Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions

6 months

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. The Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions are multilateral environmental agreements, which share the common objective of protecting human health and the environment from hazardous chemicals and wastes. The Basel Convention was created to protect people and the environment from the negative effects of the inappropriate management of hazardous wastes worldwide. It is the most comprehensive global treaty dealing with hazardous waste materials throughout their lifecycles, from production and transport to final use and disposal. The Rotterdam Convention provides Parties with a first line of defence against hazardous chemicals and pesticides. It promotes international efforts to protect human health and the environment as well as enabling countries to decide if they want to import hazardous chemicals and pesticides listed in the Convention. The Stockholm Convention is to protect human health and the environment from highly dangerous, long-lasting chemicals by restricting and ultimately eliminating their production, use, trade, release and storage. Under the direct supervision of a Legal Officer in the Governance Branch/Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions, the intern will: Primarily assist the Senior Legal Officer and Legal Officer in the Governance Branch in implementing the 2026-2027 work programme of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions. The selected candidate may also be requested to support other programme managers within the Governance Branch. Tasks will include collection of information, legal research and analysis, drafting of letters and other legal documents, such as presentations or training materials, and other tasks as may be required. Areas of work may include: Support for the preparations for meetings of the subsidiary bodies to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions taking place in 2026, as well as preparations for, during and follow-up to the meetings of the 2025 governing bodies; Support to legal technical assistance and capacity building activities on specific issues; Compliance / Work programmes of the Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions Compliance Committees; Support for the preparation of legal publications; Other areas as may be assigned.

Applicants must meet one of the following requirements: (a) be enrolled in, or have completed, a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher) related to law, including international environmental law; (b) be enrolled in, or have completed, the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum bachelor’s degree or equivalent).

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Fluency in spoken and written English is required for the internship. Knowledge of an additional official UN language is an advantage. Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish are the official languages of the United Nations Secretariat.

Not available.

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.

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.