UNFCCC Internships

The objective of the internship programme is to provide a framework through which students from diverse academic backgrounds may be assigned to the UNFCCC-secretariat to enhance their educational experience through practical work assignments. It allows selected candidates to gain insight into the work of the United Nations and provides assistance and training in various professional fields..

Eligibility requirements

i) Applicants should be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree (minimum Bachelor’s degree or equivalent) or a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher) in a field related to the work of the UNFCCC-secretariat (including economics, environmental sciences, international law, international relations, natural sciences, political science, human resources and/or public administration, event management, IT/computer sciences, and communication) at a recognized university at the time of application and during the entire period of internship.

ii) Applicants should be able to work in English.

Terms and conditions

a) The normal duration of an internship is two months, which can be extended for an additional period of two months by mutual consultation and consent. The total duration may exceptionally be extended to a maximum period of six months when there are special academic requirements or special needs of the receiving programme.

b) Applicants may not be related – i.e. spouse, mother, father, sister, brother, daughter, son – to a staff member of the UNFCCC secretariat.

c) There is no promise of employment either during or upon completion of an internship with the UNFCCC secretariat. Interns will not be considered for employment with the UNFCCC-secretariat within six months after completion of the internship.

d) An intern is not a staff member of the UNFCCC secretariat, therefore the privileges and immunities agreed between the UNFCCC-secretariat and the host Government do not apply to interns.

e) An intern undertakes to conduct himself/herself at all times in a manner compatible with his/her responsibilities as an intern of the UNFCCC-secretariat.

f) The intern is required to keep confidential all unpublished information made known during the course of the internship, and must not publish any reports or papers on the basis of information obtained, except with the prior written authorization of the UNFCCC-secretariat. These obligations will not lapse upon the expiration of the internship period.

Application

To apply for an internship, please use the online application system:

1. Register

When applying for UNFCCC internship vacancy announcements, click on the “apply now” button next to the vacancy announcement. To start the application process, you will first be asked to register as a user with the UNFCCC Online Application System.

2. Application process

Once you are registered as a user, you can apply for an existing internship vacancy by completing your Personal History Form (P.11) in our on-line application system. Remember to select the “internship” version of the P.11 form at the bottom right.
You can also complete the form now and store your profile for one or more future vacancies. Your profile can be accessed and up-dated regularly.
Please do not try to attach any additional documents, however, please remember to submit an explanatory letter with your application through the system.

Any technical difficulties, please contact internship@unfccc.int.