Environmental Affairs Intern
Assist in UN intergovernmental deliberations on sustainable development.
Overview
Assist in UN intergovernmental deliberations on sustainable development.
You have:
- Be enrolled in, or have completed, a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher) or have completed the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum bachelor’s degree or equivalent).
- Computer literate with good knowledge of standard software applications, especially MS Outlook, MS Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint, and MS Teams.
- Fluency in spoken and written English is required; knowledge of additional official UN languages is an asset.
- Field of study closely related to the type of internship applying for is required.
- Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.
Contract
This is a I-1 contract. It usually requires 0 years of experience, depending on education. More about I-1 contracts.
Work Location
New York - This internship is designed to be in-person and full-time (35 hours) but can be adjusted based on request by the successful candidate.
Expected duration
up to 6 months.
Duties and Responsibilities
The Intergovernmental Policy and Review Branch (IPRB) in the Office of Intergovernmental Support and Coordination for Sustainable Development (OISC), Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) is accepting applications for internships. The prospective intern should have a background in international relations, economics, sustainable development, or a related and relevant social science, including web-based applications. The selected intern(s) will be responsible for one or more of the following duties in general for specific activities. The intern(s) will provide substantive support and assistance to OISC/IPRB's support to United Nations intergovernmental deliberations of the General Assembly (GA), Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) especially to sustainable development and the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals. The internship will include: 1. Assist in the analytical preparations of, and the substantive support to, the General Assembly’s Second Committee, ECOSOC and the HLPF; 2. Support United Nations intergovernmental negotiations through substantive coverage and follow-up analysis; 3. Carry out analytical research in support of the GA, ECOSOC and the HLPF; 4. Assist in the substantive preparations of ECOSOC and HLPF and activities and events on sustainable development; 5. Carry out research in relation to the follow-up and review of the achievement of the 2030 Agenda and Sustainable Development Goals 6. Assist in the substantive preparations of the HLPF, including assist in the research and coordination with the resource people, preparations of documentation and visual materials for the meeting, and support the HLPF voluntary national reviews (VNRs) and HLPF online preparatory events; 7. Assist IPRB and its technical team in uploading material and updating the redesigned DESA and HLPF official website. The work will imply frequent interaction with staff at various levels throughout the Organization.
Qualifications/special skills
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); (b) be enrolled in, or have completed, the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum bachelor’s degree or equivalent). • Applicants must be computer literate and have good knowledge of standard software applications, especially MS Outlook, MS Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint, and MS Teams. • Knowledge of issues in the context of sustainable development, would be an advantage. ce. Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed. 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.
Languages
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Fluency in spoken and written English is required for the Internship Programme. Knowledge of additional official United Nations language is an asset. Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish are the official languages of the United Nations Secretariat.
Additional Information
Not available.
Intern Specific text
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.
No Fee
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.
Potential interview questions
| Can you provide an example of a time when you contributed to a group project successfully? | This helps to assess your teamwork and collaborative skills. | Discuss your role in the project and how your contributions helped the team achieve its goals. |
| Describe a challenging research project you've been involved in. What was your approach? | This assesses your research skills and problem-solving abilities. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| What interests you about working in sustainable development? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| How do you prioritize tasks when managing multiple deadlines? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| Can you explain a complex topic in simple terms? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| What tools or software have you used in your previous research? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| Discuss a time when you had to learn a new skill quickly. How did you approach it? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| What do you think are the main challenges facing the UN in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |