Bonn or Abu Dhabi

6 months

The Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) is a global intergovernmental treaty aimed at the conservation and sustainable use of migratory species and their habitats. Numerous additional intergovernmental instruments on migratory species conservation have been adopted under the broad umbrella of CMS which are supported by the CMS Secretariat. The CMS Secretariat also provides the Secretariat for the Agreement on the Conservation of Small Cetaceans of the Baltic, North East Atlantic, Irish and North Seas (ASCOBANS). In addition, two regional agreements on migratory species adopted under CMS have their own Secretariats which are co-located with the CMS Secretariat in Bonn - the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) and the Agreement on the Conservation of European Populations of Bats(EUROBATS). The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the United Nations system's designated entity for addressing environmental issues at the global and regional level. 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. In the present context, UNEP provides the administrative functions for the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA), the Agreement on the Conservation of Small Cetaceans of the Baltic, Northeast Atlantic, Irish and North Seas (ASCOBANS) and the Agreement on the Conservation of European Populations of Bats (EUROBATS) Secretariats The CMS Office – Abu Dhabi coordinates, among other tasks, the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation of Migratory Birds of Prey in Africa and Eurasia (Raptors MOU). The internship provides hands-on experience in international environmental cooperation, communication, and partnership development. The selected intern will support the CMS Avian Team i Bon or in Abu Dhabi. The internship is UNPAID. Daily responsibilities will depend on the individual’s background, the intern’s assigned office as well as the internship period. The intern will assist in the development and daily management of a wide spectrum of bird related activities for CMS. A) Under the direct supervision of the Head of the Avian Unit, and in cooperation with the rest of the members of the team, the selected intern will: • Support the implementation of COP15 Resolutions and related Decisions, with a special focus on those CMS instruments, working groups and task forces that implement activities compatible with a Flyway approach to the conservation of migratory species at global level. • Support the Avian Team in quantifying and prioritizing the top actions needed to strengthen its work on the areas of: a) Flyways; b) Seabirds; c) Species Action Plans; d) Renewable Energy, and; e) Illegal and unsustainable take of migratory birds. • Provide specific support to CMS Working Groups and Task Forces such as - The Working Group on Flyways - The Americas Flyways Framework Task Force - The Central Asian Flyway Initiative - The African-Eurasian Migratory Landbirds Action Plan (AEMLAP) - The Energy Task Force (ETF) - The Intergovernmental Task Force on Illegal Killing, Taking and Trade of Migratory Birds in the Mediterranean (MIKT) - The Intergovernmental Task Force to Address Illegal Hunting, Taking and Trade of Migratory Birds in the East Asian-Australasian Flyway - The South-West Asia Illegal Taking of Migratory Birds Intergovernmental Task Force • Attend relevant workshops, lectures, seminars and conferences related to the Flyways decisions, resolutions and instruments of the CMS • Support the Avian Team in quantifying and prioritizing the top actions needed to strengthen its work on the abovementioned areas B) Under the direct supervision of the Head of the Raptors MOU Coordinating Unit, and in cooperation with the rest of the members of the team, the selected intern will: • Analysis of a survey on the practice of supplementary feeding for raptors in Africa and Eurasia • Coordinate and draft news stories on activities related to the implementation of the MOU for publication on the webpage of the Raptors MOU, and on social media channels; • Support the delivery of the Fourth Meeting of Signatories (MOS4) to be held in 2026; • Provide specific support to CMS Working Groups and Task Forces such as - The Technical Advisory Group - Working Group on Sooty Falcon - The CMS Saker Falcon Task Force - The Vulture Coordinating Team - The Steppe Eagle Working Group • Prepare publishable factsheets on: - The 8 Critically Endangered (CR) species of migratory raptor covered by the Raptors MOU - Accession of new Signatories to the Raptors MOU - HPAI and raptors - Internationally Important Raptors Areas • Expand and organize the collection of raptor photographs to be used in MOU publications; • Support the maintenance of MOU contacts databases; • Take notes in meetings, prepare meeting reports, and support logistics of online meetings; • Perform other duties to assist the Coordinating Unit of the Raptors MOU in supporting the implementation of Raptors MOU Action Plan.

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) or b) Be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree programme (Minimum Bachelor´s level or equivalent), or c) Have graduated with a university degree. Candidates with the following areas of study will be given preference: biology, ecology, zoology, environmental science, geography, international law, international relations, or data analytics. Kindly specify your area(s) of academic study. Applicants must: • Have a keen interest in working on wildlife conservation matters • Have a keen interest in the work of the United Nations • Have a personal commitment to the ideals of the UN Charter • Have 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 • Be literate in standard computer software 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.

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. Required: English Desirable: Arabic Desirable: French Desirable: Mandarin Desirable: Spanish

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.