BIOFIN Intern

Background:

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.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) China Country Office is part of UNDP-the United Nations' global development network. UNDP works in about 170 countries and territories, helping to end poverty, reduce inequalities and exclusion, as well as protect the planet, in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Together, these efforts aim to ensure that improvements in human wellbeing remain within ecological boundaries. We also help countries to develop policies, leadership skills, partnering abilities and institutional capabilities, as well as build resilience, in order to achieve the SDGs.

UNDP China has been working in China over the past four decades, partnering to advance various phases of China’s development outlined in the Government of China’s Five-Year Plans. UNDP assists China in integrating the SDGs into development decisions, promotes the transition to an inclusive, low-carbon economy and a sustainable society, protects biodiversity, and informs China’s international development cooperation engagement to advance global progress on the SDGs and the global climate agendas. In addition, UNDP leverages its global network and South-South Cooperation (SSC) to facilitate mutual knowledge and experience sharing between China and partner countries on best practices and lessons learned to advance the SDGs.

UNDP China’s implementation modalities currently engage more than 15 Ministries and government representatives at the national and sub-national levels in 28 provinces. UNDP China also actively engages the United Nations development system, multilateral and regional institutions, the private sector, philanthropic foundations, academia and think tanks, intergovernmental bodies, and the media to accelerate the SDGs and global climate agendas in China.

The Biodiversity Finance Initiative - BIOFIN - is a global programme that developed, piloted, and is continuously improving a methodology to measure existing biodiversity expenditure levels, assess future financial needs, and design comprehensive plans to use finance tools and solutions that increase financing, reduce harmful expenditure, and improve financial effectiveness and efficiency of biodiversity management over 41 countries. BIOFIN’s first phase (2012-2018) enabled full assessments and initial implementation of finance plan elements in target countries. Significant enhancement and scaling up of finance solutions is required in all countries to address the biodiversity finance challenge. BIOFIN’s second phase enables countries to complete the design and implementation of priority finance solutions and will allow new countries to undertake the assessments as well as create and implement their biodiversity finance plan. At the central level, knowledge management platforms will be expanded and additional guidance produced for most valuable finance solutions.

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the National Coordinator of BIOFIN China and Project Manager of Shandong team, the Intern will provide daily support to IP in Shandong, especially on delivering Biodiversity Finance Policy and Institutional Review (PIR), Biodiversity Expenditure Review (BER), Financial Needs Assessment (FNA), Biodiversity Finance Plan (BFP) and Implementation of Biodiversity Finance Solutions, corresponding to the 2024 BIOFIN Workbook. This will involve supporting scoping research into key current issues on the topics and support to development of reports and publications to increase UNDP BIOFIN advocacy and visibility on such issues. Help logistic arrangement of related meetings with partners and help to take meeting minutes as well.

During the period of the internship, the intern will also learn about UNDP’s role in supporting partners in China in the areas and be exposed to experiences with in key cooperation programmes. The intern works in close collaboration with IP in Shandong. The intern is also expected to be involved in the daily operation work including formulation and implementation projects/programmes.

Description of Responsibilities:

The position will report to Programme Analyst.

Details of the job responsibilities:

1.Management support

• Provide support with all financial and administrative requirements of the project, especially those related to project procurement, funding and accounting.
• Assist in ensuring that project is executed in a timely and appropriate manner.
• Provide support to facilitate, guide and monitor the work of the national BIOFIN team; manage payment schedules.
• Assist in project related activities, including planning for meetings, local and national consultations, trips, translation and other project related activities. Ensure all national and international travel is organized smoothly. Especially, assist in organizing PSC meetings, capacity building and training.
• Taking meeting notes and draft minutes. Document and share records of meetings, decisions, actions, etc.
• Support with the Monitoring and Evaluation of the projects at the national level, including workshop evaluations.
• Draft the progress report and provide fundamental support for the data collection.
• Supporting scoping research into key current issues on the topics and support to development of reports and publications for Shandong team, including PIR, BER, FNA, etc.
• Assist in the formulation of pipeline projects.
• Any other duties assigned by the National Coordinator that have direct relevance to the project.

2.Financial Oversight

• Support managing the project budget, oversee procurement and accounting, together with the UNDP China and the global BIOFIN Team.
• Provide assistance with the timely disbursement of financial resources to implementing partners.
• Maintain records of expenditures and collaborate in financial reporting.

Competencies:

• Skills for solution-oriented contacting with related different stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a team, ability for managing timely and effective delivery of both quantity and quality before the deadlines.
• Computer proficiency, especially related to professional office software packages (Microsoft Office).

Qualifications:

Education and Experience

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

• Be enrolled in a postgraduate degree programme (such as a master’s programme, or higher);
• Be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree programme (such as bachelor’s degree or equivalent);
• Have recently graduated with a university degree (as defined in (a) and (b) above) and, if selected, must start the internship within one-year of graduation;
• Be enrolled in a postgraduate professional traineeship program and undertake the internship as part of this program.

Major in English and environmental science or related fields is preferred.

Skills: partnership building skills with multi-dimension partners, people skill for solve conflicts and negotiation skills.

Required Language: Good communication skills both Chinese and English, excellent communication (both oral and written)

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

Please fill all required boxes in the application system including education, experience, nationality etc. and upload below documents with your application:

a) CV and letter of motivation

b) Copy of school transcript

INTERNSHIP CONDITIONS

• Unless intern is financially supported by any institution or programme, such as a university, Government, foundation or scholarship programme (hereafter “sponsor”), UNDP will provide a stipend, at the rate determined in accordance with UNDP internship policy;
• If intern is financially supported by a sponsor, UNDP will, subject to the rules of the sponsor, pay the intern the difference, if any, between the financial support provided by the sponsor and the applicable UNDP stipend;
• Interns are responsible for obtaining necessary visas and arranging travel to and from the duty station where the internship will be performed;
• Costs and arrangements for travel, visas, passports, accommodation and living expenses are the responsibility of:

The sponsoring institution, related institution or Government, which may provide the required financial assistance to its students; or

The intern.

• Interns, whether engaged in-person or remotely, are responsible for securing adequate medical insurance for the duration of their internship with UNDP and must provide self-certification of good health prior to starting the internship. UNDP will not reimburse the medical insurance of the intern. Any costs arising from accidents and illness incurred during an internship assignment will be the responsibility of the intern.
• Selected candidates for internships must show proof of valid medical insurance for the duty station where they will undertake the internship. For interns that are neither nationals nor residents of the duty station of the internship, the insurance must include adequate coverage in the event of an injury or illness during the internship duration which:

Requires transportation to the home country or country of residence for further treatment;

Results in death and requires preparation and return of the remains to the home country, or country of residence.

• UNDP accepts no responsibility for loss or damage to personal effects that may occur during the internship. Any cost arising from accidents and illness incurred during an internship assignment will be the responsibility of the intern.
• Interns are not staff members and may not represent UNDP in any official capacity.

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination.

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles.

Right to select multiple candidates

UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

Scam alert

UNDP does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process. For further information, please see www.undp.org/scam-alert.