Intern, Global Programme on Nature for Development

UNDP partners with people at all levels of society to help build nations that can withstand crisis, and drive and sustain the kind of growth that improves the quality of life for everyone. On the ground in more than 170 countries and territories, we offer global perspective and local insight to help empower lives and build resilient nations. As partner countries develop local capacity, they draw on the people of UNDP and our wide range of partners. www.undp.org

UNDP provides a range of services to governments and to United Nations teams in the field of Sustainable Development. UNDP helps countries to simultaneously reduce poverty and achieve sustainable development that leads to transformational change, bringing about real improvements in people’s lives. We promote an integrated approach to achieve sustainable development that tackles economic, social and environmental issues, while enhancing knowledge, skills and production technologies to reduce risks and sustain development gains. These services are geared to engage in global advocacy and analysis to generate knowledge, alliance building and promotion of enabling frameworks on key issues, policy advice and support for national capacity building, and knowledge networking and sharing of good practices.

Based in UNDP’s Bureau for Policy and Programme Support, Sustainable Development Cluster, the Global Programme on Nature for Development has the objective to help countries achieve the simultaneous eradication of poverty and significant reduction of inequalities and exclusion.

This objective is achieved through several inter-related areas of work:

-          Equator Initiative; www.equatorinitiative.org

-          National Biodiversity Initiative, www.nbsapforum.net

-          Global Forest Initiative

The Equator Initiative brings together the United Nations, governments, civil society, businesses and grassroots organizations to recognize and advance local sustainable development solutions for people, nature and resilient communities. The Equator Initiative seeks to:

• Recognize the success of local and indigenous initiatives;
• Create opportunities and platforms to share knowledge and good practice;
• Inform policy to foster an enabling environment for local and indigenous community action; and
• Develop the capacity of indigenous peoples and local communities to scale-up their impact.

The National Biodiversity Initiative works in three project areas:

• NBSAP Support – providing technical support to countries on implementing their National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans, facilitating communities of practice, providing support on peer reviews, and identifying best practices
• National Reporting – supporting countries in the development and dissemination of National Reports on biodiversity
• Capacity Building – providing in-person and online training in a variety of key areas related to the intersection of nature and development.

The Global Forest Initiative works to highlight forests in the climate change agenda through our leadership of the Forests Action Area of the UNFCCC Global Climate Action Agenda. The Global Forest Initiative also works to empower indigenous peoples and local communities to participate in decision-making processes, and highlighting their contributions to forest protection and sustainable forest management.

The intern will be based in the New York office. Responsibilities may include but will not be limited to the following, as outlined below. Language skills are required. The intern will assist the Equator Initiative in all aspects of the work. S/he will report to the manager of the Global Programme on Nature for Development.

Duties and responsibilities include:

• As identified by the Project Manager(s), support areas of work of the Global Programme on Nature for Development through general support, content creation, administrative support, outreach, and communications.
• Support organization of workshops and events, both online and in-person, assisting with preparations for workshop participants, and liaising with event partners and panelists.
• Liaise with community based initiatives, governments, research institutes, and the private sector as needed;
• Support literature reviews, desk top reviews, compilation of information, and gathering of data on topics pertinent to the Project, such as, but not limited to biodiversity and ecosystems in national, local, and international contexts, sustainable development, forest management, local community and indigenous peoples; social entrepreneurship and impact investing; involvement in global policy processes.
• Support outreach efforts through newsletters, social media, and direct mailing.
• Support communications efforts, such as drafting of press releases, talking points, articles for magazines and journals, social media materials and photo stories.
• Support knowledge management efforts and gathering and dissemination of best practices, including data analysis.
• Write reports and summaries for websites, support development of publications both on content and administrative aspects, including review of photo assets.
• Administrative duties, translations, and database entry as identified to ensure the smooth operation of the office.
• Other duties as necessary.

Education

• Master’s degree in development studies, environmental sciences, politics, international law, human rights or related field, completed within the past 3 years or in progress;

Experience

• Demonstrated interest in the fields of development and environment;
• Strong writing skills required;
• Prior experience working on at least one of the following topics at a conceptual level is a strong asset: biodiversity/climate change; social entrepreneurship/impact investing; human/civil/indigenous rights; civil society engagement.
• Prior experience working at the local level on sustainable development, indigenous and/or human rights issues in developing countries would be a strong asset;
• Prior experience (e.g. through internships or voluntary work) in international affairs, supporting international events, communications and/or local development is considered a strong asset;

Language

• Fluency in English is required;
• Knowledge of additional languages an asset.

• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.  

It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential recruits/interns. Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.

How to prepare for competency based interviews:

UNOPS supports the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to serve people in need by expanding the ability of the United Nations, governments and other partners to manage projects, infrastructure and procurement in a sustainable and efficient manner.

Working in some of the world’s most challenging environments, our vision is to advance sustainable implementation practices, always satisfying or surpassing our partners’ expectations.

With over 7,000 personnel spread across 80 countries, UNOPS offers its partners the logistical, technical and management knowledge they need, wherever they need it.

A flexible structure and global reach means that we can quickly respond to our partners' needs, while offering the benefits of economies of scale. 

Based in Geneva, the Europe and Central Asia Regional Office (ECR) supports UNOPS offices throughout the region through: management, financial and programmatic oversight of global and country-specific portfolios, clusters and operations centres, including hosting services; fund and management advisory services; project implementation; procuring goods and services; and managing human resources.

ECR ensures that projects are executed to the highest standards, providing a shared knowledge base and ensuring that best practices and lessons learned are disseminated between business units and projects across the entire region.

ECR strategy is to:

• Strengthen UNOPS role in operationalizing the Sustainable Development Goals with particular emphasis on health, environment and economic development.
• Position UNOPS in the Balkan sub-region, the Caucasus and Central Asia.
• Strengthen the implementation of ECR global and regional programmes, with revitalized partnerships in infrastructure, procurement and project management.

ECR operates global portfolios from offices in Geneva, Brussels and New York, and country-specific programmes from its operations and project centres located in Eastern Europe and Central Asian countries.

Based in the New York, the UNOPS Development Group Cluster supports diverse partners with their peacebuilding, humanitarian and development operations. For example, within the United Nations Development Programme, the Cluster works with the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support and the Office of South-South Cooperation.

The cluster also supports the United Nations Secretariat, as well as a broadening community of other New York-based United Nations organizations in the delivery of project management and implementation services