Internship at UNEP

Job Posting Organization:
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority established to set the global environmental agenda. UNEP promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment. The organization coordinates 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 Ecosystems Division works with international and national partners to provide technical assistance and capacity development for the implementation of environmental policy, aiming to strengthen the environmental management capacity of developing countries and countries with economies in transition. UNEP operates globally, engaging with various stakeholders to address pressing environmental challenges.

Job Overview:
This internship-position" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">Internship position is located at the UNEP office in Nairobi, Kenya, with the intended purpose of supporting the Ecosystems Division programme coordination and management. The intern will work under the direct supervision of the Chief of the Programme Support Unit. The role is designed to provide the intern with practical experience in project management and environmental policy implementation. The intern will assist in various tasks related to project implementation progress and reporting, project cycle management, data entry and validation, financial implementation analysis, quality assurance of publications, and tracking of publication processes. This position is ideal for individuals looking to gain hands-on experience in a dynamic international organization focused on environmental issues.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The intern will be responsible for assisting in the following duties:

• Keeping under review the Division's project implementation progress and reporting through the Ecosystems Division Project Portfolio Dashboard and Integrated Planning, Monitoring and Reporting (IPMR).
• Supporting the review of the project's cycle management, including operational closure.
• Assisting in data entry, validation, and ensuring the accuracy of project-related information in IPMR and relevant databases.
• Analyzing the status of financial implementation using available information systems.
• Conducting quality assurance reviews of publication concepts and full publications to ensure alignment with UNEP Publishing Policy and Guidelines.
• Tracking the publications and concepts clearance process in the publications system and updating the quality assurance process in the Publications Master file and online tracking tool.
• Providing flexible and ad hoc support to unit functions as required.

Required Qualifications:
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). Additionally, applicants should be computer literate in standard software applications, particularly MS Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint, and MS Teams. A keen interest in the work of the United Nations and a personal commitment to the ideals of the Charter are essential. Candidates should demonstrate the ability to interact successfully with individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds and beliefs, showing a willingness to understand and tolerate differing opinions and views. Excellent written and spoken communication skills are required.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes a Bachelor’s Degree or current enrollment in a bachelor's programme. A background in fields such as Statistics, Project Management, International Relations, International Business Administration, or another related field is preferred.

Experience:
The level of experience needed for this position is primarily academic, as the internship is aimed at students or recent graduates. While prior work experience is not explicitly required, any relevant experience in project management, environmental policy, or related fields would be beneficial and could enhance the candidate's application.

Languages:
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this position, fluency in oral and written English is required. Knowledge of another official United Nations language is desirable. Fluency is defined as a rating of 'fluent' in all four areas (reading, writing, speaking, understanding), while knowledge is defined as a rating of 'confident' in two of the four areas.

Additional Notes:
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. It is important to note that the United Nations does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing, or training) and does not concern itself with information on applicants’ bank accounts.