Background

CORPORATE BACKGROUND:

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) works in about 170 countries and territories, and its vision as set out in the new Strategic Plan 2018-2021 is to help countries eradicate poverty in all its forms, accelerate structural transformations for sustainable development, and build resilience to crises and shocks.

The Strategic Plan proposes a series of signature solutions to develop integrated responses to support programme countries in achieving the 2030 Agenda. These are:

• Signature solution 1: Keeping people out poverty
• Signature solution 2: Strengthen effective, inclusive and accountable governance.
• Signature solution 3: Enhance national prevention and recovery capacities for resilient societies.
• Signature solution 4: Promote nature-based solutions for a sustainable planet.
• Signature solution 5: Close the energy gap.
• Signature solution 6: Strengthen gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.

In particular the Signature solution 4 that is promoting nature-based solutions for sustainable planet as one of the 6 signature solutions is premised on the knowledge and understanding that biodiversity and ecosystems provide the foundation for human societies and a safety net of resources and ecosystem services for billions of people. UNDP will apply integrated actions to address biodiversity loss by tackling market, policy and governance failures that lead to ecosystem degradation. In some development contexts, strengthened ecosystem management and nature-based solutions can help achieve food and water security and sustainable livelihoods. In other contexts, this signature solution will help governments identify and access new finance opportunities; promote policy coherence on natural resources and help transitions to green economies[1].

INTERNSHIP OFFICE BACKGROUND:

As the largest single operational and financial UN player in the field of environmental sustainability, UNDP is widely recognized as a global leader in supporting governments to sharpen policy, access finance and develop capacity for the management of biodiversity and ecosystems for sustainable development and poverty eradication.

The UNDP is an Implementing Agency of the Global Environment Facility (GEF), an Accredited Entity to the Green Climate Fund, and Multilateral Implementing Entity to the Adaptation Fund. UNDP’s Global Environmental Finance Unit supports developing countries in accessing funding from these vertical funds to transition to green, low emission and climate resilient development. It provides countries with highly specialized technical services for eligibility assessment, project design and formulation, identification and mobilization of project co-financing, project implementation management, project results management and evaluation, and knowledge management.

UNDP’s work on Ecosystem and Biodiversity (EBD) focuses on harnessing the positive opportunities provided biodiversity and natural ecosystems, as a catalytic for sustainable development as articulated in the Global Biodiversity and Ecosystems Framework (2012-2020)[2]. UNDP manages a large portfolio of biodiversity and ecosystems projects across more than 110 countries that are financed by the Global Environment Facility and other partners.

UNDP-GEF Ecosystem and Biodiversity (EBD) Team based at the Bangkok Regional Hub provides support to countries in the region to design policies and strategies for managing biodiversity and ecosystems by focusing its efforts on the three signature programmes outlined in the global biodiversity and ecosystem framework:

1. Integrate biodiversity and ecosystem management into development planning and production sectors to safeguard biodiversity and maintain ecosystem functions that sustain human well-being;
2. Unlock the potential of protected areas, including indigenous and community conserved areas, to conserve biodiversity while contributing to sustainable development; and
3. Manage and rehabilitate ecosystems for adaptation to and mitigation of climate change.

BRH is collaborating with the Ministry of Environment, Republic of Korea (RoK) on a project ‘Capacity building for conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity resources in the Asia-Pacific’. Through this project, some initiatives that are planned include: Community of Practice (CoP) workshop on the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing (NP-ABS); publication on ABS; and to develop proposals on ABS for GEF-7 funding in few selected countries within the Asia and Pacific region.

[1] UNDP Strategic Plan 2018-2021

[2] The future we want: Biodiversity and ecosystems – driving sustainable development. Biodiversity and ecosystems global framework 2012-2020: http://www.undp.org/content/dam/undp/library/Environment%20and%20Energy/biodiversity/UNDP-Biodiversity-and-Ecosystems-Global-Framework-2012-2020.pdf

Duties and Responsibilities

DUTIES:

The main task of the internship is to provide research and operational support for the formulation of project proposals in few of the countries within the Asia and Pacific region, which will seek financing from GEF. This can include (but is not limited to) desk research on country contexts, biodiversity and ecosystem priorities and threats, discussions with relevant partner organizations and UNDP country offices, support for drafting of project concepts and proposals and provision of administrative support to the team.

The intern will also provide support to the team in developing communication and knowledge products from the EBD portfolio of projects to capture best practices and lessons learned including support to the ongoing project with MoE, Korea. Other support the intern is expected to provide include – support to review and finalize draft project documents and supporting annexes, review of mid-term and terminal evaluation reports of the projects and implementation support for ongoing biodiversity and ecosystem projects in the Asia Pacific region.

The intern will assist in the following duties and responsibilities:

Competencies

Other competencies and attitude:

• Interest and motivation in working in an international organization;
• Good Quantitative and Qualitative analytical skills in gathering and consolidating data and research for practical implementation;
• Outgoing and initiative-taking person with a goal oriented mind-set;
• Communicates effectively when working in teams and independently;
• Good in organizing and structuring various tasks and responsibilities;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Responds positively to feedback and differing points of view;
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Candidates must meet one of the following educational requirements:

• currently in the final year of a Bachelor’s degree; or
• currently enrolled in a Master’s degree; or
• have graduated no longer than 1 year ago from a bachelor’s or master’s degree or equivalent studies.

Field of study: Environmental and development studies, Ecosystem & Biodiversity and Natural Resource Management.

Experience:

• Demonstrated interest in the field of environment and development, in particular, natural resource management, ecosystem and biodiversity, Protected Areas would be preferred.
• Demonstrated experience in research works on ecosystem and biodiversity including development of related projects on environment is an advantage.
• Previous experience working for any Korean institute or agencies is an advantage.

IT skills:

• Knowledge and a proficient user of Microsoft Office productivity tools.

Language skills:

• English is required;

 INTERNSHIP CONDITIONS

• UNDP internships are not remunerated. All expenses connected with the internship will be borne by the intern or her/his sponsoring entity;
• UNDP accepts no responsibility for costs arising from accidents and/or illness or death incurred during the internship;
• Interns are responsible for obtaining necessary visas and arranging travel to and from the duty station where the internship will be performed;
• Interns are not eligible to apply for, or be appointed to, any post in UNDP during the period of the internship;
• Interns must provide proof of enrolment in health insurance plan;
• Interns are not staff members and may not represent UNDP in any official capacity;
• Interns are expected to work full time but flexibility is allowed for education programmes;
• Interns need to obtain financing for subsistence and make own arrangements for internship, travel, VISA, accommodation, etc.

NOTE: If selected for the position, interns are requested to provide a letter from university confirming current enrollment and graduation date, a copy of school transcript, a letter of endorsement from professor, a medical certificate of good health, a copy of medical insurance coverage during internship assignment in Thailand, and a copy of passport.