UNEP Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) Technical and Communications Internship

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. The overall objective of the UNEP’s Industry and Economy Division is to encourage decision makers in government, local authorities and industry to develop and adopt policies, strategies and practices and technologies that promote sustainable patterns of consumption and production, make efficient use of natural resources, ensure safe management of chemicals and contribute to making trade and environment policies mutually supportive. It promotes the development, use and transfer of policies, technologies, economic instruments, managerial practices and other tools that assist in environmentally sound decision making and the building of corresponding activities.

The United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) is the strategic partnership between the United Nations and over 500 banks, insurers and investors. For over 32 years UNEP FI has been shaping and driving the international sustainable finance agenda, setting global standards and growing a global network of leading financial institutions. Through its work-streams delivering resources to advance sustainable finance and regional activities, peer learning, training and research, UNEP FI carries out its mission to help the financial industry align with and contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals and with that take on the crucial role it must play in achieving a sustainable future.

UNEP FI through Impact Centre, has been a recognised pioneer and leader in IM for mainstream financial players for nearly ten years, from defining positive impact finance in 2017 to embedding impact management (IM) in the banking sector via the Principles for Responsible Banking (PRB) and the progressive development of a unique suite of implementation resources.

The UNEP FI Impact Centre has five pillars of work: providing a unique Holistic Impact Methodology; supporting PRB implementation; Developing interoperability solutions, convening and consensus-building with peer initiatives though Impact Manamgent Platform (IMP) and providing internal advisory services across UNEP FI. Visit https://www.unepfi.org/impact/ for more information.

The UNEP FI Impact Centre is seeking a motivated intern to support its team with research and engagement work. Tasks: The intern will assist with Impact Centre 2026 S2 activities relating to its development work (iteration of Impact Mappings and Tools, its interoperability work, and its external engagement activities (namely in the context of the Impact Management Platform).

Daily responsibilities may vary depending on the individual’s background as well as the internship period. Duties may include, but are not limited to:

• Conducting research to support the iteration of the UNEP FI Needs Mapping and Interlinkages Mapping
• Conducting testing activities to support the iteration of the Portfolio Impact Analysis Tool for banks, in particular the Context Module, the Identification Modules and the ESRS Disclosure Module
• Conducting research (and translation if/as applicable) to support various interoperability projects
• Supporting the development of implementation support materials on impact analysis for PRB banks, including workshops slide decks and brief presentations of UNEP FI impact management resources
• Conducting research and engaging stakeholders to support the updating process of the resource database, glossary and extranet of the Impact Management Platform

Qualifications/special skills

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.

Applicants should have good knowledge of standard software applications, especially MS Word, MS PowerPoint, Excel, and MS Teams.

Recent undergraduate or recent master’s degree graduate in international relations, development studies, economics, business administration, finance, ideally with some experience in research and communications through internships or extracurricular activities.

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), Master’s or Ph.D. Programme or equivalent, or have completed a Bachelor’s, Master’s or PH.D. Programme.

Languages

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