Intern - Programme Management Extreme Heat Risk Governance and Investment

Description du poste:

Work Location
Geneva, Switzerland

Expected duration
6 months

Duties and Responsibilities
Created in December 1999, the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) is the designated focal point in the United Nations system for the coordination of efforts to reduce disasters and to ensure synergies among the disaster reduction activities of the United Nations and regional organizations and activities in both developed and less developed countries. Led by the United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction (SRSG), UNDRR has over 150 staff located in its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, and in regional offices. Specifically, UNDRR guides, monitors, analyses and reports on progress in the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, supports regional and national implementation of the Framework and catalyses action and increases global awareness to reduce disaster risk working with U.N. Member States and a broad range of partners and stakeholders, including civil society, the private sector, parliamentarians and the science and technology community. Extreme heat has emerged as a defining challenge of the 21st century. It is already more frequent, intense and prolonged, driving rising mortality, productivity losses, infrastructure disruption, ecosystem decline and deepening inequalities, and it is worsening. 2015-2025 were the 11 hottest years on record, with 2025 reaching around 1.43°C above pre-industrial levels, and the Earth's energy imbalance showing a record high in 2025. Extreme heat is already a scourge that no country, no business can ignore, and is intensifying, becoming more frequent, and prolonged. The consequences for human health, productivity, infrastructure, ecosystems and social equity are dire. The most deadly of climate-related hazards, heat-related deaths averaged 490,000 persons per annum globally from 2000-2019 . It is also among the most damaging. Estimated losses in reduced labour capacity in 2022 amounted to $863 bn, a figure estimated to rise to $2.1 tr by 2030 - affecting an estimated 2.4bn workers annually . Extreme heat provokes critical failures in agriculture, energy and transport systems, resulting in disruptions to health, education services and economic activity. Recognizing the scale of the challenge, the UN Secretary-General has named extreme heat a "top-tier climate risk," calling for urgent and coordinated action to strengthen prevention, preparedness, resilience and governance. In response to the UN Secretary General's Call to Action on Extreme Heat, UNDRR, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the Global Heat Health Information Network (GHHIN) coordinated the development of the Extreme Heat Risk Governance Framework and Toolkit (the Framework and Toolkit), with experts from national and sub-national governments, IFIs, UN and other international organisations. Launched at COP30 in Belém, Brazil at the high-level event "Extreme Heat Risk Governance: A New Framework and Toolkit for Accelerated Action" , the Framework and Toolkit has been designed to help decision-makers measure, understand, strengthen and sustain heat-risk governance and investment across sectors and scales, this internship supports the team with the implementation of pilot projects to apply and test the Framework and Toolkit in LDCs and SIDS, and build sustained heat risk-informed decision-making and investment. The internship is located in UNDRR, Risk Knowledge, Monitoring and Capacity Development Branch, and will work under the overall supervision of Programme Management Officer, UNDRR Headquarters in Geneva. The internship is unpaid, full-time and in-person. The internship is for a duration up to six (6) months. The intern will support the team in information management, project implementation, and community and advocacy of extreme heat risk governance programme. Tasks will include: ▫ Support UNDRR officers in assuring regular information management, exchange and coordination between UNDRR / WMO / GHHIN HQ and respective ROs, as well as implementing partners in implementation of three extreme heat risk governance and investment projects. ▫ Assist with day-to-day coordination and overall project implementation support for the three national initiatives, including tracking progress, following up on actions, and supporting internal and external communication with key government counterparts, investors and donors and relevant stakeholders. ▫ Support analysis of sectoral/nexus knowledge gaps and mapping of relevant existing and planned initiatives, projects and investments in the three project countries, and support development of partner-led / supported research and assessment. ▫ In coordination with partners, including the Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre, support the documentation of lessons learned and facilitation of cross-learning (e.g. organization of events or exchanges) to inform implementation and future scale-up. ▫ Support servicing of and coordination with the extreme heat risk governance Expert Group. ▫ Support UNDRR advocacy and communications efforts on extreme heat risk governance and investment, including supporting development of organizational communications/social media products, in collaboration with internal teams and external partners as required. ▫ Support UNDRR officers in preparation and delivery of advocacy and outreach events in collaboration with partners, including through background research, drafting materials, coordination support and event follow-up. ▫ As required, support preparation of project and resource mobilization documentation for Phase II and scale-up of programme activities.

Qualifications/special skills
Applicants must meet one of the following requirements: 1. be enrolled in, or have completed, a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher); 2. be enrolled in, or have completed, the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum Bachelor's degree or equivalent). In addition; - Ability to design surveys and polls is desirable. Applicants must be computer literate in standard software applications including MS Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint). - Ability to undertake desk-based research, analysis and develop accurate syntheses is desirable. - Applicants must have a demonstrated ability to successfully interact with individuals of different cultural backgrounds and beliefs, which include willingness to try and understand and be tolerant of differing opinions and views. 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. Do you meet any of the above criteria? If yes, please indicate which one and attach proof to the application. Please note that you will have to provide an official certificate at a later stage.

Languages
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Fluency in spoken and written English is required for the internship. Knowledge of an additional official UN language is desirable.

Additional Information
Due to the high volume of applications received, only successful candidates will be contacted. This internship is designed to be full-time and in-person. The modality can be handled flexibly on request of the successful candidate. Candidates considering in person modality are advised that Geneva is classified as a high-cost duty station and should ascertain that they meet all related living expenses independently

Intern Specific text
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/employment authorization. Successful candidates should discuss their specific visa requirements before accepting the internship offer.

No Fee
THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS' BANK ACCOUNTS