🇨🇳 Green and Digital Development Internship in China 🌱 at UNDP China Country Office 💻 (Paid)

Are you passionate about sustainability, low carbon transformation, and the future of green cities? The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) China Country Office is offering a three month internship with its Green and Digital Development Portfolio in Beijing, where you will support research and pilot projects that bring sustainability into urban development and business operations.

About UNDP China

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply, and all applications are treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, or discrimination, and all selected candidates undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

The UNDP China Country Office is part of UNDP, the United Nations' global development network. UNDP works in about 170 countries and territories, helping to end poverty, reduce inequalities and exclusion, and protect the planet, in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Together these efforts aim to ensure that improvements in human wellbeing remain within ecological boundaries. UNDP also helps countries develop policies, leadership skills, partnering abilities and institutional capabilities, and build resilience, in order to achieve the SDGs.

UNDP China has been working in China over the past four decades, partnering to advance the phases of China's development outlined in the Government of China's Five Year Plans. UNDP assists China in integrating the SDGs into development decisions, promotes the transition to an inclusive, low carbon economy and a sustainable society, protects biodiversity, and informs China's international development cooperation engagement to advance global progress on the SDGs and the global climate agendas. Through its global network and South South Cooperation, UNDP facilitates mutual knowledge and experience sharing between China and partner countries on best practices and lessons learned to advance the SDGs.

UNDP China's implementation modalities currently engage more than 15 Ministries and government representatives at national and sub national levels across 28 provinces. UNDP China also actively engages the United Nations development system, multilateral and regional institutions, the private sector, philanthropic foundations, academia and think tanks, intergovernmental bodies, and the media to accelerate the SDGs and global climate agendas in China.

The Green and Digital Development Portfolio

The Green and Digital Development Portfolio operates within the Pillar of People and Prosperity and is dedicated to advancing sustainable and low carbon transformation, enhancing climate resilience in Chinese cities, and promoting responsible business practices. The team works on research and pilot projects that aim to integrate sustainability into urban development and business operations. By collaborating with local governments, businesses, and other stakeholders, the portfolio strives to create impactful solutions that address environmental challenges and foster sustainable economic growth.

The intern will have the opportunity to work closely with the Green and Digital Development Portfolio, under the supervision of a Programme Analyst, supporting the formulation and implementation of research and pilot projects focused on sustainable and low carbon transformation, climate resilience, and responsible business practices with Chinese stakeholders.

What You'll Do

🔬 Research and analysis: conduct research on sustainable investment trends, low carbon technologies, and climate resilience strategies, and analyze data and compile reports on the current state of sustainable practices in Chinese cities.

🏗️ Support project development and implementation: assist in the design and development of pilot projects aimed at promoting sustainable and low carbon urban transformation, and support project implementation by coordinating with stakeholders, organizing meetings, and preparing documentation.

🤝 Stakeholder engagement: collaborate with team members to engage with local governments, businesses, and other stakeholders, and assist in organizing workshops, seminars, and events to promote sustainable practices and share project findings.

🗂️ Administrative support: provide administrative support as needed, assist in maintaining project documentation and records, and support other ad hoc activities as relevant and needed.

Competencies

💡 Strong research and analytical skills, with the ability to gather and consolidate data and research for practical implementation.

🌍 Interest and motivation in working in an international organization.

🎯 An outgoing and initiative taking personality with a goal oriented mind set.

🗣️ Effective communication when working in teams and independently.

🧩 Good organization and structuring of various tasks and responsibilities.

🤗 Cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability, responding positively to feedback and differing points of view, and consistently approaching work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude.

Who Can Apply

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

🎓 Be enrolled in a postgraduate degree programme (such as a master's programme, or higher).

📘 Be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree programme (such as a bachelor's degree or equivalent).

🕐 Have recently graduated with a university degree as defined above and, if selected, must start the internship within one year of graduation.

📝 Be enrolled in a postgraduate professional traineeship programme and undertake the internship as part of this programme.

A major in language study, Sustainable Development, Business, Economics, or a related field is desirable. Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English are required, and proficiency in Mandarin is an asset. Proficiency in the Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) is also expected.

The Details

📍 Location: Beijing, China (full time).

🗓️ Contract duration: 3 months.

🎓 Education: Bachelor's degree.

Internship Conditions

💶 Unless the intern is financially supported by an institution or programme (such as a university, government, foundation or scholarship programme), UNDP will provide a stipend at the rate determined in accordance with UNDP internship policy. If the intern is supported by a sponsor, UNDP will, subject to the rules of the sponsor, pay the difference, if any, between the financial support provided by the sponsor and the applicable UNDP stipend.

✈️ Interns are responsible for obtaining necessary visas and arranging travel to and from the duty station. Costs and arrangements for travel, visas, passports, accommodation and living expenses are the responsibility of the sponsoring institution or government, or of the intern.

🩺 Interns, whether engaged in person or remotely, are responsible for securing adequate medical insurance for the duration of the internship and must provide self certification of good health prior to starting. UNDP does not reimburse the medical insurance of the intern, and any costs arising from accidents and illness during the internship are the responsibility of the intern. Selected candidates must show proof of valid medical insurance for the duty station. For interns who are neither nationals nor residents of the duty station, the insurance must include adequate coverage for transportation to the home country or country of residence for further treatment, and for preparation and return of the remains in the event of death.

📌 Interns are not staff members and may not represent UNDP in any official capacity. UNDP accepts no responsibility for loss or damage to personal effects during the internship.

How to Apply

Apply through the online application system. Fill all required boxes, including education, experience and nationality, and upload a CV and letter of motivation together with a copy of your school transcript. UNDP does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process.