Historique

Poor people depend on the environment for their livelihoods and well-being. Improved management of the environment and natural resources contributes directly to poverty reduction, more sustainable livelihoods and pro-poor growth. To fight poverty, to promote security and to preserve the ecosystems that poor people rely on for their livelihoods, we must place pro-poor economic growth and environmental sustainability at the heart of our economic policies, planning systems and institutions.

To tackle this challenge, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) have joined hands and launched the Poverty-Environment Initiative (PEI). The PEI is a global UN programme that helps countries to integrate poverty-environment linkages into national and sub-national development planning, from policymaking to budgeting, implementation and monitoring.

With both financial and technical support, UNDP and UNEP assist government decision-makers and a wide range of other stakeholders to manage the environment in a way that improves livelihoods and leads to sustainable growth. The PEI works with key government partners to raise awareness, influence policy making and strengthen the mainstreaming of poverty-environment into budget processes, sector programmes and sub-national planning. The overall aim is to bring about lasting institutional change and to catalyze key actors to increase investment in pro-poor environmental and natural resource management.

Based in Geneva/Switzerland and Istanbul Turkey, the regional PEI team manages the PEI Europe & CIS Programme; provides support to governments and UNDP country offices to facilitate PEI implementation; and promotes the sharing of knowledge and lessons learnt from the different countries in the programme. A first PEI country programme was launched in Tajikistan in May 2010. A second PEI country programme in Kyrgyzstan - initially delayed due to an unstable political situation in the country in 2010 - was signed in March 2011. In addition, the regional team also provided technical support to Armenia to help establishing a working group on poverty and environment under the National Council for Sustainable Development. Since then country level PEI programmes in the Region have been expanding. 

Devoirs et responsabilités

Would you like to be part of this unique UNDP-UNEP joint programme and support participating ECIS countries on their quest towards sustainable development?

Your activities would mainly cover the following: 

  • Collection and processing of information/data about sustainable development, green economy, green growth and other issues with links to PEI and Energy, for countries in the ECIS region and beyond;
  • Assist manager in the conceptualization, development, and compilation of PEI programme material;
  • Assist with preparation of programme and other documents;
  • Other as required.

If you decide to join us, you will have a great opportunity to learn about the Poverty-Environment Nexus work and its governance, and follow the current developments in the ECIS Region, in a Rio+20 Sustainable Development context. 

Compétences

  • An individual with strong analytical and excellent drafting skills;
  • A well organized individual with the ability to multi-task;
  • A team player: ability to work productively and effectively with others, and contribute effectively towards team goals;
  • IT literacy
  • Solid writing and communications abilities;
  • Data management / Statistics skills;
  • Must be able to work in a multicultural environment and be aware of political sensitivities;
  • Responsible, responsive, and enthusiastic.

Qualifications et expériences requises

Education:

  • Current enrollment in a degree programme (second University degree or higher) with specialized certification in environmental sciences / governance, sustainable development or economics of environment.

Other desired attributes:

  • Knowledge of issues on environment-poverty nexus and sustainable development (a strong asset);
  • Availability for full time working activities over a period of 6 months.

Language:

  • Fluency in written and spoken English is required.
  • Russian language would be an asset

Duration of the assignment
The overall duration of the internship will be for 6 months, starting as soon as possible. 

 

Note:

Candidate who is selected for must submit the following documents:

  • Official letter from the University confirming enrollment in a graduate-level degree programme;
  • Letter of endorsement from a faculty member who has worked with the student in the recent past and who is knowledgeable on the student’s performance;
  • Complete and sign the “Application Form” which is available at http://www.undp.org/internships.

UNDP only accepts interns for a minimum of 6 weeks and a maximum of 6 months. Must be available at least 20 hours a week for a period of at least 3 months.

Interns are not financially remunerated by UNDP. The costs associated with the latter 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 own arrangements for travel, accommodation, visa, etc.

Proof of medical and life/accident insurance valid for the location in which the internship will be carried out.

Have medical and life insurance.

Subsequent Employment:

The purpose of the Internship Programme 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.