Communications and Research Intern, Plastic Pollution (Home-based)

Background

Plastics play a crucial role in modern society due to their versatility, durability, affordability, and lightweight nature. These qualities make them essential in various sectors, including packaging, healthcare, construction, electronics, and automotive manufacturing. However, unsustainable production practices and inadequate waste management and disposal have led to widespread plastic pollution.
Plastic pollution drives nature loss, destroys important ecosystems, fuels the climate crisis, and harms human health. At its core, plastic pollution threatens sustainable development. To address this urgent crisis and work towards turning off the tap of plastic pollution, UNDP has developed a Global Plastics Offer with a focus on:

•    Policy and regulation: supporting governments in developing and implementing policy instruments including Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), single-use plastics regulation, and more.
•    Innovation and technology: incentivizing and scaling up innovative solutions, including sustainable business models, alternative delivery systems and ecological alternatives in key sectors such as packaging and tourism.
•    Waste management: supporting municipal governments in eliminating plastic waste leakage and improving waste management systems, including through improving business operations and working with the informal sector.
•    Capacity development and knowledge management: building capacities, boosting behavior change, and establishing knowledge networks to help governments in their journey towards ending plastic pollution.

Within UNDP’s Bureau for Policy and Programming Support (BPPS), the Chemicals and Waste Hub is responsible for providing policy and technical support, as well as designing, implementing, and overseeing projects addressing the sound management of chemicals and waste to reduce the risk of exposure to hazardous chemicals and protect human health and the environment.
UNDP features the UN’s largest portfolio of in-country programming on environment, climate change, and energy – with a significant portfolio relevant to plastics and solid waste management. The Chemicals and Waste Hub supports 85 countries in meeting their obligations under the Montreal Protocol, Stockholm Convention, Minamata Convention, the Global Framework on Chemicals (GFC) and many more through projects funded by the Global Environment Facility and bilateral donors. The C&W Hub is seeking a Communications and Research Intern to support the team’s work related to plastic pollution.
Scope of Work:

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the overall guidance of the Global Lead for UNDP’s Global Plastics Offer and the direct supervision of the team’s Policy and Technical Specialists, the intern will help to:
Research and Analysis (40%)

•    Conduct literature review on plastic applications and lifecycle management, and emerging innovations and scenario-based solutions to reduce plastic pollutions;
•    Conduct evidence reviews on regulatory policies, market-based instruments, voluntary and informational strategies applied towards addressing plastic pollution;
•    Support reviewing the active plastics and waste portfolio and identify compelling country-level projects;
•    Research and identify good practices to showcase in knowledge products, including digital and AI tools.
•    Research on strategies and actions on reducing plastic pollution by multinationals.

Communication and Knowledge Management (40%)

•    Contribute to the team’s communications and advocacy strategy;
•    Draft compelling communications and knowledge products, including blogs/stories, brochures, newsletters, social media assets and PowerPoint presentations; 
•    Identify thought leaders in youth and influencers across different thematic areas;
•    Compile the latest research and draft thematic overviews;
•    Support knowledge exchange through different formats (i.e. webinar series, expert consultations, event briefs).

Administrative (20%)

•    Support the preparation of team meetings and brainstorming sessions;
•    Assist in maintaining and updating team calendars and distribution lists;
•    Provide administrative and logistical support for organizing workshops, conferences, and other events.

Institutional Arrangements:

•    The intern will be home-based;
•    The intern will report to and be directly supervised by a Technical and Policy Specialist, under the overall guidance of the Global Lead, UNDP Global Plastics Offer.
 

Competencies 

To be considered for the position, individuals should:

•    Be able to understand complex ideas and translate them into simple language that anyone can understand;
•    Be passionate about the environment and tackling plastic pollution;
•    Good in organizing and structuring various tasks and responsibilities;
•    Be curious, take initiative and approach new tasks with a can-do attitude;
•    Enjoy learning new skills and solving problems;
•    Be reliable and work in an organized manner;
•    Enjoy working in a team.

It is an advantage for applicants to have experience in:

•    Conducting plastics and/or waste research (quantitative and/or qualitative);
•    Working on plastics pollution and/or waste management issues;
•    Producing communications and knowledge products;
•    Creating visual assets such as videos or graphics. 

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

•    Field of study: communication, journalism, marketing, environmental sciences, natural resources management, sustainability management, environment and development, development studies, or related.
•    Candidates must meet one of the following educational requirements:
•    Currently enrolled in a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher) or;
•    Currently enrolled in a final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum Bachelor's level or equivalent) or;
•    Graduated with a university degree - and if selected, must start the internship within one year after graduation.

Skills:

•    Excellent English oral and written communication skills;
•    Strong research and analytical skills;
•    Knowledge and proficient user of Microsoft Office productivity tools;
•    Knowledge and experience using graphic design or video editing tools such as Canva, Adobe Photoshop, Premiere Pro, or any data visualization tools.
 

Please provide the following documents to be considered:

•    CV;
•    Motivational letter detailing why you would like to take this internship and why you are interested in working on plastic pollution and with UNDP;
•    If available, please submit samples showcasing communications or knowledge products you have worked on (reports, research articles, blogs, videos, graphics, social media posts, etc.). 
•    Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an interview.
 

Internship conditions

•    UNDP does not pay interns for the internship but provides a monthly stipend in accordance with the provisions of the UNDP internship policy; all other expenses connected with it will be borne by the intern or the sponsoring Government or institution.
•    UNDP accepts no responsibility for costs arising from accidents and/or illness or death incurred during the internship;
•    Interns are responsible for obtaining necessary visas and arranging travel to and from the duty station where the internship will be performed;
•    Interns are not eligible to apply for, or be appointed to, any post in UNDP during the period of the internship;
•    Interns must provide proof of enrolment in health insurance plan;
•    Interns are not staff members and may not represent UNDP in any official capacity;
•    Interns are expected to work full time, but flexibility is allowed for education programmes;
•    Interns need to obtain financing for subsistence and make their own arrangements for internship, travel, VISA, accommodation,