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Thanks to SWTP - Gender Parity is within reach | Peacekeeping

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by Impactpool

The United Nations has an ongoing call for applications at the Director level for the Senior Women Talent Pipeline (SWTP). The Senior Women Talent Pipeline is working to ensure gender parity at the Senior level by creating a dedicated talent pool of qualified female candidates for D1 and D2 level positions in UN Peace Operations, as well as to attempt to re-balance the skewed geographical representation in the current membership. The SWTP is personalized support for high-potential women in preparing to apply for senior positions in UN Peace Operations through the UN staff selection system.

The 2022 call is focused on women leaders in the areas of Political, Peace and Security; Logistics and Supply chain; and Public Information.

The SWTP is a project that was established and funded with the specific purpose to support Non-UN Secretariat staff in their applications to positions in peacekeeping. The Senior Women Talent Pipeline is an initiative to build a competitive pool of readily-deployable senior candidates for positions in UN Peace Operations. Candidates accepted to the Pipeline are, subsequently, further supported by our team in the recruitment process for specific positions in UN field missions.

Once a Member of the Pipeline you will get:
  • Support in the recruitment process for relevant UN positions
  • Personal coaching on how to target and successfully send in job applications
  • Individual Competency-Based Interview Coaching
  • Relevant training and networking opportunities to prepare members for the requirements of working in UN Peace Operations
  • Membership in a network of professional women working in international relations (LinkedIn, face-to-face meetings, and gatherings)
  • Notifications of new job openings
  • Preferential participation in UN training opportunities
The SWTP is not:
  • An alternative recruitment system
  • Direct or guaranteed job offer


The new call for nominations and/or applications for the Senior Women Talent Pipeline was launched on August 1st 2022 with the objective to create a competitive pool of senior women who are qualified and ready to undertake senior positions in the United Nations’ Peacekeeping and Special Political missions in the following fields:

  • Political Affairs, Peace and Security
  • Supply chain
  • Public Information


We are inviting candidates to apply for one or more of the categories above. All candidates will go through a competitive assessment process which may include screening, written assessment, and/or interviews.

As the call is ongoing, candidates are advised that their applications will be reviewed if and when the need arises.

This call is focused on Director-level talent (D1 or D2 level in the UN Common System).

Director-level positions are typically located in the Mission headquarters, usually the capital of the country hosting the mission. Directors typically manage large, diverse, and multi-functional teams.

Most Directors serve in non-family duty stations, so staff cannot bring their dependent family members (e.g. spouse, children) with them to the duty station. Staff serving in non-family duty stations are, however, compensated financially and also enjoy additional rest and recuperation allowance in addition to the mandated annual leave. Currently, the majority of UN peace operations are located in Africa and the Middle East. For more information on pay and benefits and career options, as well as to apply to specific positions, go to https://careers.un.org/lbw/home.aspx.

Eligible candidates should have 15 years of professional experience in one or more of the relevant areas identified for this call (Political, Peace and Security; Supply chain, and Public Information).

Candidates must also have an advanced university degree (Masters or equivalent) in a relevant area OR in lieu of an advanced university degree, a first-level university degree (e.g. bachelor’s degree) in combination with 17 years of relevant work experience may be accepted.

Candidates should be fluent in English or French. In addition, fluency in any of the other official languages of the United Nations is highly desirable. Candidates bilingual in English and French, English and Russian, or English and Arabic are highly desirable as many UN peace operations are located in Arabic-speaking or French-speaking countries.

Field experience and leadership competencies are desirable.

Candidates accepted to the SWTP receive support in the recruitment process for roster assessments and/or recruitment processes for specific positions in UN Peace Operations. Coaching and mentoring on issues such as leadership, substantive topics, and the application process are also offered.

Thank you for your interest in working for peace, and we hope you will nominate or apply!

Read more about the SWTP at the UN's United for Gender Parity page

Learn more and apply to the SWTP

This campaign and the related articles were developed in partnership with the United Nations and serve to increase the dissemination and visibility of the Senior Women Talent Pipeline Call for nominations.

There is no cost associated with submitting applications and nominations and neither the United Nations nor Impactpool charge a fee at any stage of the process.