About the Programme

The Certificate in Gender and Development (hybrid) offers critical knowledge and training in gender studies in its intersections with international affairs and development and aims to equip participants with the critical perspectives necessary for nurturing gender consciousness in development, focusing on a variety of topics, including but not limited to women’s empowerment, queering development, gender in its intersections with environment and development, the interplay of gender, sexuality, race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and disability among other factors with development work.

This programme, offered by two UN entities (University for Peace and United Nations Institute for Training and Research), combines the best of academic and executive-style education. Students will also gain first-hand experience of the work of the United Nations (UN) as they will have the opportunity to participate in the optional field trips to Geneva and/or The Hague where the UN maintains a significant presence.

This programme is a unique programme, as:

  • It is delivered by the UN (UPEACE and UNITAR);
  • It is taught by practitioners, UN staff, diplomats and academics and combines study delivered by UPEACE and UNITAR, including study field trips to Geneva and The Hague and skills-based sessions for a successful international career;
  • It connects different dimensions of gender studies and development to provide holistic knowledge and to advance students’ understanding of cross-cutting issues in these fields;
  • It accommodates students’ need for flexibility by offering possibilities to take modules in hybrid modality (face-to-face and online).

Who is it for?

The programme has been designed for graduate students, diplomats, government officers, NGO representatives, international civil servants, professionals, or anyone interested in and willing to strengthen their knowledge in gender and development.

Careers in this field can be very broad. Prospective employers include governments, international and regional organizations, academia and the non-governmental sector, etc. 


Duration/Modality

This Certificate Programme is offered in hybrid format with the following cost breakdown:

All face-to-face courses will be implemented at UPEACE’S Campus in San José, Costa Rica; these will also be conducted synchronously live through Zoom simultaneously. All online asynchronous courses will be hosted on UPEACE’s Virtual Learning Environment.

Application Deadline: 30 April 2024

Courses Start: 20 August 2024


Optional Field Trip to Geneva and The Hague

Each year, UNITAR will organize two optional 5-day field trips to Geneva (Switzerland) and The Hague (Netherlands) for the students enrolled in the joint UPEACE - UNITAR Master's Programmes and Certificates. Students can sign up for one field visit or for both (Geneva and The Hague) if they wish to do so. During this activity, students will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the very heart of diplomacy and international law, visit different international organizations and network with other diplomats, personnel of permanent missions accredited to the UN, civil servants of international organizations and civil society representatives. 

The fee of each five-day field trip is USD 1,500. The fee does not include travel, accommodation, food or visa expenses. The optional field visit will take place every Summer.


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