Climate Change Intern

United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)

Kathmandu, Nepal 🇳🇵

Job no: 561765
Contract type: Internship
Duty Station: Kathmandu
Level: Internship
Location: Nepal
Categories: WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene)

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential. 

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone. 

And we never give up. 

For every child, A liveable planet 

The climate crisis is a child rights crisis. Recent record heat waves, flooding and drought in many countries signal a challenging ‘new normal’. The impacts of climate change and environmental shocks on children are clear. Virtually every child on earth is already affected by climate change, environmental degradation, biodiversity loss and disasters. In South Asia, every child is affected by at least one or more climate and environmental hazard. Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Maldives and Pakistan are countries where children are at extremely high risk of the impacts of the climate crisis. This year alone we have seen flooding in India, Bangladesh and Nepal; heat waves and drought in Afghanistan, India and Pakistan; cholera outbreaks in Afghanistan and Pakistan; and cyclones in India and Bangladesh. Action is falling short, which means that the impacts upon children and young people will worsen in the coming decades. Children will bear the brunt of impacts, particularly those in communities that have contributed the least to global greenhouse gas emissions. Without immediate action and ambitious investment, there is no doubt that climate change will reverse the hard-earned gains in sustainable development goals for children and their communities seen in recent years.

UNICEF Regional Office for South Asia (ROSA) is committed to achieve societal transformation necessary so that children can live in a sustainable, clean and safe environment to children. Guided by UNICEF’s core principles and to support every child, UNICEF ROSA aims to scale up support to countries to transition towards sustainable and climate resilient development for children. Such a transition is vital to UNICEF’s efforts in key sectors (WASH, health, education, child protection, nutrition, and social protection), and can play an important role in broader efforts to mitigate and adapt to climate change in the region. In this context, UNICEF ROSA is responding through a variety of avenues, including by prioritizing programming and partnerships opportunities to scale up investment in climate action for children.

How can you make a difference?

The objective of this internship is to work with UNICEF ROSA to respond to increasing country office demand for up-to-date information on climate and environmental issues affecting children, identifying opportunities that can support UNICEF SAR country offices to best leverage the most relevant programming, advocacy, fund mobilization and partnerships opportunities for children and young people.

The purpose of this internship is to provide technical, analytical and knowledge management support to better conceptualize proposals, mobilize funds, design and implement climate, environment, energy and DRR (CEED) programmes, policy advocacy, youth led engagements that help to accelerate the scale up of CEED programme priorities in SAR. More specifically, key duties and tasks for this position may include all or part of the following activities, as determined as priorities throughout the year.

  • Researching, analysing and keeping up to date track of recent CEED and socio-economic data, evidence, national, regional and international climate and environmental policies, processes and plans affecting children.
  • Supporting the team in proposal development of multi-country programmes, fund mobilization activities, cross sectoral coordination, etc.
  • Supporting the team on capacity development of COs and partners, webinars, face to face trainings, etc.
  • Supporting the mapping and development of a database/portfolio management of UNICEF SAR CEED programmes and innovations that have the greatest potential to deliver results for children at scale.
  • Supporting the drafting of knowledge products on climate, energy, environment, and disaster risk reduction, including toolkits, guidance, technical notes, policy memos, briefs, guides, investment cases and reports as required.
  • Coordinating with COs and sections to gather information, mapping, soliciting feedback.
  • Supporting the team in collaboration with internal and external working groups, networks and youth groups to support and strengthen CEED programmes in SAR countries.
  • Supporting the team in developing communications briefs, coordinate events and meetings, including preparations for COP28.
  • Liaise with UNICEF ROSA staff and young CEED champions to advance youth empowerment efforts.

This internship would provide an opportunity to learn about:

  • In depth knowledge about CEED challenges, how they are impacting children, and how UNICEF ROSA is programming in response.
  • Develop proposal and technical report writing skills (i.e. policy briefs, guidance notes, investment cases, case studies, etc.)
  • Gaining experience working with an expert group of climate and environment professionals, as well as colleagues working across other UNICEF sectors (ie. Innovations, WASH, Education, Health, Nutrition, Social Policy, Child Protection, Social Behavioural Change, etc.)
  • Strengthened communication skills by consulting with various professionals across the organization and preparing relevant materials for these exchanges.
  • How to use excel to analyse data and google sheets to formulate policy briefs and technical notes.
  • Gather insight on UNICEF programming across multiple sector.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have… 

  • A masters degree in relevant areas such as climate, environment, energy or engineering. Alternately, in lieu of a Masters degree, Bachelors in the above disciplines with two years of professional work experience and a current enrolment in a Masters degree programme will be considered.
  • Demonstrated advanced technical writing skills.
  • Demonstrated ability to navigate and use Microsoft Office 365.
  • Prior work experience with climate, energy or environment in developing country contexts would be an asset
  • At least 18 years of age;
  • Have strong academic performance as demonstrated by recent university or institution records or, if not available, a reference letter from an academic supervisor;
  • Have no immediate relatives (e.g. father, mother, brother or sister) working in any UNICEF office; 
  • Have no other relatives in the line of authority which the intern will report to, and 
  • Fluent in English

UNICEF’s General Terms and Conditions:

The successful intern will be governed by the following conditions:

  • Status: Although not considered a staff member of UNICEF, the intern shall be subject to the authority of the Executive Director and the authority delegated by her to the Division Director and Heads of Offices. Interns are not entitled to the privileges and immunities accorded by member states to UNICEF’s officials and staff members.
  • Financial support: UNICEF will provide a monthly stipend in accordance with UNICEF rules and recommendations. Interns must make own arrangements for living expenses. Living accommodations and other expenses are also their own responsibilities. Travel costs to and from the duty station will be negotiated according UNICEF’s rules and regulations.
  • Medical health and coverage: UNICEF accepts no responsibility for costs or fatality arising from illness or accidents incurred during the internship; therefore, the intern must carry adequate and regular medical insurance.
  • Confidentiality and publication of information: An intern, you will respect the confidentiality of information that you collect or are exposed to at UNICEF. No reports or papers may be published based on information obtained from UNICEF without the explicit written authorization by the Head of Office or Division Director.
  • Employment prospects: The UNICEF internship programme is not connected with employment and there is no expectancy of such. Interns cannot apply for posts advertised internally to UNICEF staff during the period of internship.

Note: If international intern, the UNICEF Regional Office for South Asia will support the Intern’s round trip travel costs up to $1000. UNICEF will provide a monthly stipend in accordance with UNICEF rules and recommendations.

For every Child, you demonstrate… 

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

UNICEF competencies required for this post are…
(1) Builds and maintains partnerships (2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness (3)Drive to achieve results for impact(4)Innovates and embraces change(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity(6)Thinks and acts strategically(7)Works collaboratively with others.

During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels: competency framework here.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Remarks:  

UNICEF’s active commitment towards diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable candidates from targeted underrepresented group are encouraged to apply.

Selected candidate would be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). 

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. 

Advertised: 10 May 2023 Nepal Standard Time
Deadline: 24 May 2023 Nepal Standard Time


POSITION TYPE

ORGANIZATION TYPE

EXPERIENCE-LEVEL

DEGREE REQUIRED

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