or courses in human rights, gender, community development, social inclusion, diversity, childhood, and youth, or related thematic areas are an advantage.

Desired:

• While no prior work experience is required, some experience in internships or volunteer work would be an asset.
• Experience in local social organizations, NGOs / CSOs or similar, especially in the field of human rights, gender, community development, social inclusion, diversity, childhood, and youth, or related thematic areas is an asset.
• Experience in communications, especially in digital content creation, storytelling and campaign management, is an asset.
• Knowledge of the Google Workspace platform (Google Sheets, Google Docs, Google Slides etc.) is an asset.

• UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes. 
• UNOPS will at no stage of the recruitment process request candidates to make payments of any kind.
• Applications to vacancies must be received before midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on the closing date of the announcement. Applications received after the closing date will not be considered. 
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and invited to proceed to the next stage of the selection process, which may include various assessments. 
• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of a wide range of nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. We strive to sustain and strengthen this diversity, fostering an inclusive working environment where all personnel are treated with respect and have equal access to opportunities.
• UNOPS evaluates all applications based on the skills, qualifications and experience outlined in the vacancy announcement. We are committed to a fair and transparent selection process and welcome diverse perspectives, including those of women, indigenous and racialized communities, individuals of diverse gender identities and sexual orientations, and persons with disabilities.
• We are committed to enabling all candidates to perform at their best during the assessment process. If you are shortlisted and require support or reasonable accommodation to complete any assessment, please inform our human resources team upon receiving your invitation.
• UNOPS has zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment, and other forms of abusive conduct, including discrimination, abuse of authority, and harassment. To uphold these standards, background checks are conducted for all final candidates to help ensure that individuals with a history of such conduct are not hired. By applying for a position with UNOPS, candidates acknowledge and consent to these verification processes.
  

• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post. 
• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few mandatory courses (they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. Refreshers or new mandatory courses may be required during your contract. Please note that you will not receive any compensation for taking courses and refreshers. For more information on a retainer contract here. 
• For more details about the contract types, please click here.
• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda. 
• It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.