Work LocationNairobi Expected duration6 months Duties and ResponsibilitiesThe United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment. Its mandate is to coordinate the development of environmental policy consensus by keeping the global environment under review and bringing emerging issues to the attention of governments and the international community for action. UN Environment 's Ecosystems Division works with international and national partners, providing technical assistance and capacity development for the implementation of environmental policy, and strengthening the environmental management capacity of developing countries and countries with economies in transition. This internship offer is within in UNEP/ Ecosystems Division / Regional Seas Programme / Coordinating Body on the Seas of East Asia (COBSEA) in Nairobi (Kenya). UNEP launched the Regional Seas Programme in 1974. Today, more than 146 countries have joined 18 Regional Seas Conventions and Action Plans for the sustainable management and use of the marine and coastal environment, and the Regional Seas play a crucial role in supporting countries with the implementation and monitoring of the ocean-related Sustainable Development Goals and associated targets. The Coordinating Body on the Seas of East Asia (COBSEA) is the lead agency of the United Nations for marine environmental matters in the East Asian Seas, coordinating and facilitating implementation of the Action Plan for the Protection and Development of the Marine Environment and Coastal Areas of the East Asian Seas Region (the East Asian Seas Action Plan). COBSEA is administered by the Regional Seas Branch, UNEP’s Ecosystems Division. The Secretariat is hosted by Thailand, located at UNEP’s Asia and the Pacific Office in Bangkok, whereas the UNEP Regional Seas Branch is located in Nairobi. COBSEA’s new Strategic Directions 2023-2027 was adopted by silence procedure on 28 December 2023. The new Strategic Directions focuses on three thematic programmes in addressing the triple planetary crises: Marine Pollution Prevention; Marine and Coastal Biodiversity, Ecosystem Conservation and Management; and Climate Action. It includes two cross cutting components: Knowledge Management and Capacity Building; and Communications and Outreach. Foundational elements are: Governance; Institutional Structure and Regional Mechanism; Financial Sustainability and Resource Mobilization; Partnership Development; Monitoring and Evaluation. The internship is for a duration of six (6) months. The internship is UNPAID and full-time. Interns work five days per week (35-40 hours) under the supervision of a staff member in the department or office to which they are assigned. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: Under the direct supervision of the COBSEA Coordinator, the intern will work on the implementation of activities related to supporting Regional Seas activities in East Asia: • Preparations for the COBSEA side event during the ‘10th Our Ocean Conference’ in Busan, RoK in April 2025, and other meetings • Supporting preparations for the first Task Force meeting for strengthening of COBSEA in preparation for IGM27 • Supporting the Working Group on Marine Litter and the Working Group on Marine and Coastal Ecosystems, as well as relevant regional/international events • Support the development of new proposals under COBSEA’s Strategic Directions 2023-2027 • Coordination of COBSEA’s communication efforts, which includes public outreach and social media strategies, generating content for use on the website, in newsletters, outreach materials, presentations etc. Qualifications/special skillsApplicants must, at the time of application, meet one of the following requirements: • Be enrolled in a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher); Enrollment in a graduation programme focused on natural science, social sciences, sustainable development, communication, or economic discipline OR • Be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree program (minimum Bachelor's level or equivalent) OR • Have graduated with a university degree and, if selected, must commence the internship within a one-year period of graduation. 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. LanguagesEnglish and French are the official working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the internship, fluency in oral and written English is required. 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.