UNDP Jobs - 93812- UNDP Biodiversity Finance Initiative (Internship)

UNDP Biodiversity Finance Initiative (Internship)

Location :

Home Based & Remote

Type of Contract :

Internship

Starting Date :

21-Sep-2020

Application Deadline :

16-Sep-20 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

Intern

Duration of Initial Contract :

4 months

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

4 months

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

Human survival and well-being depend upon biodiversity and healthy ecosystems and the goods and services they provide. India is one of the megadiverse countries in the world with over 1,00,690 species of fauna and over 47,800 species of flora. India’s economy and livelihoods of millions of people depend on preventing biodiversity loss and environmental degradation. The rich biological diversity is facing new challenges such as multiple-use landscapes, climate change, lack in technical and financial capacities to deal with emerging challenges of biodiversity conservation, its sustainable use, access and benefit sharing and biodiversity governance at local levels.

To address the global biodiversity loss, the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) recognizes the importance and need for new and additional financial resources. At the Eleventh meeting of Conference of Parties (CoP11) of CBD held in Hyderabad during India’s Presidency of the CoP, the High Level Panel set up by the CBD on Global Assessment of Resources, found that the

global investment required to implement CBD’s Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 would cost between US$ 150 to US $ 440 billion annually.

Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN), a global programme of UNDP, was launched in 2012, in response to the identified need by the CBD, to have better and adequate information to assess current expenditures and financing needs for countries to implement their National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plans (NBSAPs) and need to have a comprehensive methodology to develop resource mobilization strategies and Biodiversity Finance Plans to implement NBSAPs.

BIOFIN provides an innovative methodology for countries to measure their current biodiversity expenditures, assess their financial needs for biodiversity conservation in the medium term and identify most suitable finance solutions to reduce their national biodiversity finance gaps.

BIOFIN was launched in India in May 2015. It is being led by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), hosted by the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) and managed by UNDP India under the thematic pillar of Natural Resource Management and Biodiversity.

The ongoing phase II of BIOFIN aims to demonstrate implementation of select 3 finance solutions out of 12 potential finance solutions enlisted in the National Biodiversity Finance Plan-working document. This includes Corporate Social Responsibility, Mainstreaming Biodiversity in Public sector (agriculture sector) and Access and Benefit Sharing.

BIOFIN assessment indicates that implementation of the 12 finance solutions will require building of institutional and technical capacities of relevant public and private stakeholders across sectors which are dependent on or impact biodiversity either directly or indirectly.

UNDP seeks to engage an intern to support the BIOFIN India team in doing research, analysis and documentation for development of knowledge products and necessary background materials for activities under the financial solution on Corporate Social Responsibility.

Duties and Responsibilities

Development of a flyer/brochure on mainstreaming biodiversity in business processes along with a menu of actions which could be taken by corporates in this regard
Support the BIOFIN team in preparation of presentations and background notes on business and biodiversity.
Support the BIOFIN team in organising webinars and consultations on business and biodiversity
Support in doing necessary research for developing content for the training modules on mainstreaming biodiversity in CSR
Any other tasks assigned by the mentors and supervisors.

Competencies

Strong sense of collaborative work, excellent communication and interpersonal skills;
Excellent analytical and research skills;
Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise;
Is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda;
Supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

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

(a) Be enrolled in a bachelor’s degree programme for Environmental Studies

(b) Be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree programme.

Skills:

Experience in carrying out research, data collection and analysis in the field of environment/ biodiversity conservation;
Experience in orgainsing workshops or environmental awareness programmes;
Experience in doing research and analysis on sustainable business models would be an advantage
Experience of working on developing training modules/awareness materials on environment or related areas would be an advantage
Past experience of working with corporate sector would be an advantage;
Prior experience of internship in environment/sustainability or related areas will be an advantage
Strong commitment to promoting gender equality, excellent interpersonal and communication skills;
Good command in MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) as well as handling web-based applications.

Language Requirements:

Fluency in English and working language of the duty station.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE/ HOW TO APPLY:THE APPLICATION SHOULD CONTAIN THE FOLLOWING:

The completed “Internship Intern Form” available on the UNDP India website at Internship Intern Form should be completed along with the CV in English;

Please group the above two documents into one (1) single PDF document and upload document.

Candidates who are selected must submit the following documents, upon selection:

Official letter from the University confirming enrollment in their undergraduate or graduate-level degree programme;
Proof of medical and life/accident insurance valid for the location in which the internship will be carried out. Selected intern must have medical and life insurance.
Kindly note, UNDP only accepts interns for a minimum of 6 weeks and a maximum of 6 months.
Working arrangements:
Interns may be given a stipend according to UNDP Internship Policy, if it is not financially supported by any institution or programme, such as a university, government foundation or scholarship programme. A stipend intended to help cover basic daily expenses related to the internship, such as meals and transportation at the duty station. The stipend will be paid on a monthly basis and part-time internship arrangements are prorated accordingly.
Interns are responsible for securing adequate medical insurance for the duration of the internship. UNDP accepts no responsibility for costs arising from accidents and/or illness or death incurred during the internship. Interns must provide proof of enrollment in health insurance plan.
Interns are expected to work full time, but flexibility is allowed for education programmes.
The intern is 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 are not staff members and may not represent UNDP in any official capacity.
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. The intern will be evaluated at the end of the internship.
IMPORTANT: Family relationships are required to be disclosed in order to avoid real or perceived family influence or conflict of interest, within UNDP. If the candidate/ hiring manager has not disclosed that he/she was related to an individual employed by UNDP in whatever contractual modality and irrespective of the nature of the family relationship, this may constitute a basis for withdrawing the offer of internship or, if the internship has started, to terminate it without notice or indemnity.
UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.
UNDP does not tolerate sexual Exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination.
All selected candidates will be required to undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

WOMEN CANDIDATES ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY.