Intern: Climate change policy and air quality management

UNDP is the United Nation’s global development network advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience, and resources to assist people to build a better life. UNDP’s vision is to assist countries in achieving the simultaneous eradication of poverty and significant reduction of inequalities and exclusion. To strengthen inclusive and effective governance, the UNDP Strategic Plan focuses on ensuring participation and voice in pursuit of equitable access to development opportunities and working with poor and other excluded groups as agents of their own development. It also comes as part of UNDP’s global effort to become a more effective and efficient organization, fit for its purpose – to help countries achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and leave no one behind:

• Governance and Peacebuilding;
• Inclusive Growth and Sustainable Development
• Innovation
• Climate Change and the Environment
• Gender
• Partnership and etc.

United Nations staff uphold the principles and core values of the Organization, including integrity, professionalism, efficiency and respect for diversity. They also share a strong commitment to high-quality work and to serving the Kyrgyz Republic’s development interests – to achieving results that will have positive impacts on the well-being of the Kyrgyz people. Our staff includes a rich mix of professionals and experts on economics, gender, international relations, environmental management, communications, education, health care, community safety, public policy, history, and computer science, among other fields.

The purpose of UNDP’s Internship Programme is to:

• Provide a framework by which students from diverse academic backgrounds may be assigned to UNDP offices, where their educational experience can be enhanced through practical work assignments;
• Expose them to an international environment;
• Expose them to work of the Organization with the objective of deepening their knowledge and understanding of UNDP goals, principles, and activities;
• Provide UNDP offices with the assistance of qualified students specialized in various professional fields.

This internship is for the Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management Cluster (NDC Promise: FCDO “Policy Action for Climate Change in Central Asia”)

• Actively participate in and support the development of new projects with innovation and creativity related to international climate change legal instruments including the Paris Agreement, environment and climate change policy, and air quality management;
• Provide support to the project team in grant searching, grant writing, and preparing grants for submission;
• Provision of support to the project team for the implementation of project activities related to climate diplomacy, the Paris Agreement, and the NDC process, climate change policy, and air quality management;
• Undertake research and analysis of international climate change agreements, the Paris Agreement, and the NDC process, and climate policy;
• Undertake research and analysis of air quality management issues, lessons learned, and best practices in Central Asia, and globally;
• Where relevant, support the project team with drafting TORs;
• Provide support for presentations and brief training to the project team, partners, and stakeholders on climate change law, UNFCCC processes, the Paris Agreement, and similar topics;
• Provide support for presentations and brief training to the project team, partners, and stakeholders on air quality management;
• Contribute to the preparation of communications products for mass media, social media, decision around climate change science, causes, and impacts, and air pollution, its causes and consequences, and air quality management;
• Research lessons learned and examples of effective climate communication and effective communication around air quality management;
• Undertake regular website updates;
• Provide administrative and logistical support;
• Support organization of workshops, conferences, and retreats in coordination with other staff;
• Perform other duties as required.

Corporate competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

Functional competencies:

• Strong track record of research and writing skills;
• Knowledge of gender and/or human rights;
• Editing skills are helpful;
• Computer literate in standard software applications;
• Ability to successfully interact with individuals of different backgrounds and beliefs, which include willingness to try and understand and be tolerant of differing opinions and views.

Financial aspects, expenses and medical benefits

• UNDP will not pay for the internship but will provide a stipend in accordance with the provisions of the UNDP Internship policy;
• UNDP accepts no responsibility for the medical insurance for the intern or for any costs arising from accidents and/or illness during the internship period. Applicants are required to provide evidence of adequate medical insurance coverage.
• UNDP is not responsible for any claims by an intern or third party in the case of loss or damage to property or death or personal injury as a result of actions or omissions on the part of the intern during the internship period.

 Working conditions:

• During the internship session, interns will be provided with a desk, phone and computer access.
• Due to current COVID-19 situation  remote internship/ telecommuting  shall be applied based on the project/office needs

 Further career opportunities with UN

• The purpose of the Internship Programme is to complement to the Intern's studies, but not to lead to further employment with UN.  Therefore, there should be no expectation of employment at the end of an internship.
• Interns cannot apply for posts during the period of internship.

Important note:

• Interns are considered gratis personnel. They are not staff members.
• Interns may not be sought or accepted as substitutes for staff to be recruited against authorized posts.
• Interns may not represent UNDP in any official capacity.

Education:

• Be enrolled in a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher) in environmental policy, international climate change law, environmental engineering, or a similar field;
• Be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum Bachelor’s level or equivalent) in environmental policy, international climate change law, environmental engineering, or a similar field;
• Have graduated with a university degree in environmental policy, international climate change law, environmental engineering, or a similar field (as defined in (a) and (b) above) and, if selected, must start the internship within one-year of graduation.

Experience:

• Demonstrated keen interest in the work of the UN, and of UNDP in particular, and a personal commitment to UNDP's Statement of Purpose and to the ideals of the UN Charter.

Language:

• Proficiency in  English;
• Fluency in Russian and Kyrgyz is an asset.

To apply, kindly upload the full package of the following documents online

• A duly completed “UNDP internship application form”;
• A copy of the most recent resume or curriculum vitae;
• A letter from the university confirming current enrollment and graduation date or copy of diploma;
• A copy of academic transcript or academic record book;
• A recommendation letter from the university.

Please group all your documents into one (1) single PDF document as the system only allows to upload maximum one document.

Applications with incomplete package of documents or without documents SHALL NOT be considered.