Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN) Intern

Job Description

The Biodiversity Finance Initiative – BIOFIN – is a global programme that developed, piloted, and is continuously improving a methodology to measure existing biodiversity expenditure levels, assess future financial needs, and design comprehensive plans to use finance tools and solutions that increase financing, reduce harmful expenditure, and improve financial effectiveness and efficiency of biodiversity management over 41 countries. BIOFIN’s first phase (2012-2018) enabled full assessments and initial implementation of finance plan elements in target countries. Significant enhancement and scaling up of finance solutions is required in all countries to address the biodiversity finance challenge. BIOFIN’s second phase enables countries to complete the design and implementation of priority finance solutions and will allow new countries to undertake the assessments as well as create and implement their biodiversity finance plan. At the central level, knowledge management platforms will be expanded and additional guidance produced for most valuable finance solutions.

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the National Coordinator of BIOFIN China and Project Manager of Shandong team. the Intern will provide daily support to IP in Shandong, especially on delivering Biodiversity Finance Policy and Institutional Review (PIR), Biodiversity Expenditure Review (BER), Financial Needs Assessment (FNA), Biodiversity Finance Plan (BFP) and Implementation of Biodiversity Finance Solutions, corresponding to the 2018 BIOFIN Workbook. This will involve supporting scoping research into key current issues on the topics and support to development of reports and publications to increase UNDP BIOFIN advocacy and visibility on such issues. Help logistic arrangement of related meetings with partners and help to take meeting minutes as well.

During the period of the internship, the intern will also learn about UNDP’s role in supporting partners in China in the areas and be exposed to experiences with in key cooperation programmes. The intern works in close collaboration with IP in Shandong. The intern is also expected to be involved in the daily operation work including formulation and implementation projects/programmes.

Description of Responsibilities:

The position will report to National Coordinator of BIOFIN China

Details of the job responsibilities:

1.Management support

• Provide support with all financial and administrative requirements of the project, especially those related to project procurement, funding and accounting.
• Assist in ensuring that project is executed in a timely and appropriate manner.
• Facilitate, guide and monitor the work of the national BIOFIN team and GBF project; manage payment schedules.
• Assist in project related activities, including planning for meetings, local and national consultations, trips, translation and other project related activities. Ensure all national and international travel is organised smoothly. Especially, assist in organizing PSC meetings, capacity building and training.
• Taking meeting notes and draft minutes. Document and share records of meetings, decisions, actions, etc.
• Support with the Monitoring and Evaluation of the projects at the national level, including workshop evaluations.
• Draft the progress report and provide fundamental support for the data collection.
• Supporting scoping research into key current issues on the topics and support to development of reports and publications for Shandong team, including PIR, BER, FNA, etc.
• Assist in the formulation of pipeline projects.
• Any other duties assigned by the National Coordinator that have direct relevance to the project.

2.Financial Oversight

• Manage the project budget, oversee procurement and accounting, together with the UNDP China and the global BIOFIN Team.
• Ensure financial resources are disbursed on time to implementing partners.
• Maintain records of expenditures and collaborate in financial reporting.

Competencies :

1. Skills for solution-oriented contacting with related different stakeholders.
2. Demonstrated ability to work in a team, ability for managing timely and effective delivery of both quantity and quality before the deadlines.
3. Computer proficiency, especially related to professional office software packages (Microsoft Office).

Qualifications:

Education and Experience

Major in English and environmental science or related fields is preferred.

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

1. Be enrolled in a postgraduate degree programme (such as a master’s programme, or higher);
2. Be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree programme (such as bachelor’s degree or equivalent);
3. Have recently graduated with a university degree (as defined in (a) and (b) above) and, if selected, must start the internship within one-year of graduation;
4. Be enrolled in a postgraduate professional traineeship program and undertake the internship as part of this program.

Language and Skills

• Required Language: Good communication skills both Chinese and English, excellent communication (both oral and written) and partnership building skills with multi-dimension partners, people skill for solve conflicts and negotiation skills.

Duration: 6 months

DEADLINE: March 1, 2026, 11:59 PM