Background

CORPORATE BACKGROUND:

UNDP Thailand

UNDP is working to strengthen new frameworks for development, disaster risk reduction and climate change. We support countries' efforts to achieve the new Sustainable Development Goals, which will guide global development priorities through 2030. The key 2030 Agenda principle of leaving no one behind and stamping out inequality is at the core of everything we do.

UNDP focuses on helping countries build and share solutions in three main areas:

• Sustainable development
• Democratic governance and peacebuilding
• Climate and disaster resilience

In all our activities, we encourage the protection of human rights and the empowerment of women, minorities and the poorest and most vulnerable

BIOFIN Thailand

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in October 2012, launched the Biodiversity Finance Initiative – BIOFIN. It was a new global partnership seeking to address the biodiversity finance challenge in a comprehensive manner – building a sound business case for increased investment in the management of ecosystems and biodiversity, with a particular focus on the needs and transformational opportunities at the national level.

The BIOFIN works along two main axes:

Globally-led development of a new methodological framework

An entirely new methodological framework is being developed for undertaking national-level “bottom-up” analyses of the finance-relevant enabling context; for determining the current / baseline investment in biodiversity; for quantifying the full cost of meeting national biodiversity conservation targets and the resulting finance gap; and for assessing the suitability of financial mechanisms and developing national resource mobilisation strategies. The methodologies applied in the project will be refined through regional and global learning, and made available more widely.

Adaptation and implementation of this new methodological framework at national level

To help countries increase the importance attributed to biodiversity and in consequence bridge the financing gap, the work at national level will be led by concerned Ministries --Ministries of Finance, Planning or Economics and the Ministry of Environment, and is articulated through the following components:

Analyse the integration of biodiversity and ecosystem services in sectoral and development policy, planning and budgeting (Policy and Institutional Review and Biodiversity Expenditure Review);

Assess future financing flows, needs and gaps for managing and conserving biodiversity and ecosystem services (Financial Needs Assessment);

Develop comprehensive national Biodiversity Finance Plan to meet the biodiversity finance gap;

Initiate implementation of the biodiversity finance solutions at national level.

In Thailand, BIOFIN has become operational in 2014. The initiative supports the Royal Thai Government in implementing the National Economics and Social Development Plan (NESDP) and the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP), in particular relevant sections on sustainable utilization of natural resources, green growth, and inclusive development, through the formulation and implementation of financial strategies.

The expected outputs include:

• Technical analyses of policies, institutions, expenditures covering the fiscal year 2011 – 2015 that related to biodiversity conservation and sustainable utilisation in Thailand;
• Cost estimation for biodiversity investment for Thailand;
• Biodiversity Finance Plan for Thailand as resource mobilisation strategy for achieving the national biodiversity targets;
• Localization of BIOFIN process through implementation of biodiversity finance solutions.

The national BIOFIN process involves several detailed and interrelated assessments and processes.  For BIOFIN Thailand, the process must ensure all outputs, as envisioned in the Theory of Change, will be achieved whilst planning for the attainment of outcomes beyond the project lifetime.  The BIOFIN Thailand’s outputs corresponding to the Policy and Institutional Review (PIR), Biodiversity Expenditure Review (BER), and Financial Needs Assessment (FNA) and the Biodiversity Finance Plan (BFP).  Thus, the exit strategy for Thailand is to transition of Phase I (June 2014 – Dec 2018) to Phase II (Jan 2019 – Dec 2022) strategically.

In the phase II (2018-2021), BIOFIN Thailand will identify the zero-risk finance solutions to implement in the country. Currently there are 11 financial solutions being developed between BIOFIN, UNDP and the Royal Thai government.

INTERNSHIP OFFICE BACKGROUND:

The intern will work under the overall supervision of the National BIOFIN Coordinator, Programme Specialist and Programme Analyst, to support the operations and project planning of environmental and sustainable development. S/he will provide administrative, programme and implementation support to the Inclusive Green Growth for Sustainable Development (IGSD) Unit of the UNDP Thailand.

Duties and Responsibilities

The intern will assist in the following duties and responsibilities:

Competencies

• Interest and motivation in working in an international organization;
• Good 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;
• currently enrolled in a Master’s degree;
• have graduated no longer than 1 year ago from a bachelor’s or master’s degree or equivalent studies.

Field of study: Business Administration, International Development, Environmental Management  or other related fields.

IT skills:

• Knowledge and a proficient user of Microsoft Office productivity tools;
• Desktop research skill;
• Graphic design (optional)

Language skills:

• English  required;
• Knowledge of other UN languages is an advantage.

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.