Current Opportunities at United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

Under the overall supervision of the Safeguards Advisor and the day-to-day supervision of the Safeguards Officer the intern will be responsible for the following:

• Report on safeguard compliance analysis of requirements and quality, utilizing inputs from GSU staff members and available information.
• Conduct research on themes related to safeguards, international best practices, and disseminate findings to the team and other UNEP clients.
• Engage in team discussions, offering insights, ideas, and feedback on principal subjects and concerns.
• Assist the Gender and safeguards Unit by aiding in the organization and coordination of meetings and events.
• Undertake additional tasks as necessary.

Qualifications/special skills

• Applicants must meet one of the following requirements: be enrolled in, or have completed, a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher); be enrolled in, or have completed, the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum bachelor’s degree or equivalent). Applicants should have good knowledge of standard software applications, especially MS Word, MS PowerPoint, and MS Teams. Be computer literate in standard software applications.
• 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.
• 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. Strong writing and communication skills are required, including experience in writing reports and summaries.

Languages

• English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this position fluency in English is required.

Deadline : Apr 1, 2024

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Responsibilities

• Provide substantive support to the UN Decade Coordinator in the implementation of the UN Decade, including assisting in planning and coordinating the work of the FAO and UNEP core team and fulfilling the secretariat function for the UN Decade;  
• Develop and maintain collaborative relationships with UNEP’s divisions and offices, the broader UN family, and other national and international partners of the UN Decade, including managing the core team’s communication with potential and established partners and the day-to-day communication;  
• Analyze the potential for partnerships with organizations for the UN Decade, establish partnerships and support the concretization of partnership activities, outputs and goals at the project and thematic levels;  
• Provide support to the UN Decade Coordinator on processes and coordination of meetings of the Advisory Board, meetings with Global Partners and Collaborating Agencies, and meetings of the Executive Board of the Multi-Partner Trust Fund (MPTF);   
• Liaise on UN Decade flagships and establish and maintain cooperation on these across UNEP, including regular consultations, and maintaining good internal and external information flow and generate content for the website;   Provide substantive support to consultative and other meetings, conferences.; including proposing agenda topics, identifying participants, preparation of documents and presentations.  
• Lead on UNEP internal project reporting responsibilities and support the external reporting commitments on the progress, results and outcomes of the UN Decade to main donors, including reviewing relevant documents and reports and supporting the preparation of an annual update report to the High Level Political Forum and the Secretary-General’s report on the UN Decade to the UN General Assembly at its 81st.    
• Assist in strategy and policy development, including by identifying, analyzing and monitoring developments and emerging issues in the global environmental field and the preparation of evaluations and other research activities and studies;   Prepare various written outputs, e.g. briefing notes, background papers, analysis, sections of reports and studies, inputs to publications.  
• Undertake outreach activities; conducting training workshops, seminars, making presentations on assigned topics/activities;  
• Represent the UN Decade core team at key events;  
• Collect and analyze data to identify trends or patterns and provide insights through graphs, charts, tables and reports using data visualization methods to enable data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation and reporting   Perform other related duties as required.

Competencies

• PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge and understanding of theories, concepts, and approaches relevant to nutrient, waste water management or freshwater.  Ability to identify issues, analyze them, and participate in the resolution of issues or problems. Ability to conduct data collection using various methods. Conceptual analytical and evaluative skills to conduct independent research and analysis, including familiarity with and experience in the use of various research sources, including electronic sources on the internet, intranet, and other databases.  Ability to apply judgment in the context of assignments given, plan work, and manage conflicting priorities.  Ability to analyze and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines, and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.   
• COMMUNICATION: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others, and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style, and format to match the audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.   
• PLANNING & ORGANIZING: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates an appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; and uses time efficiently.

Education

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or Doctorate degree, or equivalent) in environmental management, international relations, economics or a related field is required.   A first-level university degree in combination with two (2) years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.  Successful completion of both degree and non-degree programs in data analytics, business analytics or data science programs is desirable.

Work Experience

• A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in project or programme management, administration or related area, of which at least two years at international level is required.    
• Working experience in the United Nations Secretariat or in an international organization is desirable.    
• Experience with managing complex networks or partnerships is desirable.    
• Two (2) years or more of experience in data analytics or related area is desirable.

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Under the direct supervision of the Financial Management Officer – Finance and Administration Unit the intern will be trained and given an opportunity to learn and assist in the handling of Africa Office finance and administrative duties which broadly include:

• Administration  Assists to coordinate various activities related to the acquisition of goods and services for the office,  
• Prepares, processes, and follows up on administrative arrangements related to the consultants and individual contractors.
•  Management of Africa Office meeting room.  Maintains up-to-date work unit files on Teams Folder.
•  Ensure correct tracking of all Africa Office equipment and fixed assets in a timely manner, and ensure all relevant equipment is covered by the relevant insurance policy.   Maintains, on an ongoing basis, the list of intangible property, including active subscriptions and licenses, landline extensions, ensuring timely renewal or deactivation.  
• Issuance and recording of office stationery.  Finance and Budget  Support Fund management of the Africa Office Programme of Work (POW) budget in particular:
• Assist to prepare project budgets consumption reports.  
• Assist in creation and posting of expenditure reports in Umoja.  Support in project revisions.  
• Support the maintenance and update of UNEP’s legal instruments database.  
• Support in payment processing against project legal instruments.  
• Assist review of Implementing partner reports.  Assist in tracking of vendor and donor invoices.  
• Assist in filing, maintenance, and update of shared drive folders.
•  Assist in initiating and tracking expenditure adjustments.  
• Any other duties as assigned may be assigned by the Supervisor.

Qualifications/special skills
Applicants must at the time of application meet one of the following requirements:  

• Be enrolled in a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher).
• Be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum bachelor’s level or equivalent).
• Have graduated with a university degree and, if selected, must commence the internship within a one-year period of graduation. d. Must have studied Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, Information Technology (IT), Procurement or any other related field.  

Additionally, the applicants must have the following attributes:

• Be computer literate in standard software applications.  
• Possess good report writing skills.
• Demonstrate good organizational and pleasant interpersonal skills.  
• Demonstrate interest in issues related to environmental sustainability.  
• 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.  
• Have a keen interest in the work of the United Nations and have a personal commitment to the ideals of the Charter.
• No working experience is required to apply for the United Nations Internship Programme.
• Your training, education, advance course work or skills should benefit the United Nations during your internship.

Languages

• English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For internship fluency in oral and written English is required. Knowledge of another official United Nations language is an added advantage.

Deadline : Apr 1, 2024