Vacancies at United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

The intern duties will include but are not limited to: Market Development (Geneva),100% - 1 intern:

• Support the design and implementation of the ProCongo business development interventions
• Assist in conducting market and scoping research for the identification of intervention regions, sectors and potential stakeholders for the market development activities (incubation programs for eco-preneurs)
• Participate in and facilitate coordination with ProCongo regional team and local executing entities (Enterprise Support Organizations)
• Participate in the selection and supervision of participating entrepreneurs
• Contribute research and analyses for the development of additional modules on specific topics to support the incubation programs (carbon and carbon markets, PES, finance literary and accessibility…)
• Carry out market research to map out the competitive landscape of incubation initiatives targeting blue economy, nature-based businesses, and green cities entrepreneurs. • Assist in improving the design and functionalities of the Explorer's digital tool.
• Participate in CFU's internal meetings and assist the team in preparing report documents and communication resources.
• Market Development (Nairobi), 100% - 2 interns: Support the deployment of several incubation programs aimed at providing business development capacity to green entrepreneurs (Restoration Explorer and Restoration Factory): participate in calls, draft minutes of meetings, prepare briefing notes, assist with the overall program coordination.
• Contribute research and analyses for the development of additional modules on specific topics to support the incubation programs (carbon and carbon markets, PES, finance literary and accessibility…)
• Participate in CFU’s internal meetings and assist the team in preparing report documents and communication resources.
• Support coordination efforts with other units to help identify areas of synergies and mutual interventions
• Monitor call for proposals and other resource mobilization opportunities and help draft concept notes and proposals
• Carry out other duties on a needs basis

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).
• degree/background in the following fields: International Relations, Geography, Environmental Science, Energy Policy, or a related discipline focusing on climate change, sustainable development, and/or international environmental governance is desirable. 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.

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Duties and Responsibilities:

• The specific tasks to be done by the consultant include the following: Project Identification and Development:
• Identify relevant and eligible project concepts in consultation with internal and external partners.
• Coordinate the development of the concepts by project proponents and discuss and clear such concepts with the Head/OiC of Unit.
• Work with UNEP's Divisions and Regional Offices as necessary, with the Regional Office for Asia Pacific.
• Advise project proponents on how to revise concepts to respond to any issues raised on the project documents.
• Address Global Environment Facility Secretariat and Scientific and Technical Advisory, Panel reviews and ensures that Project Review Committee recommendations are considered in further project development.
• Coordinate with the Fund Management Officer to internalize the Project Preparation Grants.
• Expedite Project Preparation Grant execution per UNEP and GEF policies and procedures, monitoring project milestones to avoid delays and potential project cancellation.
• Verify that the project proposals meet Global Environment Facility quality-at-entry standards before submission to the Head of Unit and the Project Review Committee.
• Guide the executing partners in mobilizing co-financing for the project.
• Coordinate with the Fund Management Officer and other project colleagues to internalize the project upon approval by the GEF Chief Executive Officer.

Qualifications/special skills

• Advanced university degree in biodiversity sciences, environmental sciences, natural resource management, natural resource policy, environmental policy, environmental economics, or a closely related field is required.
• A first university degree with a combination of two years of professional and academic qualifications may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree.
• Recognized qualification or certification in the negotiation of environmental issues in line with sustainable development is desired.
• A minimum of 7 years of technical experience working on biodiversity and related issues in developing countries/countries in transition is required.
• Experience with conceptualizing and developing projects and programmes in the ecosystems and biodiversity field is an asset.
• Experience in International Organization especially with UNEP and GEF is highly desirable.
• Experience working in the Asia and the Pacific region is an asset.

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SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES

• In close consultation with the Evaluation Manager, the Evaluation Consultant will be responsible for the overall management of the Evaluation and timely provision of its outputs, data collection and analysis and report-writing.
• More specifically: Inception phase of the Evaluation, including: preliminary desk review and introductory interviews with project staff;
• draft the reconstructed Theory of Change of the project;
• prepare the evaluation framework;
• develop the desk review and interview protocols;
• draft the survey protocols (if relevant);
• develop and present criteria for country and/or site selection for the evaluation mission;
• plan the evaluation schedule;
• prepare the Inception Report, incorporating comments until approved by the Evaluation Manager Data collection and analysis phase of the Evaluation, including: conduct further desk review and in-depth interviews with project implementing and executing agencies, project partners and project stakeholders;
• (where appropriate and agreed) conduct an evaluation mission(s) to selected countries, visit the project locations, interview project partners and stakeholders, including a good representation of local communities. Ensure independence of the Evaluation and confidentiality of evaluation interviews.
• regularly report back to the Evaluation Manager on progress and inform of any possible problems or issues encountered

Qualifications/special skills

• A first level university degree in environmental sciences or social sciences area is required and an advanced degree in the same areas is desirable.
• A minimum of 10 years of technical / evaluation experience is required, preferably including evaluating large, regional or global programmes and using a Theory of Change approach;
• A good/broad understanding of biological diversity, biosafety, and biosafety clearing house is desired. Working knowledge of the UN system and specifically the work of UNEP is an added advantage.