About  Internship

Purpose

The purpose of the programme is:

  • to provide current students and young professionals with important practical experience which complements their field of study and at the same time will be of benefit to UNEP/GRID-Europe's work;
  • to promote among the students a better understanding of major global environmental problems confronting the world and to give them an insight into how UNEP attempts to find solutions to these problems, and;
  • to expose the students to UNEP and its policies and programmes and have them become ambassadors of good will.

Location of Internship Assignment

Internship assignments take place at the UNEP/GRID-Europe Office in Geneva, Switzerland.

Language Requirements

UNEP/GRID-Europe has two working languages, English and French. Intern candidates should have fluency in at least one of the two working languages.

Medical and Health

UNEP/GRID-Europe accepts no responsibility for costs arising from accidents and/or illness incurred during an internship.
The intern will be asked to sign a waiver indicating that he/she will bear all costs arising from accident and/or illness incurred during the internship.

Selection Procedure

  1. UNEP/GRID-Europe will try to identify a unit which is appopriate to the applicant's expertise and substantive office's need by circulating the application to the appropriate units for evaluation and response.
  2. Acceptance of interns is subject to confirmation by a professional staff member desiring to have an intern for the specific period and the availability of office space.
  3. A superviser will be selected to be responsible for the intern and will prepare the Terms of Reference for the internship.

Conditions of Internship

Interns receive no remuneration. Costs of travel and accomodation, living expenses included, are the responsibility of interns or their sponsoring institutions.
Interns are solely responsible for obtaining the necessary visas and arranging their travel to their duty station.

Commencement

Interns can begin their internship only after they have agreed to the terms of reference and the conditions of the Internship Programme. Internships are typically of a three month duration but may exceptionally be extended for a six month period.

Certificate of Attendance

Upon completion of the Internship Programme, the candidate will be awarded a certificate of attendance.

Please read the following information regarding the UNEP/GRID-Europe internship programme

  • Eligibility Criteria for an Internship
  • Conditions Governing the Internship Programme
  • Internship Endorsement

Minimum Eligibility Criteria for an Internship

Please note the following minimum eligibility criteria for an Internship at UNEP/DEWA/GRID-Europe.
The Applicant MUST:

  1. Be currently enrolled in a third or fourth year of under-graduate (BA/BSc) or in a graduate (Masters) or post-graduate (PhD) programme. Application from professional in national agencies are also welcome. (NB: applicants pursuing their studies in countries where higher education is not divided into undergraduate and graduate stages should have completed at least three years of university studies)
  2. Submit an endorsement from the Nominating/Sponsoring Institution.
    (see application form)
  3. Be willing to intern on a full-time basis spending five days a week usually for a period of not less than THREE MONTHS and not exceeding SIX MONTHS.

CONDITIONS GOVERNING THE INTERNSHIP PROGRAMME AT UNEP/GRID-Europe

Once confirmed as an intern by the UNEP/GRID-Europe, I accept the internship and I am aware of the following:

  • that my internship will not be remunerated by the UNEP/GRID-Europe and that all the expenses connected with it must be borne by me or my sponsoring institution or government;
  • that there is no expectancy of employment at the end of my internship;
  • that UNEP/GRID-Europe accepts no responsibility for accidents and/or illness incurred during my stay;
  • that the UNEP/GRID-Europe does not deal with immigration authorities in Switzerland and, therefore, I am responsible for obtaining any necessary visas on my own.

    • I am prepared to undertake the following obligations:

  • to conduct myself at all times in a manner compatible with my responsibilities as a holder of a UNEP/GRID-Europe internship programme, and will not engage in any activity that is incompatible with the discharge of my duties with the organization;
  • to exercise the utmost discretion in all matters of official business of the organization;
  • will not communicate at any time to any other person or authority external to UNEP/GRID-Europe any information known to me by reason of my internship attachment with UNEP/GRID-Europe which has not been made public, except in the course of my duties or by authorization of UNEP/GRID-Europe; nor shall I at any time use such information to private advantage;
  • to keep confidential any and all unpublished information made known to me by the accepting office in the course of my internship and not to publish any reports or papers on the basis of information obtained during the length of my programme, except upon the authorization of UNEP/GRID-Europe.
  • to extend all property rights, including but not limited to patents, copyrights and trademarks, with regard to material which bears a direct relation to, or is made in consequence of, the services provided to the organization by me;
  • to assist the organization in securing such property and transferring them to the organization in compliance with the requirements of the applicable law;
  • to arrange for my own transport to and from UNEP/GRID-Europe;
  • to provide a written notice in case of illness or other unavoidable circumstances which might prevent me from fulfilling my obligations;
  • to prepare an internship report and to submit it to the UNEP/GRID-Europe Regional Coordinator at the end of the assignment.

    • I hereby confirm that if I am accepted for the Internship Programme, I agree with the terms and conditions stated above.

    N.B. You may be requested to supply documentary evidence which supports the statements you have made above. Do not, however, send any document or evidence until you have been asked to do so by the Organization and, in any event, do not submit the original text of references or testimonials unless they have been obtained for the sole use of the Organization. Applications will not, as a general rule, be valid or be retained by the United Nations for more than six months from date of receipt.

ENDORSEMENT

TO BE COMPLETED BY NOMINATING/SPONSORING INSTITUTION.

Please send a letter of Endorsement from your educational institution, attesting to the fact that you are currently a registered student.
A letter from any one of the following personnel is suggested.

  • Dean of Students
  • Registrar
  • Head of Placement/Internship programme

Please ensure that an official letterhead or an official seal is used for the endorsement letter.This endorsement should be attached to the application.


APPLICATION INFORMATION

If, after reading the eligibility requirements above, you qualify and can commit to honouring the guidelines, please fill the four following documents...:

- internship procedure
- internship progamme application
- UNEP intern Application Form 25
- UNEP internship agreement

...and contact the office below:

Regional Coordinator
UNEP/DEWA/GRID-Europe
International Environment House
11 Chemin des Anémones
1219 Châtelaine
Switzerland
Tel: (41 22) 917-8294/95
Fax: (41 22) 917-8029
linda.duquesnoy@grid.unep.ch