Internship - Biodiversity Finance Initiative

Contract

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

Background

UNDP is the UN’s global development network, advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. We are on the ground in 166 countries, working with them on their own solutions to global and national development challenges. UNDP’s Climate and Environment Team / Cluster (CET) works with the government agencies to carry out projects that deal with promoting environmental sustainability, renewable energy, climate resilience and managing risks posed by disasters.

The Cluster supports the Government to meet their international obligations, such as abiding by three Rio conventions, and strengthening the policies and institutions that are in place to ensure environmental sustainability and disaster resilience. The Programme also helps promote partnerships, improve networks with stakeholders, and share knowledge on how best to tackle issues pertaining to the environment and disasters, and support efforts made to achieve sustainable and environmentally sensitive development. The Cluster is implementing projects and programmes in above areas.

The Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN) is a global programme that developed, piloted, and is continuously improving a methodology to measure existing biodiversity expenditure levels, assess future financial needs, and design comprehensive plans to use finance tools and solutions that increase financing, effectiveness and efficiency of biodiversity management. The programme aims to produce improved biodiversity and development outcomes and to contribute to filling the finance gaps through the implementation of Biodiversity Finance Solutions. The Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN) – Phase II Sri Lanka was established to better understand biodiversity finance flows and effectiveness at the national level, with the inputs of experts on biodiversity financing have identified several innovating financing options available for Sri Lanka to mobilize the required amount of resources for biodiversity conservation.

Post Context: In this context, UNDP Sri Lanka is hiring two interns to support UNDP BIOFIN project with project implementation and day to day administrative tasks. The intern will be based at the United Nations Compound in Colombo and will report to the National Project Coordinator - BIOFIN, UNDP.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Assist the Project Manager in designing and planning Eurasia Pacific regional workshop of BIOFIN project in November 2023.

• Support the project team and project implementation partners in the efficient implementation of project activities.

• Support the project team with logistic and organizing requirements to deliver project activities such as project meetings, training programs, workshops, field visits, and other project related events.

• Assist in preparation of project communication products to capture best practices and lessons learned, raising the visibility of the project – both internally and externally.

• Maintain project documents and files and ensure that the master files have all required documents for contract management.

• Support the project team with database management, and collecting, analysing, and storing data in an organized fashion.

• Liaise with the Project Team to support with requests and queries from the Climate & Environment Team, the Country Office and the regional colleagues.

• Perform any additional administrative tasks, including minute-taking and report writing.

• Undertake any other relevant tasks assigned by the supervisor

Competencies

• Proactive (able to proactively undertake tasks that fall under the TOR)

• Team Player

• Excellent writing skills

• Quick learner

• Good computer skills

• Good communication skills

• Polite and outgoing

Required Skills and Experience

Applicants to the UNDP internship program must at the time of application meet one of the following requirements:

(a) Be enrolled in a postgraduate degree programme (such as a master’s programme, or higher);

(b) Be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree programme (such as bachelor’s degree or equivalent);

(c) Have recently graduated with a university degree (as defined in (a) and (b) above) and, if selected, must start the internship within one-year of graduation;

(d) Be enrolled in a postgraduate professional traineeship program and undertake the internship as part of this program.

Family Relationship

A person who is the child or sibling of a UNDP staff member is not eligible to apply for an internship at UNDP. An applicant who bears any other family relationship with a UNDP staff member may be engaged as an intern, provided that they must neither be assigned to the same work unit as the staff member nor be placed under the direct or indirect supervision of the staff member.

Medical Insurance

Interns are responsible for securing adequate medical insurance for the duration of their internship with UNDP and must provide a medical certificate of good health before starting the internship. UNDP will not reimburse the medical insurance of the intern. Any costs arising from accidents and illness incurred during an internship assignment will be the responsibility of the intern.

Stipends, insurance, and interns' expenses

Where an intern is not financially supported by any institution or program, such as a university, government, foundation, or scholarship program, a stipend intended to help cover basic daily expenses related to the internship, such as meals and transportation at the duty station, must be paid by the receiving office.

Costs and arrangements for travel, visas, passports, accommodation, and living expenses are the responsibility of:

(a) The nominating institution, related institution, or government, which may provide the required financial assistance to its students; or

(b) The intern