Intern for Finance and Economic Transformations

Job Description

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the United Nations system’s designated entity for addressing environmental issues at the global and regional level. Its mandate is to coordinate the development of environmental policy consensus by keeping the global environment under review and bringing emerging issues to the attention of governments and the international community for action.

The Latin America and the Caribbean Office (LACO), located in Panama City, works closely with the 33 countries of the region—including 16 small island developing States. The office works to serve the needs of the region and its activities are integrated into the work programs approved by the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA).

The Finance and Economic Transformations Unit (FET) at LACO develops and strengthens green economy and sustainable consumption and production patterns and practices through its portfolio, which currently includes projects on consumer information, sustainable public procurement, eco-innovation, sustainable tourism and circular economy, and is responsible for coordinating different initiatives under the LAC Forum of Ministers of Environment.

Under the direct supervision of the Programme Management Officer in the FET Unit, the intern will be supporting the various initiatives and its related activities.

Three (3) Interns are sought for a six-month internship period. The internship is UNPAID and full-time. Interns work five days per week (40 hours) under the supervision of a staff member in the Office.

The position will be supporting implementation of the following projects/initiatives:

• IKI Eco-Advance (a regional approach to ecolabelling)
• Environmental Training Network
• Circular Economy Coalition
• Regional Council of Government Experts on Sustainable Consumption and Production
• Regional Group on Gender and the Environment

This will include the following thematical workstreams:

• Sustainable Consumption and Production
• Consumer information tools
• Environmental Education
• Sustainable lifestyles
• Sustainable Public Procurement
• Circular economy

Under the direct supervision of the Programme Management Officer in the Finance and Economic Transformations (FET) Unit of the Latin America and the Caribbean Office, the intern will be supporting the various initiatives of the unit and its related activities.

The intern will support the follow-up and implementation of the above-mentioned workstreams and projects, and the detailed tasks include:

• Support with online platforms used by the team, including: upload all the relevant information in the platform (resources and profiles submitted by the countries, abstracts of all the collected resources, webpages content, etc.); maintain the platform and website ongoing and updated in terms of information and activities (e.g. newsletters, agendas in the region, organization of periodical webinars and south-south cooperation bilateral exchanges).
• Support the preparation of agendas, presentations, briefings, minutes and communication material.
• Assist with the organization of meetings, workshops, seminars, webinars, and other similar activities, supporting the preparation of agendas, co-drafting background materials, presentations, meeting minutes and reports.
• Review literature and prepare summaries with main findings on resource efficiency, green economy, sustainable consumption and production, consumer information (particular focus on ecolabelling), and sustainable lifestyles.

Qualifications/special skills
Applicants must at the time of application meet one of the following requirements:
a. Be enrolled in a Master’s Degree programme: Environmental Sciences, Economics, International Relations/Development, Social Sciences, Law, Business Administration and/or related field; OR
b. Be enrolled in the final academic year of a Bachelor degree program: Environmental Sciences, Economics, International Relations/Development, Social Sciences, Law, Business Administration and/or related field; OR
c. Have graduated with a university degree in Environmental Sciences, Economics, International Relations/Development, Social Sciences, Law, Business Administration and/or related field.

• Be computer literate in standard software applications (MS Office).
• 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 includes willingness to try and understand and be tolerant of differing opinions and views.

Languages
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this internship, fluency in English and Spanish are required, since work will require research and communication, including reading and interviews, in both languages. Knowledge of another UN official language is desirable.

DEADLINE: SEPTEMBER 13, 2025