Work Location
Remote or Geneva, Switzerland
Expected duration
6 months
Duties and Responsibilities
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment. The overall objective of the UNEP’s Industry and Economy Division is to encourage decision makers in government, local authorities and industry to develop and adopt policies, strategies and practices and technologies that promote sustainable patterns of consumption and production, make efficient use of natural resources, ensure safe management of chemicals and contribute to making trade and environment policies mutually supportive. It promotes the development, use and transfer of policies, technologies, economic instruments, managerial practices and other tools that assist in environmentally sound decision making and the building of corresponding activities.
The United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) is the strategic partnership between the United Nations and over 500 banks, insurers and investors. For over 34 years UNEP FI has been shaping and driving the international sustainable finance agenda, setting global standards and growing a global network of leading financial institutions. Through its work-streams and regional activities, peer learning, methodology development, training and research, UNEP FI promotes sustainable finance and helps the financial industry align with and contribute to the Paris Agreement and Sustainable Development Goals. UNEP FI’s Risk Centre is looking for an intern to work with their climate and nature risk specialists to deliver a programme of events and publications aimed at risk professionals. The Centre works directly with financial institutions to advance their understanding of key topics at the intersection of climate, nature, and finance. These include climate and nature data, climate scenario analysis, sustainability risk management integration, and disclosure best practices among many others.
The Risk Centre leverages the convening power of the UN to accelerate the development of best practices for measuring and managing climate and nature risks and opportunities. It also works directly with leading partners from academia, environmental science, and advisory firms to create guidance and tools to support the creation of a sustainable financial sector.
Additional detail on the UNEP FI Risk Centre
The Risk Centre builds on work done by UNEP FI and partners in 2017-2018 that developed physical and transition risk methodologies for bank portfolios and extended in 2019-2020 through Phase II of the Banking Pilot, in 2021-2022 through Phase III of the Banking Pilot and in 2023, through its Climate Risk and TCFD (Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures) Programme. The Centre is continuing to develop thought leadership on climate and nature risk, among other sustainability risks, through partnerships with modelers, supervisors, academics, consultancies, and other stakeholders. The Centre also works at a regional level to build capacity around environmental risk management and risk disclosures in line with the TCFD/ISSB and other regulatory expectations. UNEP FI aspires to build both knowledge and action within the financial sector to mobilise the sector to address climate and other sustainability risks and support the low-carbon transition. The Risk Centre will develop tools, papers, workshops, and other outputs to empower the financial sector to move faster on critical sustainability issues.
Tasks
The intern will assist with implementing work related to the UNEP FI Risk Centre’s 2027 programme. Daily responsibilities may vary depending on the individual’s background as well as the internship period. Duties may include, but are not limited to:
- Assist Research Lead with Focus Group management, including: building and maintaining the participant lists, identifying target banks, drafting invitations and targeted outreach, scheduling meetings, and capturing discussion notes.
- Prepare first drafts of case studies for review by Senior Adviser and relevant banks, as well as maintain a source log of what each bank supplied.
- Gather and review supervisory and industry sources relevant to each module of the Operational Playbook.
- Produce a research/evidence pack per module release: summarized findings, verified citations in APA 7th, and working links.
- Prepare drafts of designated Operational Playbook modules and components to the provided template and house style.
- Manage process for publication review (both internally and externally) as well as with Communications and design teams.
- Assist with Risk Centre website redesign (manage and sort Risk Centre resources, advise on filing options and general user experience).
Knowledge and skills
- Familiarity with risk management, banking or prudential regulation, sustainability or E&S risk, or a related field.
- Familiarity with the main sustainability risk related frameworks.
- Ability to analyze institutional documents like bank risk frameworks and supervisory guidance and synthesise them into structured templates.
- Comparative research across jurisdictions and sources, with accurate referencing and source discipline.
- Clear, formal, practitioner-facing writing; able to draft to a set style and take edits.
- Stakeholder coordination and event logistics for multi-region convenings.
- Database management and experience with SharePoint desirable.
- Supporting Risk Centre operations as required (email management, calendar management, website updates, member lists, etc.)
- Building a network and rapport with members, partners, and other UN teams
- Working on other relevant tasks to support programme success
Qualifications/special skills
Applicants must at the time of application meet one of the following requirements:
- Be enrolled in a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher);
- Be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree program (minimum Bachelor's level or equivalent);
- Have graduated with a university degree and, if selected, must commence the internship within a one-year period of graduation.
Academic background in economics, social sciences, natural sciences, environmental science, public policy, sustainable development, business administration, finance, or another related field. Applicants to the UN Internship Programme are not required to have professional work experience. However, a field of study that is closely related to the type of internship that you are applying for is required. Please explain how you meet this criterion.
Applicants must be a student in the final year of the first university degree (bachelor or equivalent), Master’s or Ph.D. Programme or equivalent, or have completed a Bachelor’s, Master’s or PH.D. Programme.
Do you meet any of the above criteria? If yes, please indicate which one and attach proof to the application. Please note that you will have to provide an official certificate at a later stage.
Languages
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this internship, fluency in oral and written English is required.
Additional Information
Not available.
Intern Specific text
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. Interns who are not citizens or permanent residents of the country where the internship is undertaken, may be required to obtain the appropriate visa and work/employment authorization. Successful candidates should discuss their specific visa requirements before accepting the internship offer.
No Fee
THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.
