UNEP Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) Risk Center Internship - Support for Sustainability Risk Programming

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. The United Nations Environment Programme - Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) is a strategic public-private partnership between the UN and over 400 global financial institutions. It has established some of the most important sustainability-oriented frameworks within the finance industry, including the Principles for Responsible Investment, the Principles for Sustainable Insurance and the Principles for Responsible Banking.

UNEP FI’s Risk Centre is looking for an intern to work with their climate and nature risk specialists to deliver a programme of events and publications aimed at risk professionals. The Centre works directly with financial institutions to advance their understanding of key topics at the intersection of climate, nature, and finance. These include climate and nature data, climate scenario analysis, sustainability risk management integration, and disclosure best practices among many others.

The Risk Centre leverages the convening power of the UN to accelerate the development of best practices for measuring and managing climate and nature risks and opportunities. It also works directly with leading partners from academia, environmental science, and advisory firms to create guidance and tools to support the creation of a sustainable financial sector.

Additional detail on the UNEP FI Risk Centre: The Risk Centre builds on work done by UNEP FI and partners in 2017-2018 that developed physical and transition risk methodologies for bank portfolios and extended in 2019-2020 through Phase II of the Banking Pilot, in 2021-2022 through Phase III of the Banking Pilot and in 2023, through its Climate Risk and TCFD (Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures) Programme. The Centre is continuing to develop thought leadership on climate and nature risk, among other sustainability risks, through partnerships with modelers, supervisors, academics, consultancies, and other stakeholders. The Centre also works at a regional level to build capacity around environmental risk management and risk disclosures in line with the TCFD/ISSB and other regulatory expectations. UNEP FI aspires to build both knowledge and action within the financial sector to mobilise the sector to address climate and other sustainability risks and support the low-carbon transition. The Risk Centre will develop tools, papers, workshops, and other outputs to empower the financial sector to move faster on critical sustainability issues.

Tasks: The intern will assist with implementing work related to the UNEP FI Risk Centre’s 2025/2026 programme and in planning for the 2027 programme. Daily responsibilities may vary depending on the individual’s background as well as the internship period. Duties may include, but are not limited to:

• Researching the latest developments regarding risk assessment and management practices, climate, nature, and social-related risks, opportunities, and impacts, and sustainability-related regulations, policies / guidance on disclosures and transition planning relevant for the financial sector
• Evaluating financial sector practices related to climate risks and opportunities (both physical and transition risks), as well as nature and other sustainability risks and opportunities, including social and just transition, and pollution
• Assisting with the drafting, editing, updates of research project outputs, including publications (research reports, studies, etc.) and tools (spreadsheets / dashboards / analytics).
• Supporting the day-to-day coordination of research project management and Risk Centre communications (organising meetings, note-taking, etc.)
• Assisting with preparations for events (logistical planning, agenda setting, etc.)
• Supporting Risk Centre operations as required (email management, calendar management, website updates, member lists, etc.)
• Building a network and rapport with members, partners, and other UN teams
• Working on other relevant tasks to support programme success

Applicants must at the time of application meet one of the following requirements: a. Be enrolled in a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher); b. Be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree program (minimum Bachelor's level or equivalent); c. Have graduated with a university degree and, if selected, must commence the internship within a one-year period of graduation.

Academic background in economics, social sciences, natural sciences, environmental science, public policy, sustainable development, business administration, finance, or another related field.

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. Please explain how you meet this criterion.

Applicants must be a student in the final year of the first university degree (bachelor or equivalent), Master’s or Ph.D. Programme or equivalent, or have completed a Bachelor’s, Master’s or PH.D. Programme.

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this internship, fluency in oral and written English is required.