UNDP Jobs - 60565- United Nations Interagency Sustainability Team Int

United Nations Interagency Sustainability Team Intern

Location :

Istanbul, TURKEY

Type of Contract :

Internship

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

16-Oct-15 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

Intern

Duration of Initial Contract :

Estimated 1 November 2015 – 30 April 2016

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

6 months

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

The UN’s journey towards their own operational climate neutrality began officially on 5th June 2007 when UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon publicly called on all UN agencies, funds and programmes to ‘go green’ and become climate neutral. Driven initially by the UN initiative “Greening the Blue”, with an interest to promote climate neutrality within the UN, the focus was largely on addressing associated greenhouse gas emissions. However, the Sustainable UN facility in collaboration with sustainability focal points in about 60 UN entities and the High Level Committee on Management (HLCM) procurement network has extended the focus area onto other critically important purchasing categories as well including the focus on resource depletion and eco- and human-toxicity in the procurement in the context of procurements for the health sector.

Linkages between health sector procurement and the environment are still only partially understood despite the fact that the important role of procurements in influencing the environmental impact of health sector operations is well acknowledged. For example, studies show carbon emissions by national health systems and global health programmes are closely linked to procurements, especially with regards to pharmaceuticals and other health products throughout their life cycle including production, use and disposal.

The informal Interagency Task Team on Sustainable Procurement in the Health Sector (SPHS) was established in May 2012 in Copenhagen, Denmark. Ten SPHS members (UNDP, UNEP, UNFPA, UHNCR, UNICEF, UNOPS, WHO, GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance, The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, UNITAID) conduct high volume procurement in the health sector, representing a sizable portion of some segments of the global pharmaceutical and other health products markets. The cumulative purchasing power of SPHS members in the global health aid market is about USD 5 billion annually. The aim for establishing the Task Team was to facilitate and coordinate the introduction of green procurement in the health sector among members and to leverage the standard-setting and joint procurement volumes of member agencies to influence the global health aid market (governments and other international development partners) and beyond. Thereby the SPHS Task Team intend to act as driver for transformational change towards greener health systems and inclusive green economies.

With this call, UNDP HIV, Health and Development (HHD) Team at the UNDP Istanbul Regional Hub (IRH) is seeking for an intern that will support the HHD Consultant to the SPHS and Regional HHD team for Greening Health Systems.

Duties and Responsibilities

The interested candidate will report to the HHD Consultant to the SPHS and Regional HHD team for Greening Health Systems and the Regional HHD Team Leader for Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

The intern will be expected to:

Assist on the landscape analysis of current green procurement initiatives undertaken by the UNDP Procurement Support Office, Global Procurement Unit (UNDP PSO GPU) and the UNDP GF Partnership PSM Team;
Support the analysis of the UNDP PSO GPU and the UNDP GF Partnership PSM Team procurement;
Support the analysis of data obtained through the environmental assessment of suppliers and assist in the writing of a report on the environmental profile of UNDP PSO GPU and the UNDP GF Partnership PSM Team intermediaries/ suppliers / manufacturers;
Assist in the in-depth research on environmental impact of recommended key product and product categories which should be in focus for an introduction of green procurement criteria at UNDP PSO GPU and the UNDP GF Partnership PSM Team;
Assist in identification of best practices of environmental supplier engagement from other public and private sectors;
Assist in the research on green procurement criteria practices in the health sector as well as other sectors;
Assist in the assessment of companies, organizations, initiatives and any relevant stakeholder for the SPHS initiative, identifying key focus and common areas of interest, entry point strategies and significant information to support the engagement process;
Assist with the environmental safeguarding of programmes and project implemented in the region and globally, especially on healthcare waste management and carbon footprint assessment;
Assist with the communication and promotion of healthcare waste management rapid assessment conducted by the Regional HHD team;
Assist in the review of lessons learnt from SPHS members and other green procurement initiatives.

The internship will also span broader aspects related to sustainability in procurement of goods and services for the health sector. This will be in terms of further research into the innovations being carried out globally in this field as well as aspects such as Corporate Social Responsibility. The ways in which UN policies and practices for sustainability can promote economic and social development in developing countries rather than pose obstacles to economic growth in emerging markets is also an important area of consideration that the intern will be encouraged to explore.
The aim of the internship will be to enhance the theoretical knowledge of the intern through substantive and operational engagement with sustainability practices and policies of the Organization while assisting with the initiatives and plans that are already in place and those that are in the pipeline.

Competencies

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

Required Skills and Experience

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 enrolled in the graduate level course.

Experience:

Knowledge of sustainable development terminology and environmental impact assessment a strong advantage;
Must be available at least 30 hours a week for a period of 6 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.

Financial Issues

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.

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.

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.

Conditions:

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/.