Internship Opportunities at United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

The internship is in the Digital Strategy Section of the Communication Division of the United Nations Environment Programme. The section is responsible for digital communications activities and includes the social media, web, internal communications and news and media units. The internship is for six (6) months. The internship is unpaid and full-time. Interns work five days per week (35 hours) under the supervision of a staff member in the department or office to which they are assigned.

Responsibilities

Under the Supervision of the Chief of Digital Strategy Section, the intern will:

• Research, compile, draft and edit basic information for use in the preparation and production of social media and web content, often under tight deadlines.
• Monitor and analyze statistics related to digital content.
• Gather social media content at special events (film screenings, concerts, exhibits, etc.).
• Assist in the creation of original content for digital platforms.
• Attend meetings as an observer.
• Manage meeting agendas and draft meeting notes.
• Create presentations and training curricula.
• Carry out research tasks and provide inputs into digital strategy planning and activities.
• Assists with special projects as assigned.

Competencies

Communication:

• Speaks and writes clearly and effectively.
• Listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately.
• Asks questions for clarification and exhibits interest in having two-way communication.
• Tailors language, tone, style and format to match the audience.
• Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

Teamwork:

• 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
• Shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

Creativity:

• Offers new and different options to solve problems;
• Promotes and persuades others to consider new ideas;
• Takes calculated risks on new and unusual ideas;
• Thinks “outside the box”; takes an interest in new ideas and new ways of doing things;

Education

Applicants must at the time of application meet one of the following requirements:

• be enrolled in a communications, information science, computer science, information systems, media studies, journalism, or related field graduate programme; or (b) be enrolled in the final academic year of a communications, information science, computer science, information systems, media studies, journalism, or related field bachelor's degree programme (minimum Bachelor's level or equivalent); or (c) have graduated with a university degree in communications, information science, computer science, information systems, media studies, journalism, or related field.
• Be computer literate in standard word processing and spreadsheets software applications such as Microsoft Word and Excel or similar. Have a demonstrated keen interest in the work of the United Nations and have a personal commitment to the ideals of the Charter; and have a demonstrated ability to successfully interact with individuals of different cultural backgrounds and beliefs, which include willingness to try and understand and be tolerant of differing opinions and views.

Work Experience

• No working experience is required to apply for the United Nations Internship Programme. Your training, education, advance course work or skills should benefit the United Nations during your internship.

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The internship will support activities around sustainable fashion and the identification of relevant entry points for UNEP in supporting the initiative and its campaigns.Interns are not financially remunerated by the United Nations. Costs and arrangements for travel, visas, accommodation and living expenses are the responsibility of interns or their sponsoring institutions.

The internship is for a duration of 6 months. The internship policy of UNEP states that: “In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, applicants may be requested to undertake the internship remotely in view of constraints regarding visa issuance, international travel, and access to UN premises. Applicants must be willing and prepared to undertake the internship remotely for a part or the entirety of the internship.” For this internship it is entirely remotely based.

Responsibilities

• Under the direct supervision of Chief, Public Advocacy and Communication Section, the intern will:
• Assist in implementing the Sustainable Fashion initiative by supporting the section head and manager of the initiative in doing research and strategic analysis.
• Support outreach activities and the promotion of the UNEP sustainable communication playbook and fashion campaign
• Assist in the development of presentations and communication materials for advocating and promoting sustainability in textiles in international events, meetings or conferences (COP, Paris Fashion Week)
• Assist in the UN Alliance on Sustainable Fashion regular meetings
• Support the updating of the UNEP fashion communication website and the knowledge management database of the related projects
• Support the drafting of attractive case studies on fashion communication and review of UNEP materials of the topic
• Support in developing the newsletter for the UNEP textile community and in updating the general UNEP textile value chain website

Competencies

 Communication:

• Speaks and writes clearly and effectively
• Listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately
• Asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication
• Tailors language, tone, style, and format to match the audience
• Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed

 Teamwork:

• 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
• Shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings

 Client Orientation:

• Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients ” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view
• Establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect
• Identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions
• Monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems
• Keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects
• Meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client

Education

• Applicants must at the time of application meet one of the following requirements:
• enrolled in a graduate school (second university degree) or higher in the area

or

• in the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum Bachelor’s level or equivalent) or
• have graduated with a university degree (as defined in a) and b)) and must commence the internship within a one-year period of graduation.
• A degree programme in environmental studies, communications, media studies, international relations or journalism and other social sciences, as well as in the areas of information and knowledge management, or related field.

Work Experience

• No working experience is required to apply for the United Nations Internship Programme. Your training, education, advance course work or skills should benefit the United Nations during your internship.