The UNDP Policy Specialist Internship – Climate and Security Risk in New York will be tasked with a range of critical duties including policy and programming development to address the intersection of climate change and security risks. They will spearhead partnerships with diverse stakeholders spanning governments, NGOs, and academic institutions to foster collaborative efforts in tackling these complex challenges. Additionally, the specialist will lead initiatives to mobilize resources and funding essential for implementing effective strategies and projects. Furthermore, they will drive communications and advocacy efforts to raise awareness, promote understanding, and garner support for addressing climate-related security risks on both local and global scales.

Duties and Responsibilities

Policy and programming:

• Supports the implementation of the UNDP’s offer on climate, environment, peace and security with other teams in the GPN
• Supports UNDP’s work under the joint DPPA-UNDP-UNEP-DPO project, “Strengthening the UN’s capacity to address climate-related security risks”
• Backstops climate security regional programmes/ initiatives, project management and operations
• Monitors overall implementation based on programmatic indicators, as well as on corporate reporting and evaluation requirements.

Partnerships:

• Develops and maintains partnerships, and provides support on climate, environment, peace and security with Member States, international and regional organizations, Special Political Missions and Peacekeeping Operations, the research community and civil society in support of UNDP’s climate security initiatives in the region.
• Maintains close contact with relevant UN focal points working on climate security in the region.
• Participates in conferences, seminars and academic fora related to his/her assigned area of expertise.
• Performs other related duties as required.

Resources and funds mobilization:

• Analyzes trends and identifies opportunities for resource mobilization, conducts donor mapping and contributes to resource mobilization strategies and ensures alignment with corporate and regional goals
• Ensures compliance with partner’s requirements, including monitoring, narrative and financial reporting, and evaluation.
• Prepares presentations, updates and project briefs for as per donor’s requirements

Communications and advocacy:

• Supports UNDP’s climate-security communications and advocacy efforts.
• Supports UNDP knowledge generation, lessons, innovations, policy developments, programmatic offers and practice experiences on climate security in the region.
• Drafts notes, background papers, talking points, speeches and other correspondence for senior UN officials.

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