Administration Intern : Programme Support

Job Description

Work Location: In-person (Montreal, QC) or remotely.

Expected Duration: Three to six 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.

At the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, world leaders agreed on a comprehensive strategy for ‘sustainable development’. One of the key agreements adopted at Rio was the Convention on Biological Diversity. The Convention establishes three main goals:

• The conservation of biological diversity,
• The sustainable use of its components, and
• The fair and equitable sharing of the benefits from the use of genetic resources.

The Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (SCBD) is located in Montreal and is administered by UNEP. This internship is located at the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, under the overall supervision of the Head of the General Administration.

The internship has a start date of early May 2026 for a duration of three (3) to six (6) months. The internship is for a maximum duration of 6 months and is UNPAID.

The intern will support administrative, programme, procurement, finance, and internal coordination functions. Under the direct supervision of the Head of the General Administration the intern will (inter alia):

Programme and Administrative Support

• Assist in the review, organization, and maintenance of internal documentation and records, including digital and physical filing systems.
• Support the optimization and clean-up of the SCBD intranet by reviewing content, identifying outdated materials, and proposing improvements for better usability and accessibility.
• Maintain organized Excel-based tracking tools for programme and protocol-related follow-up activities.

Museum of Nature and Culture Support

• Enhancement of the Museum of Nature and Culture Inventory: Review and verify the existing inventory in collaboration with all SCBD staff, drawing on institutional knowledge to ensure accuracy and completeness for each item in the collection. The outcome would be a consolidated and well-structured document suitable for broad internal and external sharing.
• Improvement of the Museum’s Exhibition Display: Assess the current museum layout and displays to identify areas for improvement and develop a practical plan for implementing enhancements to strengthen the overall presentation and visitor experience.

Data Management and Process Improvement

• Support the optimization and standardization of Excel-based workflows, including data cleaning, formula improvements, use of PivotTables, and automation where applicable.
• Contribute to improved reporting processes by reducing manual workload and ensuring clear documentation of tools and procedures.

Human Resources and Administrative Assistance

• Assist with the scanning, filing, and organization of HR-related documents in accordance with internal procedures.
• Support administrative tasks related to recruitment processes, including sending interview invitations and maintaining follow-up records.
• Draft and prepare letters of earnings upon request for consultants and individual contractors.

Finance and Procurement Support

• Assist the finance unit with various administrative and operational tasks as required.
• Conduct market research to identify goods and services that offer best value for money, in line with UN procurement principles.
• Support procurement activities by contacting potential vendors and encouraging registration in the United Nations Global Marketplace (UNGM).
• Correspond with vendors, internal staff, and stakeholders on procurement-related matters, ensuring timely and professional communication.

Other Duties

• Perform additional tasks as required by the supervisor in support of SCBD operations and programme delivery.

Interns work five days per week (35-40 hours) under the supervision of a staff member in the department or office to which they are assigned. 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.

Qualifications/Special Skills

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

• (a) Be enrolled in, or have completed, a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher); or,
• (b) Be enrolled in, or have completed, the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum bachelor’s level or equivalent); or
• (c) Have graduated with a university degree.

Be computer literate in standard software applications.

Have demonstrated keen interest in the work of the United Nations and have a personal commitment to the ideals of the Charter.

Have a demonstrated ability to successfully interact with individuals of different cultural backgrounds and beliefs, which include willingness to try and understand and be tolerant of differing opinions and views.

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.

Can you please describe how your field of study is relevant for this internship?

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. Knowledge of Arabic, Mandarin, French and Spanish is desirable.

NOTE: “Fluency” equals a rating of “fluent” in all four areas (read, write, speak, understand) and “Knowledge of” equals a rating of “confident” in two of the four areas.

DEADLINE: Feb 24, 2026