INTERN - ENVIRONMENT AFFAIRS

Contract

This is a I-1 contract. It usually requires 0 years of experience, depending on education. More about I-1 contracts.

Org. Setting and Reporting UNEP launched the Regional Seas Programme in 1974. Today, more than 146 countries have joined 18 Regional Seas Conventions and Action Plans for the sustainable management and use of the marine and coastal environment, and the Regional Seas play a crucial role in supporting countries with the implementation and monitoring of the ocean-related Sustainable Development Goals and associated targets.

The Coordinating Body on the Seas of East Asia (COBSEA) is the lead agency of the United Nations for marine environmental matters in the East Asian Seas, coordinating and facilitating implementation of the Action Plan for the Protection and Development of the Marine Environment and Coastal Areas of the East Asian Seas Region (the East Asian Seas Action Plan). COBSEA is administered by UNEP’s Ecosystems Division. The Secretariat is hosted by Thailand, located at UNEP’s Asia and the Pacific Office in Bangkok.

COBSEA’s Strategic Directions 2018-2022 emphasize: addressing land-based marine pollution with a focus on nutrients, sediment and wastewater, as well as marine litter and microplastics; strengthening marine and coastal planning and management, with a focus on ecosystem-based management approaches including Marine Protected Areas and Marine Spatial Planning; and sharing marine environmental management experiences and policies towards strengthened regional governance. The Strategic Directions is currently being evaluated and a new one is being developed for 2023 – 2027.

The internship is for a duration of six (6) months. The internship is UNPAID and full-time. Interns work five days per week (35-40 hours). Under the direct supervision of the COBSEA Coordinator, the intern will support the implementation of Regional Seas activities in East Asia:

Responsibilities - organization of meetings and events, including upcoming COBSEA Intergovernmental Meetings (IGM25), meetings of the Working Group on Marine Litter, consultation meetings for the Marine and Coastal Ecosystems, and regional/international events as well as technical/project meetings and workshops - implementation of activities pertaining to the COBSEA Strategic Directions 2018-2022 - assist in the development of the new COBSEA Strategic Directions 2023-2027 - support internal as well as external communication, including public outreach, generating content for use on the website, in newsletters, outreach materials, presentations etc. - support other tasks or activities as required and in accordance with the intern's interests.

Competencies Communication: Clear and effective verbal and written communication; listens to others, correctly interprets messages and responds appropriately; asks questions for clarification and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

Planning & organizing: Identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; Allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently; develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies

Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; willing to learn from others; places office agenda before personal agenda

Education - Be enrolled in a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher); Enrollment in a graduation programme focused on natural science, social sciences, sustainable development, communication, or economic discipline OR - Be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree program (minimum Bachelor's level or equivalent) OR - Have graduated with a university degree and, if selected, must commence the internship within a one-year period of graduation

Work Experience 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 official working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the internship, fluency in oral and written English is required.

Assessment Potential candidates will be contacted by a hiring manager directly for further consideration

Special Notice Your application for this internship must include:

1. A Completed application (Personal History Profile) and Cover Note, through the UN careers Portal. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.

The Cover Note must include:

- Title of the degree you are currently pursuing - Graduation Date - IT skills and programmes you are proficient in - Explain why you are the best candidate for this specific internship

Explain your interest in the United Nations Internship Programme, ensure to include all past work experience (if any).

2. Proof of enrolment from current University (if not graduated).

3. A copy of degree certificate (if you have already graduated).

Due to a high volume of applications received, ONLY successful candidates will be contacted.

In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, applicants may be requested to undertake the internship remotely in view of constraints regarding visa issuance, international travel and access to UN premises. Applicants must be willing and prepared to undertake the internship remotely for a part or the entirety of the internship. The work hours during the internship shall be determined based on individual discussion between the intern and the supervisor(s) taking into consideration the minimum requirements of the Organization and the time difference between the hosting office and the location of the intern.

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.

Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at midnight (New York time) on the deadline date.

United Nations Considerations According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment.

Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.

The paramount consideration in the appointment, transfer, or promotion of staff shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. By accepting an offer of appointment, United Nations staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and assignment by him or her to any activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). In this context, all internationally recruited staff members shall be required to move periodically to discharge new functions within or across duty stations under conditions established by the Secretary-General.

Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side of the inspira account-holder homepage.

The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application.

Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

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.