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, and 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 is located in Montreal and is administered by UNEP.
🌍 The Assignment
This internship is located at the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, under the overall supervision of the Programme Management Officer. The intern will conduct research and analysis of national policy instruments and recent COP decisions relevant to synergies across the Rio Conventions, prepare related analytical products and drafting inputs, and support related initiatives.
Under the direct supervision of the Programme Management Officer, the intern will:
📑 Conduct research and analysis of the latest national policy instruments, for example NBSAPs, NDCs, LDN targets, national adaptation plans and related strategies, relevant to synergies across the three Rio Conventions
⚖️ Review and analyse recent COP decisions under each of the Rio Conventions to identify mandates, provisions and emerging areas relevant to enhanced cooperation and synergistic implementation
📊 Prepare analytical summaries, briefing notes and comparative matrices mapping areas of convergence, complementarity and potential gaps across the conventions
🤝 Support activities and initiatives carried out under the Joint Liaison Group of the Rio Conventions, including background research, documentation and preparation of meeting materials
📝 Assist in drafting inputs for reports, technical papers and presentations on synergies among the Rio Conventions
🎪 Support the organization of workshops, side events and consultations related to synergies, as required
🧩 Perform other related tasks as assigned by the supervisor
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✅ Qualifications and Special Skills
🎓 Advanced university degree studies, meaning master's or PhD, in environmental policy, international environmental law, international relations, environmental sciences, climate change studies, sustainable development, natural resource management or a related field
📚 Applicants must be enrolled in or have completed a graduate school programme, meaning a second university degree or equivalent or higher, or be enrolled in or have completed the final academic year of a first university degree programme, meaning minimum bachelor's level or equivalent, or have graduated with a university degree
💻 Be computer literate in standard software applications
🇺🇳 Have a demonstrated keen interest in the work of the United Nations and 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 to understand and be tolerant of differing opinions and views
📌 Professional work experience is not required, but a field of study closely related to the type of internship is required
🗣️ Languages
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this internship, fluency in oral and written English is required, and knowledge of another UN language, meaning Arabic, French, Russian or Spanish, is desirable. Fluency equals a rating of fluent in all four areas, meaning read, write, speak and understand, and knowledge of equals a rating of confident in two of the four areas.
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📋 The Details
📍 Duty station: Montreal
🏠 Work location: Montreal or remote
📅 Start date: 7 September 2026
⏳ Expected duration: three months, and the internship is for a maximum duration of 6 months
🕐 Interns work five days per week, 35 to 40 hours
🏢 Department or office: United Nations Environment Programme
🗂️ Job family: Environmental Affairs
📌 Category and level: Affiliate Personnel, Internships, I-1
🆔 Job opening ID: 281550
⚠️ Conditions of the UN Internship Programme
💶 The internship is unpaid, and 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
🛂 Interns who are not citizens or permanent residents of the country where the internship is undertaken may be required to obtain the appropriate visa and work or employment authorization
📩 How to Apply
Apply through the United Nations careers portal for this job opening.
⏰ Deadline
05 August 2026.
