UNDP Sustainability Energy Intern

The UNDP Environment and Energy Group (EEG) is responsible for providing leadership and technical support to engineer delivery of the Environment and Sustainable Development pillar of UNDP’s Strategic Plan. Its main focus is on helping countries develop the capacity to fully incorporate environmental sustainability into development at national and local, but also global and regional, levels. The principal areas of work are in environmental mainstreaming, environmental finance, adaptation to climate change, and local management of natural resources. 

With its technical focus, the Environment and Energy Group (EEG) is organized into substantive technical teams with a Principal or Senior Technical Advisors (PTA/STA) being the team leader within each area. Each team leader supports and guides a team of Regional Technical Advisors (RTAs) and Specialists (RTSs). These RTAs and RTSs are located in different UNDP Regional Hubs in different parts of the world including Panama, Addis Ababa, Bangkok, and Istanbul. In the Istanbul Regional Hub, there are currently RTAs working on climate change mitigation covering both the Europe & CIS region and the Arab States. The RTAs are responsible for mobilizing resources for new programming and for monitoring and oversight of the existing portfolio of ongoing climate change mitigation projects. These RTAs are currently seeking a Sustainable Energy Intern to assist them in their work.

The Sustainable Energy Intern for Energy, Infrastructure, Transport and Technology will be initially be based in Istanbul, Turkey supporting RTAs with their policy and project portfolio emphasis on attracting and directing public and private investment towards catalyzing and supporting environmentally sustainable pathways for energy use and supply, climate resilient infrastructure and low carbon transport and mobility .

The duration of the internship will be for a period of 3-4 months, starting in August 2015.

The interested candidate will report to UNDP Regional Technical Advisors on climate change mitigation covering both the Europe & CIS Region and the Arab States region. The intern will be expected to:

• Assist with the programming of new (Global Environment Facility) GEF resource programming in the Europe & CIS region and Arab States region, which includes support for collecting relevant baseline data and support for providing relevant inputs into formulation of new project concepts , with a specific focus on supporting the future development UNDP GEF climate change mitigation portfolio in Turkey;
• Support the completion of the PIR exercise (Project Implementation Review) over the period September and October 2015 for ongoing UNDP GEF climate change mitigation portfolio in Europe and CIS region and Arab States region;
• Assist in reviewing UNDP reports and other relevant documents and studies related to sustainable energy and providing comments, where appropriate;
• Assist in updating UNDP renewable energy snapshots for Europe & CIS region and expanding this work to the Arab States region (as appropriate);
• Assist in other relevant activities related to UNDP’s activities in the area of climate change mitigation.

• Excellent research and intelligence gathering skills;
• Good team worker;
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to multi-task;
• Able to work in a multicultural environment and be aware of political sensitivities;
• Responsible, responsive, and enthusiastic;
• Willing to work within the framework of UNDP’s internship policies.

Education:

• Enrollment in a graduate-level degree programme in a development related field such as environmental studies, sustainability, public health, health and environment economics, public or business administration;
• Interested candidate will be eligible to undertake this internship only if he/she is currently, and over the full period of internship, enrolled in the graduate level course.

Experience:

• Knowledge of sustainable development terminology and environmental impact assessment a strong advantage;
• Must be available at least 35 hours a week for a period of at least 3 - 4 months;
• Proficient with managing Microsoft Excel spreadsheets and data bases;
• Solid writing and communications abilities

Languages:

• Fluency and ability to communicate and perform complex tasks in English;
• Knowledge of another UN official language is desirable. Knowledge of other regional languages would be an asset.

Interns are selected on a competitive basis. The above minimum qualifications are required:

Conditions

Internships within the UN system are unpaid and subject to conditions the applicant must get familiar with prior to signing his/her internship agreement.

The costs associated with the internship must be borne by the nominating institution, related institution or government, which may provide the required financial assistance to its students; or by the student, who will have to obtain financing for subsistence and make his or her own arrangements for travel, accommodation etc.

UNDP only accepts interns for a minimum of 6 weeks and a maximum of 6 months.

UNDP accepts no responsibility for costs arising from accidents and/or illness or death incurred during the internship.

Interns are not staff members and may not represent UNDP in any official capacity.

It is important to note that interns are responsible to arrange for their own visa and residence documents, and need to plan for these well in advance. The purpose of the Internship Programme is not to lead to further employment with UNDP but to complement an intern’s studies. 

Therefore, there should be no expectation of employment at the end of an internship. More information available at: http://www.undp.org/internships/.

Candidates who are selected for must submit prior to the interview the following documents:

• Official letter from the University confirming enrollment in a graduate-level degree programme;
• Proof of medical and life/accident insurance valid for the location in which the internship will be carried out. Selected intern must have medical and life insurance.

Application procedure

The application should contain:

• Brief Cover Letter (in English) stating interest in and qualifications for the post;
• Current and complete CV in English;
• Please combine all your documents into one (1) single PDF document as the system only allows to upload maximum one document.

Please make sure to apply no later than 30th June 2015.