Purpose
The objective of the internship programme is to provide a framework through which postgraduate students from diverse academic backgrounds may be assigned to the UNFCCC secretariat 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 secretariat’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 interns. 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) An undergraduate degree should have been completed with work on a Master degree in progress. Applicants should therefore be enrolled in a recognized university course of study in fields related to the work of the UNFCCC secretariat (including economics, environmental sciences, international law, international relations, natural sciences, political science, human resources and/or public administration, event management, IT/computer sciences, and communication) at the time of application and during the entire period of internship.
ii) Applicants should be able to work in English.
Applicants pursuing their studies in countries where higher education is not divided into undergraduate and postgraduate stages should have completed at least four years of study and be a student at the time of application and during the internship.
Terms and conditions
a) The normal duration of an internship is two months, which can be extended for an additional period of two months by mutual consultation and consent. The total duration may exceptionally be extended to a maximum period of six months when there are special academic requirements or special needs of the receiving programme.
b) Applicants may not be related - i.e. spouse, mother, father, sister, brother, daughter, son - to a staff member of the UNFCCC secretariat.
c) Upon selection for an internship placement, an ‘Internship Agreement’ is forwarded to the confirmed candidate for signature and returned together with proof of medical insurance coverage for the entire duration of the internship. This must be done prior to the agreed starting date.
d) There is no promise of employment either during or upon completion of an internship with the UNFCCC secretariat.
e) An intern with UNFCCC secretariat is not a staff member of the UNFCCC secretariat, therefore the privileges and immunities agreed between the UNFCCC secretariat and the host Government do not apply to interns.
f) 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.
g) 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 prior written authorization of the UNFCCC secretariat. These obligations will not lapse upon the expiration of the internship period.
Expenses and medical coverage
Interns are not financially remunerated by the UNFCCC secretariat. Costs and arrangements for travel, visas, accommodation and living expenses are the responsibility of the intern or his/her sponsoring institution.
The UNFCCC secretariat accepts no responsibility for 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 UNFCCC 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
To apply for an internship, please use the online application system:
1. Register
When applying for UNFCCC internship vacancy announcements, click on the "apply now" button next to the vacancy announcement. To start the application process, you will first be asked to register as a user with the UNFCCC Online Application System.
2. Application process
Once you are registered as a user, you can apply for an existing internship vacancy by completing your Personal History Form (P.11) in our on-line application system. Remember to select the “internship” version of the P.11 form at the bottom right.
You can also complete the form now and store your profile for one or more future vacancies. Your profile can be accessed and up-dated regularly.
Please do not try to attach any additional documents, however, remember to submit an explanatory letter with your application through the system.
3. Acknowledgement
Online applications will be immediately acknowledged to the email address that you have used. If you do not receive an e-acknowledgement within 24 hours of submission, your application/s may not have been received. In such cases, please contact internship@unfccc.int.
When you receive an automatic notification, there is no need to submit another application on-line or by other means.
Need Help?
Should you have any technical difficulties, please contact internship@unfccc.int.