Climate Change Intern – Urban Lab Mesoamerica Hub

Work LocationRemote/Hybrid/ Expected duration6 months Duties and ResponsibilitiesOrg. Setting and Reporting The United Nations Human Settlements Programme, UN-Habitat, is mandated by the UN General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities with the goal of providing adequate shelter for all. The main documents outlining the mandate of the organization are the Vancouver Declaration on Human Settlements, the Habitat Agenda, the Istanbul Declaration on Human Settlements, the Declaration on Cities and Other Human Settlements in the New Millennium, and UN General Assembly Resolution A/56/206. The Urban Practices Branch (UPB) is the thematic department at UN-Habitat with a mandate to support national and local government in urban planning, design and management related areas of work, such as national urban policies, metropolitan planning, strategic and detailed planning, urban-rural linkages, urban regeneration, public space, urban planning and innovation and urban planning and climate change. The Planning, Finance and Economy Section (PFES) is responsible for coordinating the Agency’s substantive, normative and operational work on various dimensions of planning, finance and economy. The Section aims to develop, document, pilot/test and disseminate planning policies, norms, standards, tools, methodologies, regulatory frameworks, operating procedures and practices at global, regional, national and sub-national levels in support of (a) urban and territorial planning at all scales including urban design and public space design; (b) urban finance (municipal finance and urban development/projects finance); and (c) local economic development. Urban Lab Mesoamerica Hub The Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean – ROLAC is located in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. UN-Habitat Mesoamerica Hub office leads the operational work of UN-Habitat in Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean. Additionally, the UN-Habitat Urban Lab Mesoamerica Hub, part of the Mesoamerica Hub office, collaborates with governments and local partners to develop project proposals in territorial and urban planning, finance, innovation and its links with climate change and urban resilience. Flagship Programme Inclusive Communities, Thriving Cities The Flagship Programme supports the implementation of the UN-Habitat Strategic Plan by reducing fragmentation of the agency work and increasing predictability of funding, establishing long-term partnerships, strengthening visibility, and enhancing horizontal and vertical integration of the dimensions of work. The Flagship Programme Inclusive Communities, Thriving Cities aims to promote urban regeneration, transforming socially, economically, and environmentally deprived areas and strategic locations of the city into connected, dynamic, diverse, and vibrant neighbourhoods. Our City Plans Initiative Our City Plans is a global toolbox that guides and supports local governments and urban actors to better understand, customise, and develop inclusive and integrated urban planning processes, using a participatory and incremental methodology that adapts to their needs and local context. Responsibilities Under the overall supervision of the Urban Lab Mesoamerica Hub Coordinator and the Planning Finance Economy Section, the intern will be responsible for the following duties: - Provide technical expertise and input related to climate change, including for the development of climate vulnerability assessments and the analysis of green and blue infrastructure. - Support the development of analysis, collection, interpretation and representation of climate and environmental data and spatial analysis. - Support producing desk and field research on topics related to climate adaptation and mitigation, nature-based solutions, sustainable housing, energy efficiency, circular economy, and urban planning. - Support work on climate resilience under the Flagship Programme Inclusive Communities, Thriving Cities and the integration of climate action components into the Our City Plans toolbox. - Support elaborating project proposals on climate adaptation and mitigation, for vertical climate funds in particular. - Contribute to the preparation and implementation of participatory processes in the scope of urban planning and climate change (e.g., workshops, trainings and presentations). - Support normative work and drafting of reports, including the development of climate-related plans, solutions, strategies, recommendations, actions and projects to support UN-Habitat interventions at national and local level, in alignment with international frameworks, such as the Paris Agreement, the New Urban Agenda and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction. Due to a high volume of applications received, ONLY successful candidates will be contacted Qualifications/special skillsApplicants 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 Bachelor's degree, Masters, PhD or equivalent. Be computer literate in standard software applications (Microsoft Office Suite). Have demonstrated a keen interest in the work of the United Nations and have 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 a willingness to try and understand and be tolerant of differing opinions and views. Preferred areas of study: Studies in Geography, Environmental Studies, Environmental Engineering, Climate Change Sciences, Sustainable Development, Urban Planning, or 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. 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. Studies in Geography, Environmental Studies, Environmental Engineering, Climate Change Sciences, Sustainable Development, Urban Planning, or related field. LanguagesEnglish and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this internship position, fluency in oral and written English and Spanish is required. Knowledge of French is desirable. Additional InformationNot available. Intern Specific textInterns 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 FeeTHE 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.