UNEP Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) Global Policy Support Internship

Recruiter: United Nations Environment Programme

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About the Organisation

The United Nations Environment Programme is committed to international peace, security, and sustainable development, working across diverse global initiatives to create positive change worldwide.

Job Summary

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. Located within the UN Environment Division of Economy, the Resources & Markets Branch (UNEP-RMB) seeks to conserve the environment, reduce poverty, and promote sustainable development by enhancing the capacity of governments, businesses, and civil society to integrate environmental considerations into economic, trade, and financial policies and practices in accordance with the partnership and integrated policy-making approaches of sustainable development.

Key Details:

• Job Title: UNEP Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) Global Policy Support Internship
• Job ID: 260554
• Contract Level: Internship , I-1
• Location: GENEVA
• Duration: 6 Months
• Remuneration: This is an unpaid internship.

Key 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. Located within the UN Environment Division of Economy, the Resources & Markets Branch (UNEP
• RMB) seeks to conserve the environment, reduce poverty, and promote sustainable development by enhancing the capacity of governments, businesses, and civil society to integrate environmental considerations into economic, trade, and financial policies and practices in accordance with the partnership and integrated policy
• making approaches of sustainable development. As part of UNEP
• RMB, the UNEP Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) (www.unepfi.org) is a unique global partnership between the UNEP and the private financial sector. UNEP FI works closely with 400 financial institutions that are signatories to the UNEP FI Statements of Environmental Commitment, and a range of partner organizations to develop and promote linkages between the environment, sustainability and financial performance. Through its industry commissions, thematic advisory groups and regional activities, UNEP FI carries out its mission to identify, promote, and realize the adoption of sustainability practice at all levels of financial institution operations. Global policy and regulatory measures on sustainable finance have increased substantially over the recent years. Public policy critically affects the ability of finance institutions to generate sustainable positive and reduce negative impacts through financing decisions. It affects the sustainability and stability of financial markets, as well as social, environmental and economic systems. Sustainable finance policies have become central to enabling and accelerating a successful transition. Most importantly, they complement and build on financial sector leadership and initiatives such as the Principle for Responsible Banking, the Net Zero Asset Owner Alliance and other key voluntary financial sector commitments aimed at aligning financial processes and flows with the sustainability goals. The Global Policy Team at UNEP FI focuses on facilitating compatibility between policy and regulatory frameworks across the world. Members of the team are spread across different regions and coordinate relevant inputs and developments in regulation. The position is based in Brussels, Belgium. Tasks The intern will support the UNEP FI Policy team with the following tasks: Research and content development:
• Undertake desktop research on sustainable financial regulation and finance
• related themes requested and/or suggested by the Policy team. Key themes may include the integration of climate risk into banking regulation and supervision, corporate sustainability disclosure, transition plans, green taxonomies, biodiversity
• related policy developments and others;
• Contribute to policy briefs for sustainable banking regulatory measures in key regions and/or jurisdictions;
• Ensure coordination and input from other UNEP FI teams and key stakeholders, as relevant;
• Support with the preparation of info sessions, Webinars on selected regulatory developments, and events;
• Conduct content development and technical works related to his/her own research interest aligning with the Policy team’s focus. Project management support:
• Support the Policy team with researching relevant funding opportunities and support with the application process;
• Support internal coordination efforts;
• Coordination of work with other thematic teams in UNEP FI;
• Support on consultation management for the Policy team;
• Support admin management for the Policy team;
• Support the Policy team with internal communications, website updates and external handling of webinars, conferences with UNEP FI Signatories. Ultimate result of service:
• The intern will closely monitor the EU sustainable finance frameworks uptake and development;
• The intern will update the existing Policy Team databases/files mapping the EU sustainable finance framework implementation;
• The intern will support with organizing webinars on global policy developments; Outputs/work assignments
• Plan weekly meetings to provide update on the EU sustainable finance framework;
• Update the existing Policy Team files mapping the EU sustainable finance framework;
• Support with the organization of webinars on global policy developments

Required Qualifications:

• Education: Applicants must at the time of application meet one of the following requirements: a. Be enrolled in a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher); b
• Experience: No working experience is required.
• Languages: English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this internship, fluency in oral and written English is required. Knowledge of French, Dutch, Spanish, and Chinese is also desirable.

How to Apply:

A completed online application is required. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. Due to the high volume of applications, only successful candidates will be contacted.

Application Deadline: 23-Jul-25

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