UN Women is hoping to support women's rights advocates from the global south in launching its international development careers through a new professional development program.
The initiative is motivated by ongoing discussions around diversity and representation at UN Women, said Irena Sabados, a human resources specialist at the agency and focal point for the program. The events of the last year also prompted considerations around access to career opportunities at the agency and what barriers exist, especially for young people, she added.
Through the Young Women Leaders Initiative, launched in partnership with UN Volunteers, 10 young advocates will receive a monthly living allowance and have their insurance, travel, and relocation costs covered while completing one-year placements across a range of departments and roles at UN Women. With travel still restricted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the successful candidates will start the program remotely but, ideally, will be able to make it to the agency’s headquarters in New York later in the year.