The primary objective of BIOFIN Phase I was to develop and pilot a new methodological framework – the BIOFIN Workbook – to help countries mobilise sufficient resources to implement their national biodiversity policies. The fully updated Methodology released in 2018 (in English, Spanish, Russian and French) integrates lessons learned from implementation, and highlights practical examples.

For the second phase, BIOFIN follows a two-pronged strategy. Firstly, it strives to generate high levels of awareness and technical capacity about the wider range of possible finance solutions that are available to countries and locales. This is complemented by developing supporting guidance and knowledge products for those areas where limited resources are available. Second, it actively supports the implementation of finance plans and solutions on the ground, working to develop feasibility studies, design new policies, enable the required capacity development, support advocacy of prioritised finance solutions, and implement through piloting and scaling. For more information see BIOFIN website – www.biofin.org.

Duties and Responsibilities

The intern would be an integrated member of the BIOFIN global team. The main responsibility of the intern will be to support the global team in their technical, management, and communication activities, through the following tasks:

• Research, collect, analyze, and present the work BIOFIN has been doing in its 41+ core countries.
• Review international best practices to identify case studies of nature-based finance solutions that can serve as examples for BIOFIN work.
• Assist the BIOFIN finance sources database with new entries and develop guidance materials on financing solutions for BIOFIN teams in different countries.
• Contribute developing knowledge products on cross country analysis, financing solutions for biodiversity conservation.
• Synthesize and summarize research outcomes and lessons learned into formats tailored to BIOFIN thematic activities.
• Support the organization of events, webinars, meetings, regional calls; assist maintaining the documentation of meetings.
• Assist in boosting BIOFIN presence in social media; provide assistance as required in the maintenance of the BIOFIN media accounts including Website, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn etc.
• Support developing BIOFIN knowledge products (e.g., blogs, articles etc).
• Monitor, analyze, and synthesize the developments, press clippings, and reports of BIOFIN, and maintain a database of BIOFIN news coverage and update it regularly.
• Attend meetings when required and take meeting minutes.
• Participate in regular interns’ meetings and report to supervisor.
• Support other/ad hoc activities as seen relevant and needed.

Competencies

• Demonstrates intellectual curiosity and deep desire to learn about biodiversity finance activities.
• Demonstrates excellent research skills, verbal and written communication, organizational skills.
• Desire to work with and gain the confidence and respect of people with different languages, national and cultural backgrounds.
• Be a well-organized individual with the ability to multi-task.
• Be a team player with ability to work productively and effectively with others.
• Respect for the principles of the United Nations Charter and the UNDP Statement of Purpose.
• Ability to work independently when needed and ready to take responsibility for deliverables.

Required Skills and Experience

Education

Applicants to the UNDP internship programme must at the time of application meet one of the following requirements:

• Be enrolled in a postgraduate degree programme (such as a master’s programme, or higher);
• Be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree programme (such as bachelor’s degree or equivalent);
• Have recently graduated with a university degree (as defined in (a) and (b) above) and, if selected, must start the internship within one-year of graduation;
• Be enrolled in a postgraduate professional traineeship program and undertake the internship as part of this program.

Experience

• Previous related work experience in a national or an international entity would be an asset.
• Experience in related finance area is an asset.
• Experience in biodiversity, conservation, ecosystems, environment related area is an asset.
• Experience in communication related activities; familiarity with social media platforms or digital media channels is an asset.

Language Skills

• Proficiency in written and spoken English is required.
• Fluency and/or knowledge in an additional UN language is an asset.

Learning

• The intern will develop a good overview of global biodiversity financing practices and a basic understanding of UNDP project management concepts.
• Enhance a portfolio of skills both operational and managerial (organization, coordination, analysis, and independent thinking).
• Expose in the multi-cultural working environment with different stakeholders, peers, actors in biodiversity finance.