Background

UNDP is the knowledge frontier organization for sustainable development in the UN Development System and serves as the integrator for collective action to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNDP’s policy work carried out at HQ, Regional and Country Office levels, forms a contiguous spectrum of deep local knowledge to cutting-edge global perspectives and advocacy. In this context, UNDP invests in the Global Policy Network (GPN), a network of field-based and global technical expertise across a wide range of knowledge domains and in support of the signature solutions and organizational capabilities envisioned in the Strategic Plan.

Within the GPN, the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS) has the responsibility for developing all relevant policy and guidance to support the results of UNDP’s Strategic Plan. BPPS staff provide technical advice to Country Offices, advocates for UNDP corporate messages, represent UNDP at multi-stakeholder fora including public-private, government and civil society dialogues, and engage in UN inter-agency coordination in specific thematic areas.

UNDP's 2022-2025 Strategic Plan highlighting our continued commitment to eradicating poverty, accompanying countries in their pathways towards the SDGs and working towards the Paris Agreement. As part of the Global Policy Network in the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support, UNDP's Nature, Climate Change, Energy, and Waste (NCE&W) Hubs promote and scale up integrated whole-of-governance approaches and nature-based solutions that reduce poverty and inequalities, strengthen livelihoods and inclusive growth, mitigate conflict, forced migration and displacement, and promote more resilient governance systems that advance linked peace and security agendas.

BPPS’ Hubs on Nature, Climate, Energy and Waste, with the support of a Vertical Fund Programme Support, Oversight and Compliance Unit, work with governments, civil society, and private sector partners to integrate nature, climate, energy and waste related concerns into national and sector planning and inclusive growth policies, support country obligations under Multilateral Environmental Agreements, and oversee the implementation of the UN’s largest portfolio of in-country programming nature, climate change, energy and waste. This multi-billion-dollar portfolio encompasses:

• Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services including forests;
• Sustainable Land Management and Desertification including food and commodity systems;
• Water and Ocean Governance including SIDS;
• Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation;
• Sustainable Energy;
• Extractive Industries;
• Chemicals and Waste Management;
• Environmental Governance and Green/Circular Economy; and SCP approaches.

This work advances crosscutting themes on innovative finance, digital transformation, capacity development, human rights, gender equality, health, technology, and South-South learning.

Energy is one of UNDP’s six signature solutions – alongside poverty and inequality, governance, resilience, environment, and gender equality - to support countries towards three directions of change: structural transformation, leaving no one behind and resilience.

As per UNDP’s new Strategic Plan 2022-2025, the first objective of UNDP is increasing energy access for those furthest behind. By speeding up investment in distributed renewable energy solutions, especially for those hardest to reach and in crisis contexts, it aims to increase access to clean and affordable energy for 500 million people.

Second, UNDP will work to accelerate the transition to renewable energy through systems changes that support inclusive, green economies, particularly in countries with low levels of renewable energy generation or poor energy-efficiency improvement rates. This work will capitalize on technological gains, clean energy innovations and new business models in the energy sector.

The newly established UNDP Sustainable Energy Hub will be the arrowhead of UNDP’s new Strategic Plan objectives. The Sustainable Energy Hub will build on UNDP’s existing Energy Portfolio, covering over 100 countries to harness clean energy and support the energy transition as well as on UNDP’s Climate Promise, UNDP’s Sustainable Finance Hub, and UNDP’s Digital offer.

The Sustainable Energy Hub will develop and operationalize, policies, programmes and partnerships to support the realization of UN/UNDP’s Energy Compact, a commitment to help increasing access to clean and affordable energy for 500 million people by 2025 and accelerating and supporting the transition to renewable energy.

Recognizing that change will be disruptive, UNDP will work to ensure that such transitions are just, and that their impact on vulnerable people is understood and duly mitigated.

The intern will work closely with the Sustainable Energy Hub to support the UNDP’s vision to catalyze unprecedented action and partnerships to provide access to sustainable, affordable, and reliable energy to 500 more million people by 2025, and work to accelerate the transition to renewable energy through systems changes that support inclusive green economies. The intern will provide day-today- research on the three pillars the Hub is focusing on: closing the gap of energy access, accelerating a just energy transition, and increase energy resilience in crises and fragile context.

UNDP is looking for talented, motivated, and enthusiastic intern that will work closely with the SEH to support the with research and analysis. 

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of key functions:

• Research and analysis for strategic documents and materials for the UNDP energy narratives
• Support the team with the Country Office requests

Research and analysis for strategic documents and materials for the UNDP energy narratives
 

The Intern will support to the SEH team in research and analytical activities that include:

• Assist the SEH team on research activities related to the UNDP energy key thematic areas, e.g., energy access, energy transition and energy resilience in fragile context, to identify trends and patterns, including literature review, gathering data, drafting reports and other documents.
• Analyze and synthesize data, research findings, and policy documents related to sustainable energy, renewable energy, energy access, and energy transition.
• Conduct literature reviews and provide policy briefs on key topics, e.g., mini-grid development, productive use of energy, clean cooking, transition issues (e.g., decarbonization strategies, data and digital in energy, innovation, carbon markets/energy pricing approaches, just transitions etc.)
• Identify and conduct suitable research and analytical work to prepare regular reports and updates on energy for sustainable development and the integrated agenda on SDG7 and other SDG7, e.g, social protection, gender equality, governance, climate, etc.
• Provide hands-on support to analyze and visualize various types of data and prepare reports to communicate the findings of the Sustainable Energy Hub.

 Support the team with the Country Office requests on energy

The Intern will support the management and tracking of UNDP’s energy portfolio, including the tracking of Country Office requests for support from the Sustainable Energy Hub.

• Support the Country Office request providing ad-hoc literature review, briefing note and policy research.  
• Contribute to publications and research papers under the supervision of the SEH Director
• Work with Country Offices to ensure they receive the right support from the SEH team.
• Support the Hub's team in developing partnerships with national and local stakeholders to promote energy access, just energy transition, and energy resilience.

Competencies

Required Skills and Experience

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

• Be enrolled in a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher) in fields such as Energy, Data Management, Economics, Business Administration, Social Sciences or related disciplines;
• Be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum Bachelor’s level or equivalent) in fields such as Energy, Data Management, Economics, Business Administration, Social Sciences or related disciplines;
• Have graduated with a university degree (as defined above), and, if selected, must start the internship within one-year of graduation.

Experience:

• Relevant work/voluntary/internship experience in research activities related to climate change or sustainable energy, multi-stakeholder initiatives at the domestic and/or international level;
• Knowledge of/familiarity with research activities needed to design and/or implementation of development projects to promote energy investment.  Hands-on experience preferred;
• Experience working with a wide set of energy stakeholders, such as the private and financial sector, government, and civil society is an advantage;
• Field experience in energy-related projects in developing countries contexts is desirable;
• Knowledge of, and/or prior experience within, the UN system is considered an advantage.

Language requirements

• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English language are required;
• Knowledge of French is considered an asset

Institutional Arrangements

• The intern will report to the Director of the UNDP Sustainable Energy Hub.
• The internship will be carried out remotely from the intern’s home-base.

Interns’ Expenses

Interns may be given a stipend under conditions prescribed in the section on stipends, below.  Costs and arrangements for travel, visas, passports, accommodation and living expenses are the responsibility of:

(a) The nominating institution, related institution or government, which may provide the required financial assistance to its students; or

(b) The intern.

Stipend

Where an intern is not financially supported by any institution or programme, such as a university, government, foundation or scholarship program, a stipend intended to help cover basic daily expenses related to the internship, such as meals and transportation at the duty station, will be paid by UNDP.

The stipend will be paid on a monthly basis and part-time internship arrangements are prorated accordingly.

Where an intern is financially supported by an institution, government or third party, UNDP will, subject to the rules of such institution, government or third party, pay the intern the difference, if any, between the external financial support provided and the applicable UNDP stipend.  No other payments of any kind will be made to an intern by the office in connection with an internship agreement.

Interns will accrue leave at the rate of 1.5 days per month. Any accrued leave days not used by the end of the internship will be forfeited. Any unjustified absences during the internship period exceeding a total of nine days, will be deducted from the monthly stipend.

Insurance

Interns are responsible for securing adequate medical insurance for the duration of their internship with UNDP. UNDP will not reimburse the medical insurance of the intern. Any costs arising from accidents and illness incurred during an internship assignment will be the responsibility of the intern.  Applicants for internships must show proof of valid medical insurance for the duty station in which they will intern.  For applicants who are neither nationals or residents of the duty station, the insurance must include adequate coverage in the event of an injury or illness during the internship duration which: 

• Requires transportation to the home country or country of residence for further treatment; 
• Results in death and requires preparation and return of the remains to the home country, or country of residence. 

Subsequent Employment

There is no expectation of employment with UNDP following an internship.  Interns cannot apply for, or be appointed to, any position during the period of their internship.

Third-party claims

UNDP is not responsible for any claims by any parties where the loss of or damage to their property, death or personal injury was caused by the actions or omission of action by the interns during their internship.