Background

UNDP has been supporting the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change in meeting its national and international environmental priorities and commitments. These include close to 40 projects in the area of biodiversity conservation, sustainable resource management, climate change and chemical management. UNDP’s support focuses on technical and policy advisory, institutional strengthening and building capacities of various stakeholders to utilize natural resources in a sustainable way, while increasing resilience to climate variability and associated risks and impacts. UNDP also supports India’s engagement with the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and works with Central Ministries and state governments to implement GEF financed projects.

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Government of India along with UNDP is implementing a GEF funded project: SECURE Himalaya (Securing livelihoods, conservation, sustainable use and restoration of high range Himalayan ecosystems) in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Union Territory of Ladakh.

The project supports the Government of India in conservation of globally significant biodiversity and threatened species while securing sustainable livelihoods and community resilience and ensures conservation of globally significant biodiversity and threatened species. It will engineer a paradigm shift from the current approach of conservation to demonstrate a new approach of landscape based conservation. This is an integrated approach, which focuses on working with various sectors and partners in areas within and outside protected areas, to effectively reduce threats to biodiversity of local, national and global significance.

The project will build up on the existing socio-economic development efforts in the region, for evolving innovative and participatory models for sustainable use of natural resources. It aims to achieve the objective of conservation by engaging local communities and collaborating with government and non-government agencies for conservation and promotion of sustainable resource use and livelihood.

UNDP seeks to engage a Biodiversity Conservation Intern to provide overall support towards implementation of the biodiversity conservation related projects including SECURE Himalaya through in-depth literature review and research, collection and collation of data and analysis of trends and patterns in data. The Intern will report to the Project Associate- Conservation, SECURE Himalaya Project, UNDP India, and shall be closely working with the other team members.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the guidance Project Associate- Conservation, SECURE Himalaya Project, UNDP India, the intern is expected to:

• Support the project team in undertaking research and documentation, developing concept notes and communication materials towards the implementation of the project. 
• Participate in and contribute to preparation, conduct and follow-up of meetings, workshops and consultations as needed by engaging with relevant stakeholders including governments, communities and donors. 
• Ensure documentation of agendas and minutes of key workshops and consultation meetings.
• Contribute towards furthering the priorities of UNDP and Government of India towards international commitments such as UNFCCC, UNCCD and CBD within the purview of the project
• Any other tasks and responsibilities related to the project assigned by UNDP.

Competencies

• Strong sense of collaborative work, excellent communication and interpersonal skills;
• Keen attention to detail;
• Excellent designing skills; ? Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise;
• Is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda

Required Skills and Experience

Applicants to the UNDP internship programme must at the time of application meet one of the following requirements:
 
(a) Be enrolled in a postgraduate degree/diploma programme in environment science, natural resources management, ecosystem restoration, wetlands management, sustainable development, or a related field;
(b) Be enrolled in the final academic year of a relevant first university degree programme (such as bachelor’s degree or equivalent); 
(c) Have recently graduated with a university degree (as defined in (a) and (b) above) and, if selected, must start the internship within one-year of graduation.

Skills:

• Experience in research and documentation on environment and conservation issues.
• Basic experience in partnerships with private and/or government sector on environment issues.
• Basic understanding of issues pertaining to natural resource management, ecosystem restoration and biodiversity conservation
• Good team player and ability to adapt to change in work environment

Languages:

• Fluency in English, while understanding of Hindi is desirable 

Application procedure:

The application should contain:

• The completed “Application Form” provided in the link, which requires names of 3 referees.
• Current and complete CV in English.

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

Candidates who are selected must submit the following documents, upon selection:

• Official letter from the University confirming enrollment in their undergraduate or 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.

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

IMPORTANT: 

Family relationships are required to be disclosed in order to avoid real or perceived family influence 
or conflict of interest, within UNDP. If the candidate/ hiring manager has not disclosed that he/she was related to 
an individual employed by UNDP in whatever contractual modality and irrespective of the nature of the family 
relationship, this may constitute a basis for withdrawing the offer of internship or, if the internship has started, to 
terminate it without notice or indemnity. 

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 be required to undergo rigorous reference and background checks.