Programme Support - Traditional knowledge

Work Location

Montreal

Expected duration

Six (6) months

Duties and Responsibilities

The 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. At the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, world leaders agreed on a comprehensive strategy for 'sustainable development'. One of the key agreements adopted at Rio was the Convention on Biological Diversity. The Convention establishes three main goals: the conservation of biological diversity, the sustainable use of its components, and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits from the use of genetic resources. The Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (SCBD) is located in Montreal and is administered by UNEP. The intern will be directly supervised by Mr. Q”apaj Conde, Associate Programme Officer, Peoples and Biodiversity Unit, and under the overall supervision of Mr. Olivier Rukundo, Head of Unit. Responsibilities In Articles 8(j) and related provisions of the Convention on Biological Diversity, the international community acknowledged the importance of indigenous peoples and local communities, particularly their knowledge, innovations and practices for biodiversity conservation and sustainable use. This set of provisions of the Convention serve as main entry points for indigenous peoples and local communities as partners in pursuing the 2050 Vision: living in harmony with nature. The main instrument for the implementation of the commitments related to traditional knowledge is the Programme of Work on Article 8(j) and other provisions to the Convention related to indigenous peoples and local communities. At its sixteenth meeting, the Conference of Parties (COP) adopted a new Programme of Work as well as other decisions to advance the agenda on Article 8 (j) and other provisions of the Convention, marking a significant step forward in strengthening the role of indigenous peoples and local communities under the Convention on Biological Diversity. One of the key decisions was in relation to agreeing on institutional arrangements for the full and effective participation of indigenous peoples and local communities in the work undertaken under the Convention. More specifically COP16 decided to establish a permanent Subsidiary Body on Article 8j and other Provisions of the Convention (SB8J). This new Subsidiary Body will replace the Ad Hoc Open-ended Intersessional Working Group on Article 8(j), providing a permanent institutional dedicated to traditional knowledge, innovations and practices of indigenous peoples and local communities. Under the direct supervision of the Associated Programme Officer, the intern will provide support in: • Conduct science-based research, writing and analysis, as needed, to develop substantive materials and support the work related to traditional knowledge in the lead up to COP17; • Support the drafting of materials to support the Nature and Culture Summit and activities related to traditional knowledge, in the context of events planned for COP17; • Support the organization of regional workshops and informal consultations, including content and logistics support; • Provide assistance in the implementation of projects and activities related to the Programme of Work on Article 8(j) and other provisions and the Joint Programme of Work on the linkages between biological and cultural diversity; • Support the organization, logistic and coordination of meetings, including online meetings/webinars; • Identify opportunities for synergies with other relevant international and regional frameworks and mechanisms for indigenous peoples and local communities on issues related to the achieving a human rights based approach to the implementation of the KMGBF; • related tasks as assigned.

Qualifications/special skills

Applicants to the United Nations internship programme must at the time of application meet one of the following requirements: (a) Be enrolled in, or have completed, a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher); or, (b) Be enrolled in, or have completed, the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum bachelor 's level or equivalent) (c) Have graduated with a university degree. Be computer literate in standard software applications. Have demonstrated keen interest in the work of the United Nations and have a personal commitment to the ideals of the Charter. Have a demonstrated ability to successfully interact with individuals of different cultural backgrounds and beliefs, which include willingness to try and understand and be tolerant of differing opinions and views. 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. Please explain how your field of study relates to this job opening. 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. Please tell us what experience you have with indigenous studies or issues related to indigenous peoples and local communities. Please tell us what writing experience you have including legal documents and issues related to indigenous peoples and local communities.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this internship, fluency in oral and written English is required. Knowledge of French and Spanish is desirable. NOTE: "Fluency equals a rating of "fluent" in all four areas (read, write, speak, understand) and "Knowledge of" equals a rating of "confident" in two of the four areas.

Additional Information

Not available.

Intern Specific text

Interns 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 Fee

THE 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.