Organization: UNDP – United Nations Development Programme
Location: Remote | Istanbul
Grade: Internship – Internship
Occupational Groups:
Environment
Biology and Chemistry
Agriculture and Forestry
Animal Health and Veterinary
Natural Resource Management
Closing Date: 2025-01-16

Description:

In order to measure current biodiversity expenditure levels, estimate future financial needs, and create comprehensive plans to use finance tools and solutions that increase financing, effectiveness, and efficiency of biodiversity management in up to 132 countries, the Biodiversity Finance Initiative, or BIOFIN, is a global program that has developed, piloted, and is continuously improving a methodology. The first phase of BIOFIN (2012–2018) allowed for thorough evaluations and the preliminary application of financial plan components in target nations. To overcome the biodiversity financing dilemma, all nations must significantly scale up their financial solutions. Up to 132 nations can finish designing and implementing priority financing solutions thanks to BIOFIN’s second phase, which also permits an additional 11 countries to conduct evaluations and develop financial plans.At the central level, more advice will be created for the most valued financial solutions, and knowledge management systems will be increased.

Creating and testing a new methodological framework, the BIOFIN Workbook, to assist nations in raising enough funds to carry out their national biodiversity policies was the main goal of BIOFIN Phase I. Lessons learnt from implementation are included into the completely revised Methodology, which was published in 2018 (in English, Spanish, Russian, and French) and includes real-world examples. BIOFIN has a two-pronged method for the second phase. First and foremost, it aims to raise technical proficiency and understanding of the greater variety of potential financial options that nations and regions can choose from. Complementing this is the creation of knowledge goods and accompanying counsel for those fields with scarce resources. SecondlyIt works to create feasibility studies, create new policies, facilitate the necessary capacity building, support the advocacy of finance solutions that are prioritized, and implement via piloting and scaling in order to actively assist the execution of finance plans and solutions on the ground. Visit the BIOFIN website at www.biofin.org for further details. The BES-NET A capacity-sharing “network of networks,” the Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Network (BES-Net) is run by UNESCO, UNEP’s World Conservation Monitoring Centre, and UNDP in collaboration with financial assistance from SwedBio at the Stockholm Resilience Centre and the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, and Nuclear Safety. Supporting the Intergovernmental Platform for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services’ (IPBES) efforts to increase capacity,Through the use of the Trialogue methodology, BES-Net: · fosters communication between the science, policy, and practice sectors regarding the most recent IPBES assessment themes in order to facilitate more coordinated and evidence-based BES management; · assists in the development of capacity in specific countries to carry out the national ecosystem assessment (NEA), completing the global assessment that IPBES is undertaking; · offers the target countries a catalytic seed fund for the adoption of the key findings and recommendations of the IPBES assessments/NEAs in the policy, science, and practice sectors; · strengthens the global BES network by creating a comprehensive database of organizations and experts working on various IPBES assessment theme areas and disse updates on the web portal and social media platforms.

Responsibilities

BIOFIN

• Research, collect, analyze, and present the work BIOFIN has been doing in its 41+ core countries;
• Review international best practices to identify case studies of nature-based finance solutions that can serve as examples for BIOFIN work;
• Assist the BIOFIN finance sources database with new entries and develop guidance materials on financing solutions for BIOFIN teams in different countries;
• Contribute developing knowledge products on cross country analysis, financing solutions for biodiversity conservation;
• Synthesize and summarize research outcomes and lessons learned into formats tailored to BIOFIN thematic activities;
• Support the organization of events, webinars, meetings, regional calls; assist maintaining the documentation of meetings;
• Assist in boosting BIOFIN presence in social media; provide assistance as required in the maintenance of the BIOFIN media accounts including Website, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn etc.
• Support developing BIOFIN knowledge products (e.g.: blogs, articles etc.);
• Monitor, analyze, and synthesize the developments, press clippings and reports of BIOFIN, and maintain a database of BIOFIN news coverage and update it regularly;
• Attend meetings when required and taking meeting minutes;
• Participate in regular interns’ meetings and report to supervisor;
• Support other/ad hoc activities as seen relevant and needed.

BES-Net

• Contribute to reviewing and editing web stories and other communication products and undertaking relevant research for the articles based on the progress of the activities in the BES-Net target countries (at least two stories/materials per assignment);
• Support the planning and the organization of virtual and in-person workshops, meetings, and events, including the documentation of events, as per BES-Net team’s request;
• Assist in developing monthly newsletters (i.e., BES-Net Monthly Blast) by compiling relevant content;
• Support the development of articles, including partner/expert series, in coordination with respective BES-Net partner organizations and experts;
• Provide project management assistance and support and review reports from the BES Solution Fund countries, as required; and
• Assist in identifying collaboration opportunities between BIOFIN and BES-Net in relevant country offices following BES-Net global team’s requests and liaising with the BIOFIN team on relevant issues.

• Demonstrates intellectual curiosity and deep desire to learn biodiversity finance activities;
• Demonstrates excellent research skills, verbal and written communication, organizational skills;
• Desire to work with and gain the confidence and respect of people with different language, national,
• and cultural backgrounds;
• Be a well-organized individual with the ability to multitask, including in online or hybrid setting;
• Be a team player with ability to work productively and effectively with others;
• Respect for the principles of the United Nations Charter and the UNDP Statement of Purpose.

Requirements: