Work Location

Geneva

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. UNEP’s Disasters and Conflicts Branch 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. The Disasters and Conflicts Branch extends UNEP’s work to areas of the world where the natural and human environment have been damaged from disasters or conflicts. Specialized environmental expertise is provided to rapidly identify risks to health, livelihoods, and ecosystem services, and to integrate environmental needs within the recovery process. The Disasters and Conflicts Branch promotes sustainable management of natural resources in disaster- and conflict-affected countries. The branch’s work demonstrates to decision makers the importance of natural resources management as a precondition for sustainable development and as an instrument for peacebuilding and disaster risk reduction. Since 1999, the team has conducted field operations in over 40 countries and works in close cooperation with the humanitarian, development, and peacebuilding frameworks of the UN system. More information can be found at www.unep.org/disastersandconflicts. Communications are a key strategic priority for UNEP as part of the organization’s mandate to advocate for the environment. This is achieved through a wide range of communications activities at national and global levels, including an active social media presence. The Disasters and Conflicts Branch works directly with teams in many countries around the world, as well as at a global level in communications related to its work. One specific area of our work on disaster risk reduction is addressing environmental risks in energy development, with emphasis on the extractives sector. Since its 2011 Environmental Assessment of Ogoniland publication, UNEP has aimed to enhance national capacities to prevent environmental impacts associated with extractives industries. Starting in 2016, UNEP, in collaboration with the Government of Norway’s Oil for Development (OfD) Programme (now broadened and reconstituted as “Energy for Development”), has worked to strengthen the environmental management of the oil and gas sectors in 14 OfD-supported countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America and the Caribbean. Under this collaboration, UNEP delivers trainings and webinars on a range of environmental management topics related to the oil and gas and energy sectors, conducts institutional capacity needs assessments, provides technical assistance support to countries, and expands global awareness raising and outreach. UNEP works particularly with national-level government ministries/agencies, as well as civil society and industry partners, to build national and local capacities. An important emerging focus area is on supporting dialogue focused on a just and sustainable energy transition, enabling countries to achieve their commitments to national and global climate efforts. This includes convening webinars and carrying out research on the environmental aspects of the energy transition and the promotion of renewable and low-carbon energy solutions. This internship position is for a highly motivated person committed to environmental, energy transition, and climate issues. The intern will support UNEP in the delivery of its project activities, including undertaking new research on renewable energy and a sustainable energy transition, and will support in developing new partnerships in this emerging sector. 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. Interns may only undertake internships within UN Secretariat agencies for a cumulative duration of 6 months maximum. Responsibilities 1. Support the expansion of global community-of-practice and outreach, specifically the day-to-day management of the Global Dialogue on Environment and Energy, which includes: a) Developing and disseminating the monthly newsletter. b) Facilitating engagement and discussions on the LinkedIn group. c) Testing other means of expanding the global community of practice. d) Building up and maintaining contacts lists. e) Responding to queries and maintaining the communications email inbox. 2. Support towards delivery of tri-annual webinars and online/hybrid trainings focused on specific topics related to environmental governance and management in the energy sector and assist the data collection and reporting for these events. 3. Undertake desk-based research and develop/update country background papers on energy transition as well as social and environmental safeguards in renewable energy development. 4. Support partnership building on sustainable energy transition, including liaising with industry partners, academia, and civil society. 5. Support training and workshop facilitation, including assisting with group exercises. 6. Provide support to logistics preparations for delivery of trainings and other planned events. 7. Any other tasks as requested by the Programme Manager.

Qualifications/special skills

1. Master’s degree (but within 1 year of graduation) or currently enrolled in a master’s program or the final year of undergraduate degree. 2. Background in communications, environmental sciences, environmental policy, energy policy, climate change studies, renewable energy, or similar study area. 3. Strong interest and familiarity with social media and online communications 4. Experience in web-based content management systems.

Languages

Fluency in English is required.

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.