Intern (Climate and Sustainability)

Contract

This is a Internship contract. It usually requires 0 years of experience, depending on education. More about Internship contracts.

Background

CORPORATE BACKGROUND:

UNDP works in about 170 countries and territories, helping to achieve the eradication of poverty, and the reduction of inequalities and exclusion. We help countries to develop policies, leadership skills, partnering abilities, institutional capabilities and build resilience in order to sustain development results.

UNDP is working to strengthen new frameworks for development, disaster risk reduction and climate change. We support countries' efforts to achieve the new Sustainable Development Goals, which will guide global development priorities through 2030. The key 2030 Agenda principle of leaving no one behind and stamping out inequality is at the core of everything we do.

UNDP focuses on helping countries build and share solutions in three main areas:

• Sustainable development
• Democratic governance and peacebuilding
• Climate and disaster resilience

In all our activities, we encourage the protection of human rights and the empowerment of women, minorities and the poorest and most vulnerable.

INTERNSHIP OFFICE BACKGROUND:

The UNDP Global Centre for Technology, Innovation and Sustainable Development (GC-TISD) aims to identify, co-create, and share innovative and technological solutions for sustainable development. We aim to catalyse new insights, partnerships and action in the countries where UNDP works. Our areas of focus are: Sustainability and Climate Resilience, Smart Cities and Urbanisation, Digital Inclusion, Digital Sustainable Finance, Deep Tech and Innovations. The GC-TISD leverages Singapore’s deep expertise, solutions, knowledge, and ecosystem of Government and private sector partners, as well as knowledge from experts and partners around the globe, and across UNDPs Global Policy Network. More specifically, the GC-TISD connects policymakers, practitioners, think tanks, business, and other relevant stakeholders to each other from across the globe for learning and sharing of best practices on the themes of technology, innovation, and partnerships for sustainable development.

The GC-TISD is a joint initiative of the Singapore Government and UNDP, currently being led by a small team that is focused on programme and partnership development. Our Singapore Government partners are the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment, the Public Service Division, the Ministry of Communications and Information, the Infocomm Media Development Authority, the Monetary Authority of Singapore, and the National Research Foundation. The UNDP GC-TISD was setup in 2018 and is currently in the middle of its 2022-2025 iteration. We collaborate with governments worldwide through the following:

• Agile Policy Development Support: Supporting governments in defining the policies and regulations needed for the digital and innovation economy and providing guidance and methodologies to assist governments on agile policymaking.
• Research and Thought Leadership: Providing research, analysis, and insights on emerging technologies, including integrating the experiences of UNDP Country Offices with foresight and horizon-scanning
• Partnership and Global Ecosystem Building: Catalysing global and national digital and innovation ecosystems that are committed to digital inclusion and fostering collaborations with different players in the digital inclusion space
• Knowledge Exchange and Capacity Building: Collecting local intelligence and grassroots innovations, and ensuring that lower-income countries are equal participants in global discussions and explorations of digital inclusion

Duties and Responsibilities

One of the key areas of the Centre is focus on Sustainability and Climate Resilience. Under this area, the the Centre looks at the complex intersection of increasing global food demand, record amounts of carbon emissions, and alarming levels of air pollution. The Center’s initiatives span a diverse range, including advancing knowledge in novel farming systems for sustainable development, bridging the gap between theoretical and practical aspects of carbon tax implementation through carbon tax experience sharing, and embarking on an innovation challenge to develop comprehensive, cost-effective solutions for monitoring and addressing air pollution.

The Intern will assist the UNDP GC-TISD’s across its Climate and Sustainability workstream with a dedicated focus on the following duties and responsibilities:

No

Duties and responsibilities

% of time

In this section list the primary responsibilities and tasks of the position. (Include percentages for each duty.)

1

Research and Thought Leadership

• Assist in the analysis of qualitative and quantitative data related to novel farming systems, carbon pricing initiatives, and air pollution issues with a focus on developing countries.
• Actively contribute and co-author written content such as policy briefs, blogs, and reports at the intersection of development, climate and sustainability
• Collaborate with the UNDP Global Center's team to structure an innovation challenge that will serve as a platform for testing comprehensive, cost-effective approaches to monitoring and addressing air pollution.
• Contribute to the development of publications that document the outcomes of the innovation challenge and research activities. These publications will serve as valuable resources for stakeholders involved in addressing air pollution.

30 %

2

Strategic Advocacy and Partnership Development

• Assist identifying and engaging with strategic partners in the urban-digital or urban-tech sector, in order to understand their interests and explore mutually beneficial partnerships in Singapore, regionally and globally.

20%

3

Event Management Support

• Assist in conceptualizing, preparing, and organizing events such as webinars, workshops, and trainings, both in-person and online, aligned with the Centre's Climate and Sustainability focus.
• Support in creating compelling visual materials, including presentations, charts, and infographics, to showcase the Centre's work on climate and sustainability.

30%

4

Learning, Development and Networking

• Engage in learning and personal development opportunities within UNDP and the broader Singapore ecosystem.
• Participate in relevant networking events in Singapore linked to the Centre's work.

20%

Competencies

• Commitment to UNDP Values and Cultural Diversity
  • Exhibits a strong commitment to the values of UNDP, consistently upholding these principles in actions and decisions, in alignment with the UN Code of Conduct. Shows an appreciation for the multicultural nature of the organization and its diverse staff, along with an international outlook that values and learns from cultural diversity.
• Effective Communication and Writing Ability
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills, including experience in writing reports, blogs, and think pieces.
• Research and Analytical Skills
  • Proven knowledge in conducting research and analysing trends and data.
• Organizational and Event Management Capabilities
  • Competence in organizing events, managing multiple tasks efficiently, and adapting to changing environments.

IT skills:

• Knowledge and a proficient user of Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Teams);
• Knowledge of (data) visualization and analysis tools (e.g.,Canva, PowerBi, etc) is an advantage

Language skills:

• Fluency in English (both spoken and written) is required.
• Knowledge of other UN languages is an advantage

Other competencies and attitude:

• Interest and motivation in working in an international organization;
• Good analytical skills in gathering and consolidating data and research for practical implementation;
• Outgoing and initiative-taking person with a goal oriented mind-set;
• Communicates effectively when working in teams and independently;
• Good in organizing and structuring various tasks and responsibilities;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Responds positively to feedback and differing points of view;
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Candidates must meet one of the following educational requirements:

• Currently in the final year of a Bachelor’s degree; or
• Currently enrolled in a Master’s degree; or
• Have graduated no longer than 1 year ago from a bachelor’s or master’s degree or equivalent studies.

Preferred fields of study: Environmental Studies, Sustainable Development, International Relationships, Public Policy, or a related field.

Experience:

• Deep Commitment to Sustainability Issues: Demonstrates a profound interest in and commitment to addressing climate change and sustainability challenges, particularly in developing countries.
• Understanding of Global Sustainability Challenges: Exhibits awareness of the pressing environmental issues facing the world today and shows a desire to contribute towards solving these challenges.
• Knowledge Sharing: Proven experience in sharing knowledge and showcasing results, in writing high-quality communication products and/or organising interactive webinars.
• Familiarity with International Development: Knowledge or experience in international development and public service delivery is an advantage.

Application:

Internship candidates are expected to submit the following documents electronically through the UNDP job portal:

• UNDP internship application form: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Sat1-EmXsj6Die7xCgP3-BrLFuLShrV1/view
• A Curriculum Vitae (CV).
• Original text of up to 350 words in English addressing the following question:
  • Can you describe a specific example of initiative that you believe has significantly contributed to addressing climate change or sustainability issues, particularly in the context of developing countries? Please elaborate on why you chose this example, its impact, and any insights you gained about this initiative.

Note: UNDP internship application form, CV and original text need to be combined in one PDF document for upload.

INTERNSHIP CONDITIONS

• UNDP will not pay interns for internship but will provide a stipend in the amount of 859.13 SGD monthly in accordance with the provisions of the UNDP internship policy; all other expenses connected with it will be borne by me or my sponsoring Government or institution;
• UNDP accepts no responsibility for costs arising from accidents and/or illness or death incurred during the internship;
• Interns are responsible for obtaining necessary visas and arranging travel to and from the duty station where the internship will be performed;
• Interns are not eligible to apply for, or be appointed to, any post in UNDP during the period of the internship;
• Interns must provide proof of enrolment in health insurance plan;
• Interns are not staff members and may not represent UNDP in any official capacity;
• Interns are expected to work full time but flexibility is allowed for education programmes;

• Interns need to obtain financing for subsistence and make own arrangements for internship, travel, VISA, accommodation, etc.

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