Work Location
Geneva or home-based
Expected duration
6 months
Duties and Responsibilities
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment. Its mandate is to coordinate the development of environmental policy consensus by keeping the global environment under review and bringing emerging issues to the attention of governments and the international community for action. UN Environment ‘s Ecosystems Division works with international and national partners, providing technical assistance and capacity development for the implementation of environmental policy, and strengthening the environmental management capacity of developing countries and countries with economies in transition. This internship offer is within in UNEP/ Climate Change Division / Adaptation and Resilience Branch / Climate Finance Unit, in Geneva (Switzerland). The loss of forest, and the accompanying loss of ecosystems and the services they provide, threatens the security and livelihoods of local communities, reduces access to clean water, decreases soil productivity and accounts for 12 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. In recent years, it has become apparent that the most significant threat to the world’s remaining forests is conversion for commercial agriculture and other non-forest use. Many of the environmental benefits of intact forest are unpriced ‘externalities’, resulting in the market mispricing natural forest assets. By converting forest to land and then producing tradeable commodities that the market can price, land users are able to take advantage of this perceived arbitrage opportunity. Anticipated global economic growth and changing diets will strengthen the demand for agricultural commodities and place additional pressure on forests in the foreseeable future, meaning that the pressure will get even bigger than it is today without a changing paradigm how land is managed and agricultural commodities are produced. The challenge is to advance sustainable land use by developing business models that can manage sustainable commodity production while also maintaining forests and forest ecosystem services. Against that background, UNEP initiated a new Land Use Finance Project (‘the project’) to proactively help unlock and (re)direct public and especially private capital towards sustainable land use, including deforestation-free soft commodity production. The project is effectively an umbrella for a number of initiatives and finance facilities that UNEP either leads or is involved in (e.g. AGRI3, RSCF, AATIF), business incubation, optimizing environmental & social risk & impact, and communication & knowledge management. The UNEP CFU is looking for several interns to support this work for a period of six (6) months,. Key areas of interest for which we seek interested and motivated students include our work on a) E&S positive impact & risk management; b) Market Development; c) Communication & Knowledge management, d) Capacity building. The Internship is unpaid and full-time. Interns work five days per week (35-40 hours) under the supervision of a staff member in the department or office to which they are assigned.
Qualifications/special skills
Applicants must, at the time of application, meet one of the following requirements: • Be enrolled in a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher); Enrollment in a graduation programme focused on environmental studies or environmental education. • Be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree program (minimum Bachelor’s level or equivalent) OR • Have graduated with a university degree and, if selected, must commence the internship within a one-year period of graduation. Work Experience Applicants are not required to have professional work experience for participation in the programme. Competencies • Communication: Good report writing skills Solid qualitative and quantitative analytical skills Speaks and writes clearly and effectively Listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately Asks questions to clarify, and shows interest in having two-way communication Tailors language, tone, style and format to match the audience Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed Has demonstrated ability to successfully interact with individuals of different cultural backgrounds and beliefs, which include willingness to try and understand as well as be tolerant of differing opinions and views • Teamwork: Good interpersonal skills Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals Solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise Is willing to learn from others Places team agenda before personal agenda Supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position Shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings • Client Orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view Establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect Identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions Monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep supervisor informed and to anticipate problems Keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects Meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client • Computer literate in standard software applications • Good analytical skills • Has demonstrated keen interest in the work of the United Nations and has a personal commitment to the ideals of the UN Charter
Languages
English and French are the official working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the internship, fluency in oral and written English and Portuguese are required. Spanish language skills are also preferred. Assessment Potential candidates will be contacted by a hiring manager directly for further consideration.
Additional Information
Not available.
Intern Specific text
Interns are not financially remunerated by the United Nations. Costs and arrangements for travel, visas, accommodation and living expenses are the responsibility of interns or their sponsoring institutions. Interns who are not citizens or permanent residents of the country where the internship is undertaken, may be required to obtain the appropriate visa and work/employment authorization. Successful candidates should discuss their specific visa requirements before accepting the internship offer.
No Fee
THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.