Environmental Affairs Intern

The United Nations Environment Programme (UN Environment) is the leading global environmental authority that sets the world's environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as an authoritative advocate for the environment. This internship provides support to UNEP, primarily assisting the Environmental Affairs Officer in implementing UNEP’s Environmental Management System (EMS) and internal environmental policies within the Corporate Services Division (CSD).

Key Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the Environmental Affairs Officer, the intern will:

• Assist in policy development, including reviewing and analyzing issues and trends, preparing evaluations, and conducting other research activities and studies.
• Support the Corporate Services Division (CSD) in implementing UNEP’s Environmental Management System (EMS), enforcing internal environmental policies, and identifying needs for drafting or revising relevant guidance.
• Assist with initiatives aimed at reducing travel emissions.
• Support survey initiatives by designing data collection tools, reviewing, analyzing, and interpreting responses, identifying problems or issues, and preparing reports.
• Assist in completing UNEP’s 2024 annual environmental inventory.
• Support the identification of achievements within the UNEP EMS cycle for each of the five (5) environmental aspects: climate/energy, water, waste, staff sensitization, and sustainable procurement.
• Assist in scheduling meetings, including preparing agendas, compiling presentations, managing logistics, communicating with members, and drafting meeting minutes and reports.
• Assist in managing sustainability aspects in the context of UN reform offices and support other offices as needed, including activities related to the Business Operations Strategy (BOS).
• Assist in updating the “WeCollaborate” EMS webpage.
• Perform other tasks as assigned by the supervisor.

Qualifications and Experience

Applicants must meet one of the following educational requirements:

1. Be enrolled in, or have completed, a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher); OR
2. Be enrolled in, or have completed, the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum bachelor’s degree or equivalent) in environmental sciences, business or public administration, social science, environmental law, or a related field.

A field of study that is closely related to the type of internship applied for is required. Applicants must be a student in the final year of the first university degree (bachelor or equivalent), Master’s or Ph.D. Programme or equivalent, or have completed a Bachelor’s, Master’s or PH.D. Programme. Applicants to the UN Internship Programme are not required to have professional work experience.