Purpose

The objective of the internship programme is to provide a framework through which graduate and postgraduate students from diverse academic backgrounds may be assigned to the UNFCCC to enhance their educational experience through practical work assignments. It allows selected candidates to gain insight into the work of the United Nations and provides assistance and training in various professional fields.

UNFCCC’s internship programme is coordinated by the Administrative Services Programme and a designated focal point is responsible for liaising with the relevant substantive programmes for placement of intern candidates. At the end of an internship period, both the intern and the staff member acting as his/her supervisor are required to submit an evaluation report to the designated focal point of the Internship Programme.

Eligibility requirements

i) Candidates should be enrolled in a recognized university course of study.

ii) Applicants should be able to work in English.

ii) An undergraduate degree should have been completed with work on a degree equivalent to a Master in progress.

iii) Studies should be in fields related to the work of the secretariat including economics, environmental sciences, international law, international relations, natural sciences, political science, and public administration.

Terms and conditions

a) The normal duration of an iternship is two months, which can be extended for an additonal two months. The total duration may be exceptionally extended to a maximum of six months when there are special academic requirements or special needs of the receiving department/office.

b) Applicants may not be related - i.e. spouse, mother, father, sister, brother, daughter, son - to a UNFCCC staff member.

c) Upon selection for an internship placement an ‘Internship Agreement’ is forwarded to the confirmed candidate for signature and returned prior to an agreed starting date.

d) The internship programme offered by UNFCCC is unremunerated and the organization provides no financial assistance with regard to travel or accommodation expenses of an intern.

e) The UNFCCC secretariat accepts no responsibility for costs arising from accidents and/or illness incurred during an internship and proof of personal medical insurance is mandatory for the duration of the internship period.

f) There is no promise of employment either during or  upon completion of an internship with UNFCCC.

g) An intern with UNFCCC is not considered to be a staff member of the secretariat and the privileges and immunities agreed on between the UNFCCC secretariat and the host Government therefore do not apply to interns.

h) An intern undertakes to conduct himself/herself at all times in a manner compatible with his/her responsibilities as an intern of the UNFCCC secretariat.

i) The intern is required to keep confidential all unpublished information made known during the course of the internship and must not publish any reports or papers on the basis of information obtained except with the written authorization of the UNFCCC secretariat.

Expenses and medical benefits

Interns are not financially remunerated by the secretariat. Costs and arrangements for travel, visas, accommodation and living expenses are the responsibility of the intern or his sponsoring institution.

The secretariat accepts no responsibility for the medical insurance for the intern or for any costs arising from accidents and/or illness during the internship period. Applicants are required to provide evidence of adequate medical insurance coverage.

The secretariat is not responsible for any claims by an intern or third party in the case of loss or damage to property or death or personal injury as a result of actions or omissions on the part of the intern during the internship period.

Application

Applications may be forwarded by e-mail or normal mail directly or through a sponsoring institution to: Ms. Pascaline Anapak, Intern Focal Point, UNFCCC, P.O. Box 260124, D-53153 Bonn, Germany or e-mail address: panapak@unfccc.int

Applications should include the following:

• a recent Curriculum Vitae;
• an explanatory paper indicating the reason for requesting an internship and intended goals to be achieved if selected.