Junior professional associate/ intern - climate change coordination

Background

The Climate Change Coordinator is seeking an intern to help implement a rapidly-growing workload. The role will be very much of a flexible ‘all-rounder’ to help in preparing IUCN’s participation and involvement in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) process throughout 2009 and tasks will vary according to the evolving needs of IUCN’s policy work and delivery on climate change. Tasks will include, amongst others: following IUCN’s climate change policy work; support in event organization; communications tasks and website maintenance on IUCN’s climate work; support in producing climate change policy publications; supporting IUCN’s programmatic work on adaptation; logistical support; logistical assistance and support during the UNFCCC Conference of the Parties (COP 15) in Copenhagen.

The intern will report to the IUCN Climate Change Coordinator, but occasionally take direction also from other staff members, in particular the Climate Change Adaptation Officer.

This position is ideally suited to a young postgraduate, who seeks to gain further experience at the international level. The internship will be for 6 months with the possibility of a six-month extension. For additional information concerning conditions, please refer to the attached Guidelines covering the Internship Programme at IUCN Headquarters.

Climate change is one of the five thematic priority areas for IUCN’s 2009-2012 Programme. Under Thematic Progamme Area 2, “Changing the Climate Forecast”, IUCN is working to include biodiversity concerns in adaptation and mitigation policies and practice. IUCN is also furthering natural resource management strategies that help biodiversity and people adapt to the impacts of climate change. 2009 marks a crucial year for international climate change policy, culminating in the UNFCCC COP 15 in December, where it is hoped that a post 2012 climate change regime is agreed upon. The UNFCCC process and COP 15 is a priority for IUCN’s climate change work in 2009. IUCN is focusing its policy messages under the UNFCCC on nature-based solutions to adaptation and mitigation, namely: Ecosystem-based Adaptation and on Reduced Emissions for Deforestation and forest Degradation (REDD).

IUCN is working under a network approach and delivering its 2009-2012 Programme as one union, across its global thematic and regional programmes, Commissions and Members. This work is being coordinated by a Climate Change Coordinator and delivered through a series of implementation networks: on climate change policy, Ecosystem-based Adaptation and REDD. Given the importance of the UNFCCC process this year, we are looking to recruit a Junior Professional to support the work of the Climate Change Coordinator in coordinating the delivery of IUCN’s overall climate change policy work as one union for the UNFCCC process in 2009.

1. Introduction
Interns are normally post-graduate students or holders of a first university degree who intend to study further or to make a career within a field related to IUCN's activities. IUCN endeavours to recruit interns on the widest possible geographical basis. Well planned internships prove valuable to both the intern and the recipient IUCN unit. As a result the use of interns is encouraged by IUCN as a capacity-building exercise for the future.

2. Conditions
Family relationship. A relative of an IUCN staff member may be accepted as an intern provided he/she is in no way under the line management of the staff member.

Duration. Twelve months with the possibility of a six-month renewal.

Language requirements. Fluency in at least one of the three working languages of IUCN is desirable i.e. English or French or Spanish.

Medical and health requirements. IUCN does not accept any liability for acts of third parties, accident, sickness or losses of any kind, however caused, arising in the course of or from the performance of the internship. Interns at HQ who are not nationals of Switzerland are obliged to be insured with the IUCN group medical scheme at their own cost (see also below: Stipend/subsistence allowance). They are also covered, at IUCN’s cost, for professional and non-professional accidents.

3. Administration
Position description. A position description outlining objectives and expected outputs will be attached to the internship contract.

Visa arrangements. Interns at HQ who are not nationals of Switzerland or holders of a “C” permit require work permit authorization and in some cases an entry visa for Switzerland. The Human Resources Management Group (HRMG) processes the permit application and informs the intern when he/she may enter Switzerland to take up the internship.

Living accommodation. Every effort will be made by HRMG and the host department to assist in finding suitable accommodation, if needed, for the internship period.

Stipend/subsistence allowance. The maximum stipend for internships at HQ is CHF3’300 gross per month, from which approximately 18% is deducted for statutory Swiss social security and unemployment schemes and for pension and internal tax. In addition, the intern receives CHF270 gross per month as a contribution towards his/her premium for medical insurance coverage.

If furnished accommodation is provided to the intern by IUCN, the stipend is decreased accordingly.

IUCN may contribute to the cost of air and/or ground travel from the place of residence to Switzerland (up to 75% of the lowest practicable air fare).

Due to the cost of accommodation, level of stipend, health insurance and residency conditions, candidates should be aware that it is not possible to bring members of their family to live with them during their internship.

Working hours. The intern carries out his/her assignment according to the schedule of working hours agreed with his/her line manager (not to exceed normal working hours except by mutual agreement). Normal working hours at HQ are 40 per week.

Leave. 25 days per year are granted. Timing of leave is agreed between the intern and his/her line manager.

Absence. An intern must submit to his/her line manager written notice in case of illness or any other circumstance that might prevent him/her from maintaining his/her agreed schedule of working hours.

Conduct and confidentiality. Interns are required to conduct themselves at all times in a manner that is compatible with their responsibilities as IUCN interns and in accordance with the standards of conduct expected by IUCN. Interns are required to keep confidential any and all unpublished information acquired during the course of their internships and may not publish any reports or papers on the basis of information obtained, unless authorized to do so by IUCN.

4. Special Conditions
- Interns must abide by the rules and regulations of IUCN.
- Interns are not authorized to speak or write on behalf of IUCN without prior consent of the managing officer of the receiving unit.
- They may neither make any claim against IUCN for sickness and accident nor claim any compensation.
- Interns may not commit any resources of IUCN.
- Interns may not misuse IUCN's position for personal advantage.

Interns should ideally submit an internship evaluation report to the line manager concerned at the end of the internship. Upon completion of an assignment, the line manager should provide HRMG with a brief performance appraisal. On successful completion of the assignment, the intern will be given an attestation of completion of assignment by the line manager.

Specifc duties and responsibilities
1. Following IUCN’s climate change policy work, the UNFCCC process and participating in regular internal meetings.

2. Contributing to the production of communications material on climate change and maintaining IUCN’s climate change website, in collaboration with IUCN’s Communications Team.

3. Supporting engagement of IUCN’s Members working on climate change, in collaboration with IUCN’s Constituency Support Group.

4. Supporting the preparation of side events and members' events for UNFCCC Climate Change Talks, in collaboration with IUCN’s Thematic Programmes and Constituency Support Group.

5. Logistical support, incl.: travel reservations, events logistics, overseeing agendas, producing materials etc.

6. Participating on IUCN’s delegation to UNFCCC COP 15.

7. During COP 15: logistical assistance and support to IUCN’s delegation, including oversight of IUCN’s booth.

8. Supporting IUCN’s programmatic work on ecosystem management and climate change adaptation.

9. Other tasks set by the Climate Change Coordinator.

Requirements
- At least a first degree in an environmental/political science.
- At least two years of work experience in a relevant field/organisation.
- Excellent editing and writing skills in English.
- Flexibility to cope with changing priorities and tasks.
- Happy working both independently and as part of a team.
- Proven ability to take initiative and think ahead.
- Sensitive to working with people from a variety of cultures and backgrounds.
- Proficient in the use of standard Microsoft Office computer programmes.
- Experience in website management considered a significant advantage.
- Fluency in French and/or Spanish desirable.