Internship on Disability, Gender, Diversity, and Inclusion

Introduction

The International Labour Organization (ILO) is the United Nations’ specialized agency that promotes a people-centred and rights-based approach to development promoting social justice. The ILO seeks to promote equality of opportunity and treatment for all people in the world of work and to eliminate discrimination based on sex, race, ethnicity, indigenous identity, sexual orientation, HIV status, and disability. It works with the ILO’s tripartite constituents (governments, employers’, and workers’ organizations) to ensure that its institutions and policies, programs and initiatives are gender-sensitive and inclusive of persons with disabilities.
In particular, with regard to persons with disabilities, the ILO has a Policy (IGDS 590) and a Strategy for Disability Inclusion aligned with the United Nations Disability Inclusion Strategy (UNDIS).  The ILO seeks to become an employer of choice for people with disabilities by ensuring fully accessible and adapted workplaces, along with a culture that values diversity and inclusion.

The ILO Country Office for Sri Lanka and the Maldives (CO-Colombo) is responsible for promoting gender equality and non-discrimination, and respect for inclusion of persons with disabilities in the world of work at the country level, which is central area of the ILO’s Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP) (2018-2024) and the ILO’s contribution towards leaving no one behind and realizing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).  In this regard, CO-Colombo is looking for an intern to support the design and implementation of diversity and inclusion actions in Sri Lanka, with a specific emphasis on persons with disabilities. As a member of the Country Office team, the intern will provide support the work regarding gender equality, diversity, and inclusion, in coordination with various work units of CO-Colombo, as well as with UN system, networks of organizations, and stakeholders for the development of the required activities. 

Learning areas

At the end of the assignment the intern will have acquired knowledge and experience in:

1.    Gender, Diversity and Inclusion in the world of work and related ILO and UN strategies/standards.
2.    Support to the organization and implementation of actions on gender equality, diversity, and inclusion at the country level.
3.    Coordination with colleagues in the country and regional offices, and with relevant organizations and counterparts.
4.    ILO’s mandate and tripartite approach and functioning of the UN system.
5.    ILO’s programme and its operations in Sri Lanka.
6.    Applying equality and inclusion lens in the implementation of work assignments.
7.    Work in an international, multicultural organization.

Description of duties

Under the direct supervision of the Country Director, the intern will perform the following support functions in promoting more gender sensitive, diverse, and inclusive workplaces, such as:

1.    Assist the Country Office in developing and implementing country office strategy promoting gender equality and disability inclusion from an intersectionality perspective in accordance with the priorities of the Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP). 
2.    Support the implementation of the ILO disability inclusion strategy, in line with UNDIS requirements, through working committee and consultative groups within the Country Office as well as country level networks and organisations of persons with disabilities.
3.    Support programme and projects, and other relevant external and internal stakeholders, when necessary, to create synergies that facilitate effective implementation of ILO country level strategies.
4.    Assist ILO constituents in promoting their presence in Global Business and Disability Network (GBDN) and other national networks by enhancing their understanding of ILO’s work on gender, diversity, and inclusion.
5.    Support the development of project notes, advocacy materials, fact sheets, tools and guidance and the organisation of events and trainings/workshops, in the areas of gender equality, disability inclusion. 
6.    Assists in communicating results related to gender equality and diversity inclusion at the Country Office level. 
7.    Perform other related duties as assigned.

Required profile

Education

•    The candidate should be enrolled in their final year of graduate degree programme in social sciences, economics, law, international development, interdisciplinary studies, or related field, or should have completed such a programme no longer than 1 years ago.
 

Experience

•    Any relevant work experience and knowledge of IT would be an advantage.
•    Knowledge of statistical software, experience in research and data analysis would be an advantage.

Languages

•    Working (both oral and written) knowledge of English.

Competencies

•    Be adaptable to an international, multicultural, and multilingual environment, good communication skills and be able to work in a team.

Additional requirements

•    This internship opportunity is limited to candidates/applicants with disabilities.