Intern for International Environmental Guardianship (IEG)

Job Posting Organization:
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the knowledge frontier organization for sustainable development within the UN Development System. Established to integrate collective action towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), UNDP operates globally, providing deep local knowledge combined with cutting-edge global perspectives. The organization emphasizes diversity, equity, and inclusion, ensuring that all personnel are empowered to contribute to its mission. UNDP has a significant presence in multiple countries, focusing on various thematic areas such as climate change, energy, and waste management, and has a growing portfolio of global projects aimed at promoting sustainable stewardship of nature.

Job Overview:
The intern will support the International Environmental Guardianship (IEG) and its 8 Billion Hour Pledge, working closely with the Nature Hub projects. This role involves assisting in the planning and organization of international events and workshops, managing funding arrangements, and contributing to budget forecasting and expenditure monitoring. The intern will also engage with external stakeholders, manage documentation, and support the coordination of consultations related to the 8 Billion Hour Pledge. This position is crucial for promoting equitable and sustainable practices in biodiversity and environmental governance, aligning with UNDP's strategic goals.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Support the International Environmental Guardianship (IEG): - Assist in planning, organizing, and documenting international events and workshops, including COP30 side events and G20 engagements. - Prepare and manage funding arrangements for IEG activities, including budget planning, financial tracking, and reporting. - Contribute to budget forecasting and expenditure monitoring for IEG projects, ensuring accurate allocation of funds for travel, workshops, and community participation. - Support engagement and coordination with external stakeholders. - Undertake day-to-day activities and internal and external communications. - Manage and maintain relevant documents in a shared repository. - Respond to stakeholder queries and support regular interactions with key stakeholders.
• Support the coordination and monitoring of the 8 Billion Hour Pledge: - Help organize regional and global consultations or workshops related to the 8 Billion Hour Pledge, ensuring inclusive participation and dissemination of results. - Contribute to the data collection, verification, and analysis of community-led actions recorded under the 8 Billion Hours Pledge, ensuring transparent and accurate time accounting in line with IEG standards.
• Support other Nature Hub projects/activities as seen relevant and needed.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must be enrolled in a graduate school program (second university degree or equivalent, or higher) in fields such as international development, international policy, business administration, economics, finance, accounting, financial engineering, or related fields. Graduates must start the internship within one year of graduation. Excellent analytical skills, experience in research, drafting reports, and knowledge products are required. Familiarity with biodiversity issues, social media material development, program management support, data collection, and virtual workshop facilitation is advantageous. Fluency in English is mandatory.

Educational Background:
Candidates should be pursuing or have completed a graduate degree in relevant fields such as international development, international policy, business administration, economics, finance, accounting, or financial engineering. The educational background should align with the responsibilities of the internship, emphasizing analytical and research skills.

Experience:
The position requires candidates to have excellent analytical skills and experience in research, drafting, and developing reports. Knowledge of current biodiversity issues, particularly the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, is an asset. Experience in program management support, coordination among multiple stakeholders, data collection, analysis, and presentation is advantageous. Familiarity with tools for virtual workshops, such as Zoom and MS Teams, is also beneficial.

Languages:
Fluency in English is required for this position. Additional language skills may be beneficial but are not specified as mandatory.

Additional Notes:
The internship is likely to be full-time, and while the specific duration is not mentioned, it is common for internships to last several months. The position is based in New York, and candidates should be aware of the implications of accepting a position with UNDP, particularly for US Permanent Residents. UNDP emphasizes a zero-tolerance policy towards discrimination and harassment, ensuring a safe and inclusive work environment.