Duties and Responsibilities
The internship with the Environment and Development Policy Section (EDPS) of the Environment and Development Division (EDD) is a six-month, full-time and unpaid programme, to be conducted on an in-person basis in Bangkok. EDPS supports member States in the formulation and implementation of environment and development policies through policy analysis, institutional development, knowledge production and regional cooperation. The Asia-Pacific region faces structural challenges in achieving the environmental dimensions of the SDGs due to climate change, air pollution and disaster risks, which undermine development gains, exacerbate inequalities and disproportionately affect vulnerable groups. Stronger regional cooperation and integrated, demand-driven policy responses are therefore required. Against this backdrop, EDPS operates regional policy cooperation platforms to facilitate collaboration among member States and to support policy dialogue and implementation through analytical and knowledge products. In partnership with the Government of the Republic of Korea, EDPS operates the Seoul Initiative Network on Green Growth (SINGG) as a key regional cooperation platform through which Asia-Pacific countries share and discuss policies on green transition, climate change response and environment–development linkages. Through policy dialogue, capacity-building and knowledge exchange, SINGG promotes mutual learning and cooperation. With the launch of SINGG Phase V, the initiative aims to further support the implementation of carbon-neutral green transition policies through demand-driven policy diagnostics and the identification of feasible policy approaches. In parallel, EDPS promotes regional cooperation on air quality through the Regional Action Programme on Air Pollution (RAPAP), which supports policy collaboration and capacity-building by strengthening shared understanding of the health and environmental impacts of air pollution and facilitating the exchange of policy experiences, complementing integrated climate-related environmental policy approaches. In supporting these policy cooperation and knowledge activities, EDPS welcomes interns who demonstrate a proactive attitude and a strong commitment to problem-solving, and who are motivated to contribute to addressing complex environment and development challenges. The intern will support, inter alia, the implementation of projects and activities related to SINGG and RAPAP, including research assistance, development of knowledge outputs, and the operation of regional cooperation platforms. Duties and Responsibilities • Assist with relevant data collection and analysis of NDC updates & net-zero pledges, air quality management of each member State • Develop infographics, attractive presentation on the SINGG project, green growth, climate action, and air quality management • Support with the development of policy briefs, blogs, and newsletters on the current research and policy trends in related fields • Support the organization of related workshops, meetings, and international forums on climate action, air pollution, and environmental SDGs • Support communication with member States, specialists, international institutes, and stakeholders in Asia and the Pacific region
Qualifications/special skills
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); or (b) be enrolled in, or have completed, the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum Bachelor’s degree or equivalent), in environmental studies, natural sciences or applied sciences, engineering, international affairs, or other SDG-related fields. Candidates enrolled in a graduate (Master’s) programme or higher are preferred.
Intern Specific text
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.
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.
