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 Socio-economic and Environment Intern on request of Sikkim Forest Department to provide overall support towards implementation of the SECURE Himalaya project in the state as per the approved Annual Work Plans to meet out the targets as per the Project Result Framework. The Intern will report to the State Project Officer, SECURE Himalaya Sikkim under the overall supervision of State Project Director and State Nodal Officer, SECURE Himalaya Sikkim.

Under the guidance of the State Project Officer, SECURE Himalaya Project Sikkim, the intern is expected to:

1. Support the team to organize meetings, trainings, workshops. Support the project team in undertaking research and documentation, developing concept notes and communication materials towards the implementation of the project. Ensure documentation of agendas and minutes of key workshops and consultation meetings.
2.  Support the State in planning, coordinating, implementing and monitoring the project to ensure that its results are in accordance with the project document and results framework.
3. Interact with line departments and provide support for convergence.
4. Ensure regular communication and coordination with the National, State and Landscape Project Management Unit with respect to activities in the landscape.
5. Help in identification and documentation of best practices across thematic areas relevant to the project.
6. Draft ToRs, MoUs, facilitate and monitor the progress of the activities in the landscape, flag any potential risks and suggest measures of its mitigation.
7. Assist the State Project Officer in Terminal Evaluation of the project. Any other tasks and responsibilities related to the project assigned by the State Project Officer.
8. Develop and ensure timely submission of Quarterly Progress Reports, Annual Progress Reports and any other reports required to SPO, based on inputs from the landscape and state.
9. Any other related tasks as may be required or assigned by the SPMU.

• 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;

Education:
 

Applicants to the UNDP internship programme must at the time of application meet one of the following requirements:

1. Be enrolled in a postgraduate degree/diploma programme in environment science, sociology, political science, or a related field;
    
2. Be enrolled in the final academic year of a relevant first university degree programme (such as bachelor’s degree or equivalent);

3. 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:
 

1. Sound understanding of current issues related to environment,   conservation and livelihood in High Himalayan ecosystems.
2. Ability to prepare comprehensive reports and other communication material for providing progress updates to government, donor and implementing partner.
3. Experience in research and documentation on environment and conservation issues.
4. Basic experience in partnerships with private and/or government sector on environment issues.
5. Good team player and ability to adapt to change in work environment.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English and Nepali, 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.