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. At the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, world leaders agreed on a comprehensive strategy for ‘sustainable development’. UNEP’s Ecosystems Division works with international and national partners, providing technical assistance and advisory services 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 / Secretariat of the Abidjan Convention The Abidjan Convention is a framework agreement which was born out of the need for a regional approach to prevent, reduce and control pollution of the marine environment, coastal waters and related river waters in West, Central and Southern Africa. The Convention provides a framework for cooperation on marine and coastal environments, knowledge, environmental hazards, pollution, habitats, biodiversity, sustainable resource use and other activities that may have a negative impact on the health of ecosystems. The Convention promotes scientific and technological collaboration (including exchanges of information and expertise) as a means of identifying and managing environmental issues. The Convention’s Secretariat states its mission as to “Protect, Conserve and Develop the Abidjan Convention Area and its Resources for the Benefit and Well-being of its People.” ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE 1. Contracting Parties: The Contracting Parties that have ratified the Abidjan Convention are Benin, Cameroon, the Republic of Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa and Togo. Angola, Cape Verde, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritania. Namibia, and Sao Tome and Principe are in the Abidjan Convention area but have not yet ratified the Convention 2. Focal Points: They are responsible for the coordination of national efforts toward implementing the Convention and its Protocols 3. Secretariat: Its responsible for the coordination of Convention activities. It is based in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: Under the direct supervision of the Programme Management Officer and the overall supervision of the Senior Coordinator Officer, the incumbent will: • The intern will have the opportunity of learning and working in a very dynamic environment. • The intern will be able to contribute to in-person/virtual activities, including Webinars and online meetings. • Assist with key clients to facilitate the development, implementation and evaluation of assigned programmes/projects, etc.; monitors and analyzes specific aspects of programme/project development and implementation; reviews relevant documents and reports; identifies problems and issues to be addressed and recommends corrective actions; liaises with relevant parties; identifies and tracks follow-up actions. • Carries out basic research on selected aspects of programmes, operations and other activities, etc., to include collecting, analyzing and presenting statistical data and other information gathered from diverse sources. • Assists in providing substantive support for policy coordination and evaluation functions, including review and analysis of emerging issues and trends, participation in evaluations or research activities and studies. • Assists in performing consulting assignments, in collaboration with the client, by planning facilitating workshops, through other interactive sessions and assisting in developing the action plan the client will use to manage the change. • Assists with design of data collection tools; issues data collection tools, reviews, analyzes and interprets responses, identifies problems/issues and prepares preliminary conclusions. • Assists in the preparation of various written outputs, e.g. draft background papers, analytical notes, sections of reports and studies, inputs to publications, etc. • Provides administrative and substantive support to consultative and other meetings, conferences, etc., to include proposing agenda topics, identifying and proposed participants, preparation of background documents and presentations, handling logistics, etc. • Assists in outreach activities; participates in the development of training workshops, seminars, etc.; participates in and makes presentations on assigned topics/activities. • Participates in field missions, including provision of substantive and administrative support, data collection, etc. • Assists in coordinating activities related to budget funding (programme/project preparation and submissions, progress reports, financial statements, etc.) and preparation of related documents/reports (pledging, work programme, programme budget, etc.). • Provide assistance on administrative tasks (e.g., formatting spreadsheets, proofreading text documents, searching archives, running basic reports, etc.) • Perform other duties as necessary.
Qualifications/special skills
Applicants must at the time of application meet one of the following requirements: a. Be enrolled in a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher); b. Be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree program (minimum bachelor’s level or equivalent); c. Have graduated with a university degree; Be computer literate in standard software applications, including MS Teams and Outlook; Have demonstrated keen interest in the work of the United Nations and have a personal commitment to the ideals of the Charter; Have a demonstrated ability to successfully interact with individuals of different cultural backgrounds and beliefs, which include willingness to try and understand and be tolerant of differing opinions and views. Preferred studies in environmental sciences, environmental policy, International Relations, Law, development studies or other related fields. Applicants to the UN Internship Programme are not required to have professional work experience. However, a field of study that is closely related to the type of internship that you are applying for is required. Applicants must be a student in the final year of the first university degree (bachelor or equivalent), master’s or Ph.D. Programme or equivalent, or have completed a Bachelor’s, master’s or Ph.D. Programme. Do you meet any of the above criteria? If yes, please indicate which one and attach proof to the application. Please note that you will have to provide an official certificate at a later stage. What inspires you to apply for this internship with the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, and how do you believe your participation will contribute to your personal and professional development and the UN Decade implementation? Please share your experience with managing several competing tasks at the same time, what was your preferred way forward and what did you learn from this experience?