Internship: Data Analyst

Job Description

Work Location: Nairobi, Kenya

Expected duration: 6 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.

Through the resolution “End plastic pollution: Towards an international legally binding instrument” (UNEP/EA5/L23/REV.1), the United Nations Environment Assembly requested to convene an Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC), commencing its work during second half of 2022, with the ambition of completing its work by the end of 2024.

The resolution established that the INC should develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment, which could include both binding and voluntary approaches, based on a comprehensive approach that addresses the full lifecycle of plastic, taking into account among other things, the principles of the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, as well as national circumstances and capabilities, including provisions.

The United Nations Environment Assembly requested the convening of an Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee, commencing its work in the second half of 2022, with the ambition of completing its work by the end of 2024. The resolution mandates the INC to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment, which may include both binding and voluntary approaches. The instrument is to be based on a comprehensive approach that addresses the full life cycle of plastic, taking into account, inter alia, the principles of the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, as well as national circumstances and capabilities.

The internship is located within the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) Secretariat and will support the INC Secretariat9s analytical, research, and data-related work, including the collection, validation, and analysis of data and information relevant to plastic pollution across the full life cycle of plastics. The work includes desk research, preparation and drafting of background documents, analytical notes, and statistical or evidence-based inputs to support the negotiations and related mandated outputs.

The intern shall undertake duties which may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Assist in background research and the review of data collection instruments, analytical frameworks, and methodological guidance relevant to plastic pollution.
• Assist in the analysis of trends and time series data using internal and external databases relevant to plastic production, use, waste management, and pollution pathways, including the marine environment.
• Collect information from a variety of sources and assist in the preparation of analytical products, datasets, and inputs for inclusion in INC documents, reports, and background papers.
• Assist in the preparation of intergovernmental meetings, workshops, and consultations convened in support of the INC process.
• Carry out other relevant assignments as required.

Internships with the Offices of the United Nations Secretariat are unpaid and full-time, i.e. five days per week (40 hours). For more information on the INC Secretariat, please visit the website: https://www.unep.org/inc-plastic-pollution.

Qualifications/special skills

To qualify for an internship with the United Nations Internship Programme, the following conditions must be met:

• Applicants must meet one of the following requirements:
  • (a) be enrolled in, or have recently completed, a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher);
  • (b) be enrolled in, or have recently completed, the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum bachelor’s degree or equivalent).
• Be computer literate in standard software applications; working knowledge of MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint is essential. Knowledge of R, Python, Stata and MS Access is desirable.
• Have a demonstrated keen interest in the work of the United Nations and have a personal commitment to the ideals of the Charter; and
• 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.

In addition, for this internship:

• Studies in the field of statistics, data science, mathematics, engineering, economics, environmental science, environmental policy, public policy, or equivalent are required.
• Strong Communication, Client Orientation and Teamwork skills are required.

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. Applicants must be a student in the final year of the first university degree (bachelor or equivalent), Master9s or Ph.D. Programme or equivalent, or have completed a Bachelor9s, Master9s 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. Fluency in spoken and written English is required for the internship. Knowledge of an additional official UN language is an advantage. Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish are the official languages of the United Nations Secretariat.

DEADLINE: Jan 29, 2026