Preliminary top-down estimates of the global financial gap for biodiversity range from US$ 100 to 400 billion annually, and detailed bottom-up assessments in participating BIOFIN countries validate these significant financial needs and help identify finance solutions required to achieve the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and biodiversity related SDGs. In recent decades, biodiversity finance tools and solutions have demonstrated their importance for achieving biodiversity and sustainable development goals. But since countries have not approached the issue of biodiversity finance in a comprehensive manner the choice and adoption of finance solutions has remained experimental and opportunistic. Improved choice, design and implementation of effective well-tailored finance solutions will strengthen countries’ chances of achieving national and global biodiversity targets.

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, effectiveness and efficiency of biodiversity management in up to 132 countries. BIOFIN’s first phase (2012-2018) enabled full assessments and initial implementation of finance plan elements in target countries. Significant scaling up of finance solutions is required in all countries to address the biodiversity finance challenge.

BIOFIN’s second phase enables up to 132 countries to complete the design and implementation of priority finance solutions and allowed a further 11 countries to undertake the assessments and create the finance plan. At the central level, knowledge management platforms will be expanded and additional guidance produced for most valuable finance solutions.

The primary objective of BIOFIN Phase I was to develop and pilot a new methodological framework – the BIOFIN Workbook – to help countries mobilise sufficient resources to implement their national biodiversity policies. The fully updated  Methodology  released in 2018 (in English, Spanish, Russian and French) integrates lessons learned from implementation, and highlights practical examples.

For the second phase, BIOFIN follows a two-pronged strategy. Firstly, it strives to generate high levels of awareness and technical capacity about the wider range of possible finance solutions that are available to countries and locales. This is complemented by developing supporting guidance and knowledge products for those areas where limited resources are available. Second, it actively supports the implementation of finance plans and solutions on the ground, working to develop feasibility studies, design new policies, enable the required capacity development, support advocacy of prioritised finance solutions, and implement through piloting and scaling. For more information see BIOFIN website – www.biofin.org.

The intern would be an integrated member of the BIOFIN global team. The main responsibility of the intern will be to support the global team in their technical, management, and communication activities, through the following tasks:

• Research, collect, analyze, and present the work BIOFIN has been doing in its 41+ core countries.
• Review international best practices to identify case studies of nature-based finance solutions that can serve as examples for BIOFIN work.
• Assist the BIOFIN finance sources database with new entries and develop guidance materials on financing solutions for BIOFIN teams in different countries.
• Contribute developing knowledge products on cross country analysis, financing solutions for biodiversity conservation.
• Synthesize and summarize research outcomes and lessons learned into formats tailored to BIOFIN thematic activities.
• Support the organization of events, webinars, meetings, regional calls; assist maintaining the documentation of meetings.
• Assist in boosting BIOFIN presence in social media; provide assistance as required in the maintenance of the BIOFIN media accounts including Website, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn etc.
• Support developing BIOFIN knowledge products (eg: blogs, articles etc).
• Monitor, analyze, and synthesize the developments, press clippings, and reports of BIOFIN, and maintain a database of BIOFIN news coverage and update it regularly.
• Attend meetings when required and take meeting minutes.
• Participate in regular interns’ meetings and report to supervisor.
• Support other/ad hoc activities as seen relevant and needed. 

• Demonstrates intellectual curiosity and deep desire to learn about biodiversity finance activities,
• Demonstrates excellent research skills, verbal and written communication, organizational skills,
• Desire to work with and gain the confidence and respect of people with different languages, national and cultural backgrounds,
• Be a well-organized individual with the ability to multi-task,
• Be a team player with ability to work productively and effectively with others,
• Respect for the principles of the United Nations Charter and the UNDP Statement of Purpose,
• Ability to work independently when needed and ready to take responsibility for deliverables.

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

• Be enrolled in a postgraduate degree programme (such as a master’s programme, or higher);
• Be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree programme (such as bachelor’s degree or equivalent);
• 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;
• Be enrolled in a postgraduate professional traineeship program and undertake the internship as part of this program.

Experience:

• Previous related work experience in a national or an international entity would be an asset;
• Experience in related finance area is an asset;
• Experience in biodiversity, conservation, ecosystems, environment related area is an asset;
• Experience in communication related activities; familiarity with social media platforms or digital media channels is an asset.

Language skills:

• Proficiency in written and spoken English is required;
• Fluency and/or knowledge in an additional UN language is an asset.

Learning: 

• The intern will develop a good overview of global biodiversity financing practices and a basic understanding of UNDP project management concepts;
• Enhance a portfolio of skills both operational and managerial (organization, coordination, analysis, and independent thinking);
• Expose in the multi-cultural working environment with different stakeholders, peers, actors in biodiversity finance.

Additional Information:

Financial Issues:

Internships within the UN system are subject to conditions the applicant must get familiar with before signing his/her internship agreement.

Starting from January 2020 interns will receive stipends according to UN rules and regulations.

Any further 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 arrangements for travel, accommodation and other costs.

Application procedure:
The application should contain:

• Brief Cover Letter (in English) stating interest in and qualifications for the post and your availability;
• Current and complete CV in English.

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

Candidates who are selected must submit the following documents:

• Official letter from the University confirming enrolment 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 interns 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, illness, or death during the internship;
• Interns are not staff members and may not represent UNDP in any official capacity;
• Interns are responsible for arranging for their own visa and residence documents and need to plan for these well in advance.

Subsequent Employment
The purpose of the internship 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 is available at:  https://www.undp.org/careers/types-of-opportunities/internships