Climate and Environment Intern, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 6 months (Open for Malaysians only)

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential. 

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone. 

And we never give up. 

For every child, hope

Together with the Malaysian government and others who are truly passionate about child rights, UNICEF works in Malaysia to ensure every child has the opportunity to grow healthy and happy; live safely; and achieve their full potential.

With the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Sustainable Development Goals, and the 12th Malaysia plan as our guides, we endeavor to change minds, change policies, and in turn change the lives of all children in Malaysia.

https://www.unicef.org/malaysia/

Climate change and environmental degradation are some of the biggest threats affecting the world’s children, undermining many of the gains achieved in child survival and development. Children are the least responsible for climate change and environmental degradation, yet they stand to bear the most significant burden of its impact. UNICEF is committed to achieving societal transformation necessary for children to live in a sustainable, clean and safe environment.

UNICEF’s climate and environmental sustainability strategy stresses the need for ambitious programming to protect children from the impacts of climate change and environmental degradation by increasing the essential services’ resilience and reducing emissions and pollution. It also recognizes that children are not merely passive victims but right holders and active agents of change and that our only hope is empowering future generations to choose an environmentally sustainable path.

Purpose of Activity/Assignment & Scope of Work

Under the supervision of the Climate and Environment Officer, this internship is to support the Climate and Environment team in implementing the climate change, environment and disaster risk reduction and resilience agenda. Furthermore, the intern will support UNICEF’s efforts to make children and young people a focus of climate change strategies and to empower children and young people with knowledge and skills to participate in climate and environmental action.

How can you make a difference? 

The purpose of this internship includes:

• Support the ongoing work on youth engagement in climate action, including collecting inputs and feedback, mapping stakeholders, key activities and interventions, and developing good practices and lessons learned reports to build capacity of adolescents and youth to act for the climate and improve their advocacy capacity.
• Support the communications efforts in identifying key advocacy moments including climate and environmental dates and developing key messages and communication materials, as well as building capacity of youth climate advocates.
• Support with the review of climate and environment learning and educational materials, collecting comments and suggestions, providing recommendations for improvements and strengthening actions.
• Support the development of knowledge products and evidence generation on climate change, environment and disaster risk reduction as required.
• Support in the establishment of and ongoing collaboration with relevant partnerships in support of the climate, environmental and disaster risk reduction agenda.
• Support the ongoing efforts to engage youth and young entrepreneurs and startups in Malaysia that are actively innovating with purposeful intent for positive impact around issues affecting children, such as climate change and environmental degradation. 
• Other tasks that may arise related to the daily activities of the team.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have… 

We are looking for a dynamic person with a strong interest in climate and environment, innovation, digital engagement, rights of young people, content creation, as well as a proactive attitude towards day-to-day challenges. Most importantly, you need to demonstrate your interest and passion about why you want to work with UNICEF and for children and young people.

• Currently enrolled or graduated either in/from undergraduate level or graduate level school
• Prior experience with climate, environment, innovation and technology would be a considerable asset
• Prior NGO, civil society organisation or volunteering experience is considered an asset
• Strong network with climate, environmental and youth NGOs and movements is considered an asset
• Solid skills in social media content production and digital engagement
• Excellent in verbal and written communication in English (including active listening and information synthesis, and strong writing abilities)
• Proficiency in verbal, written and interpersonal communication in Bahasa Malaysia preferred
• Good interpersonal skills and ability to work within a multi-cultural team
• Previous relevant work or volunteer experience is highly desired

Requirements:

• Currently enrolled in/recently graduated (within the past 2 years) from a graduate (Master’s) or undergraduate (Bachelor’s) degree in the areas of Climate Science/Studies, Environmental Studies/Management, Economics, Public Policy, International Relations, Sustainable Development or related field.
• Applicants must be at least 18 years old.
• Have excellent academic performance as demonstrated by recent university or institution records.
• Demonstrable excellence in verbal, written and interpersonal communication in English (including active listening and information synthesis and strong writing abilities)
• Good interpersonal skills and ability to work within a multi-cultural team
• Previous relevant work or volunteer experience is highly desired
• Have no immediate relatives (e.g. father, mother, brother, sister) working in any UNICEF office; and
• Have no other relatives in the line of authority which the intern will report to.

Conditions of the Internship:

• The intern will receive UNICEF laptop and email account during the internship period
• The intern will receive a basic stipend according to UNICEF’s internal standard

The intern is expected to work in UNICEF office at least four days of the week and remotely for one working day. Main duty station is UNICEF Putrajaya office.

For every Child, you demonstrate… 

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

UNICEF competencies required for this post are…
(1) Builds and maintains partnerships(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness(3)Drive to achieve results for impact(4)Innovates and embraces change(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity(6)Thinks and acts strategically(7)Works collaboratively with others.

During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels: competency framework here.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Remarks:  

UNICEF’s active commitment towards diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable candidate are encouraged to apply.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.