The Biodiversity Finance Initiative – BIOFIN – is a global programme that developed, piloted, and is continuously improving a methodology to measure existing biodiversity expenditure levels, assess future financial needs, and design comprehensive plans to use finance tools and solutions that increase financing, reduce harmful expenditure, and improve financial effectiveness and efficiency of biodiversity management over 41 countries. BIOFIN’s first phase (2012-2018) enabled full assessments and initial implementation of finance plan elements in target countries. Significant enhancement and scaling up of finance solutions is required in all countries to address the biodiversity finance challenge. BIOFIN’s second phase enables countries to complete the design and implementation of priority finance solutions and will allow new countries to undertake the assessments as well as create and implement their biodiversity finance plan. At the central level, knowledge management platforms will be expanded and additional guidance produced for most valuable finance solutions.

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the National Coordinator of BIOFIN China and Project Manager of Shandong team. the Intern will provide daily support to IP in Shandong, especially on delivering Biodiversity Finance Policy and Institutional Review (PIR), Biodiversity Expenditure Review (BER), Financial Needs Assessment (FNA), Biodiversity Finance Plan (BFP) and Implementation of Biodiversity Finance Solutions, corresponding to the 2018 BIOFIN Workbook. This will involve supporting scoping research into key current issues on the topics and support to development of reports and publications to increase UNDP BIOFIN advocacy and visibility on such issues. Help logistic arrangement of related meetings with partners and help to take meeting minutes as well.

During the period of the internship, the intern will also learn about UNDP’s role in supporting partners in China in the areas and be exposed to experiences with in key cooperation programmes. The intern works in close collaboration with IP in Shandong.  The intern is also expected to be involved in the daily operation work including formulation and implementation projects/programmes.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of National Coordinator of BIOFIN China, the intern will be responsible for providing back-office/administrative support including: (I) facilitating procurement; (II) financial and administrative tracking of activities and expenses; (III) support with communication, facilitation and organization of outreach activities, press releases, project/UNDP/government briefing notes, translations, etc.; (IV) liaising with UNDP China and global BIOFIN administrative team to facilitate financial reporting and compliance, and UNDP procurement compliance; (V) provide procurement and administration support to Global Biodiversity Framework Early Action Support Project (GBF project).

Management support

• Provide support with all financial and administrative requirements of the project, especially those related to project procurement, funding and accounting.
• Assist in ensuring that project is executed in a timely and appropriate manner.
• Facilitate, guide and monitor the work of the national BIOFIN team and GBF project; manage payment schedules.
• Assist in project related activities, including planning for meetings, local and national consultations, trips, translation and other project related activities. Ensure all national and international travel is organised smoothly. Especially, assist in organizing PSC meetings, capacity building and training.
• Taking meeting notes and draft minutes. Document and share records of meetings, decisions, actions, etc.
• Support with the Monitoring and Evaluation of the projects at the national level, including workshop evaluations.
• Draft the progress report and provide fundamental support for the data collection.
• Supporting scoping research into key current issues on the topics and support to development of reports and publications for Shandong team, including PIR, BER, FNA, etc.
• Assist in the formulation of pipeline projects;
• Any other duties assigned by the National Coordinator that have direct relevance to the project.

Financial Oversight

• Manage the project budget, oversee procurement and accounting, together with the UNDP China and the global BIOFIN Team.
• Ensure financial resources are disbursed on time to implementing partners.
• Maintain records of expenditures and collaborate in financial reporting.

Above tasks would be suitable for a period of telecommuting.

Competencies

• Skills for solution oriented contacting with related different stakeholders;
• Demonstrated ability to work in a team, ability for managing timely and effective delivery of both quantity and quality before the deadlines;
• Computer proficiency, especially related to professional office software packages (Microsoft Office).

Required Skills and Experience

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent in English and environmental science or related fields;
• Intern experience in other organizations/UN agencies preferred; Candidates must meet one of the following educational requirements:

• In the final year of a Bachelor’s programme;
• Or within one year after graduation from a Bachelor’s, Master’s or PhD programme,
• Or be enrolled in a postgraduate professional traineeship program and undertake the internship as part of this program

Language and Skills

• Good communication skills both Chinese and English, excellent communication (both oral and written) and partnership building skills with multi-dimension partners, people skill for solve conflicts and negotiation skills;

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

Please submit your application with below documents in one PDF. For people who apply from UNDP Jobs, please note that the system will not accept the uploading of more than one document so please merge or scan all your documents into one prior to uploading.

a)     CV and letter of motivation

b)     Copy of school transcript

c)     Indicate if you will be financially supported by any institution or programme, such as a university, government, foundation or scholarship programme, and the financial amount.

*Candidate who didn’t submit required documentation will not be further considered.

INTERNSHIP CONDITIONS

• Interns must provide proof of enrolment in health insurance plan and medical certificate of good health prior to starting the internship. Any cost arising from accidents and illness incurred during an internship assignment will be the responsibility of the intern.
• The stipend will be paid monthly. Interns will have 1.5 days of leave per month.
• Interns are responsible for obtaining necessary visas and arranging travel to and from the duty station where the internship will be performed; Cost and arrangement for travel, visas, passports, accommodations and living expenses are the responsibility of the nominating institution, related institution or government, which may provide the required financial assistance to its students; or the intern.
• Interns must not apply for or be appointed to a position that should be encumbered by a staff number during the period of their internship. Interns are expected to fulfil the terms of their internships. Therefore, the internship must not be foreshortened for the purposes of allowing an intern to apply for a position.
• Interns are not staff members and may not represent UNDP in any official capacity.