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 The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the United Nations system's designated entity for addressing environmental issues at the global and regional level. Its mandate is to coordinate the development of environmental policy consensus by keeping the global environment under review and bringing emerging issues to the attention of governments and the international community for action. UNEP's Industry and Economy Division works with International and nongovernmental organizations, national and local governments, business and industry to develop and implement policies, strategies and practices that are cleaner and safer, incorporate environmental costs, use natural resources efficiently, reduce pollution and risks for humans and the environment, and enable the implementation of conventions and international agreements. Located within the United Nations Environment Programme's Industry and Economy Division, the Resources and Markets Branch seeks to conserve the environment, reduce poverty, and promote sustainable development by enhancing the capacity of governments, businesses, and civil society to integrate environmental considerations into economic, trade, and financial policies and practices in accordance with integrated policy-making approaches of sustainable development. Over the past years, the focus of Resources and Markets Branch has been UNEP’s work related to Green Economy.

This internship opening is posted in the Environment and Trade team under the Economic and Trade Policy Unit of the Resources and Markets Branch of the Industry and Economy Division. The Hub provides capacity-building and policy advice on sustainable trade and investment. It aims to identify, assess and inform sustainable trade opportunities that arise from a green economy transition, and to tackle related risks and challenges. It assists countries in using trade as an engine towards a green economy, by means of research, advisory services and capacity building.

UNEP Environment and Trade team’s work on high-impact sectors 1. Food and Agriculture – ‘TRADE Hub’ UNEP is a core partner in the work of the UKRI Trade, Development, and the Environment Hub (abbreviated ‘TRADE Hub’), funded by the UKRI Global Challenges Research Fund, which is a 5-year partnership of 100 researchers, 50 organisations, 15 countries, including UNEP-WCMC and the UNEP Environment and Trade team. Among other activities related to the project, UNEP’s Environment and Trade team is responsible for leading public sector impact and engagement in the food and agriculture sector, working to: a) Enhance knowledge, capacity and partnerships of public sector stakeholders to identify, promote and implement policy solutions in support of sustainable trade in wild meat, wildlife and agricultural commodities, contributing to ecosystem resilience, safeguarding biodiversity and promoting inclusive sustainable development; and b) Facilitate and support creation of platforms partnerships for discussion, research dissemination, awareness raising materials, and delivery of capacity building that contribute to policy-relevant outcomes and solutions.

2. Outputs from UNEP’s work include research-based trade policy briefings, capacity building and trade policy workshops, and multi-stakeholder dialogues on topics such as biodiversity, land use, sustainable agriculture, and sustainability standards.Textiles This work explores the role of trade in supporting sustainable and circular textile value chains, under UNEP’s overall framework on Sustainable and Circular Fashion. It does so through country case studies to map out trade flows in textile products, identify environmental hotspots, and analyze gaps and opportunities to support policy makers and SMEs (Small Medium Enterprise) in using trade policy instruments (including trade finance) and trade agreements to transition towards sustainable and circular textile value chains. In an upcoming project funded by the European Union, the team will be working on improving the sustainability of trade of used or secondhand textiles by developing criteria to distinguish between waste and reusable textiles focused on three target importing countries.

3. Plastics This work underlines the role of trade in supporting a sustainable and circular plastics economy, under UNEP’s overall contribution to the adoption and implementation of the global treaty on plastics pollution through a value chain approach. The value-chain approach considers the entire value chain of economic activities, by understanding what is happening at different stages of the value chain as well as how the value chain operates as part of a system. Adopting a value-chain approach helps to identify strategic intervention points and shape corresponding actions that improve natural resource management and achieve multiple sustainability objectives simultaneously. The Environment and Trade team is working to advance understanding and dialogue on trade policy options and practices that can support efforts to end plastic pollution, building on existing work, and to identify where further evidence and research is needed to support the engagement of policymakers and stakeholders on this topic. The Environment and Trade team in the UNEP Resources and Markets Branch’s Economic and Trade Policy Unit is responsible for the execution of the abovementioned works in collaboration with partners. The internship is for six (6) months, UNPAID, and full-time. The Environment and Trade team intern will be based in Geneva and work five days per week (35-40 hours) under the supervision of a staff member in the department or office to which they are assigned. Applicants may be requested to work via telecommuting within the duty station for a part of workdays in accordance with the UN and relevant policies. 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.

The Industry and Economy Division/ RMB internship is for six (6) months. The Internship is UNPAID and full-time. Interns work five days per week (40 hours) under the supervision of a staff member in the department or office to which they are assigned

Responsibilities Terms of Reference The job of the Trade team intern will entail the implementation of the above-mentioned works of the Environment and Trade Team with the following activities: - Carrying out background research including literature review, data collection and analysis on the trade and environment nexus; supporting the preparation of presentations; and providing inputs to knowledge products and case studies on trade and one or more of the high-impact sectors described above - Supporting the preparation of concept notes, briefings, project proposals and presentations on topics relevant to the work of the team. - Reviewing and commenting on research products and supporting their publication; - Preparing communication material and supporting outreach activities; - Organizing and planning for events, conferences and stakeholder engagement dialogues. - Supporting the upkeep of the team’s contact and stakeholder management database Within these activities, the focus of the Trade Intern can be discussed and tailored to the intern’s interests and development needs.

Competencies 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.

Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals. Solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others. Places team agenda before personal agenda. Supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position. Shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

Client orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view. Establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect. Identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions. Monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems. Keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects. Meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.

Education Applicants must at the time of application meet one of the following requirements: a. Be enrolled in a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher); b. Be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree program (minimum Bachelor's level or equivalent); c. Have graduated with a university degree in the last year. Preferred area of study include economics, international environmental policies, international development, sustainable development, international relations, public policy, political/social sciences or a related area. The candidate should have the following skills, knowledge and commitment: - Demonstrated keen interest in the work of the United Nations and a personal commitment to the ideals of the Charter; - 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; - Computer literacy in standard software applications; - Excellent analytical, research and writing skills in English; - Proactive approach in supporting different work streams and a high degree of self-organization; - Some knowledge in the area of green economy, climate change, sustainable trade or environmental policies; - Some background knowledge on macro-economic instruments in support of sustainable development policies.

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 working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position(s) advertised, fluency in English is required; and [‘fluency’ or ‘knowledge’] of French is [‘desirable’ or ’an advantage’]. Knowledge of another official United Nations language is an advantage.

Assessment Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.

Special Notice 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.

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.

Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process.

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.