Intern to support Implementation of the Ocean Decade
On 5 December 2017, the United Nations proclaimed the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, to be held from 2021 to 2030 (‘the Ocean Decade’). The Ocean Decade, which started on 1 January 2020, will provide a common framework to ensure that ocean science can fully support actions to sustainably manage the ocean and contribute to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Preparation of the Ocean Decade commenced in 2018 and has culminated in the preparation of an Implementation Plan that provides a framework for the roll-out of the Decade. The preparation phase of the Decade ended in December 2020, and the Ocean Decade started on 1 January 2021. The first set of endorsed Decade Actions have recently been identified and work will continue in coming months in the coordination of these Actions and the roll-out of stakeholder engagement mechanisms.
UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC), as the agency tasked with coordinating the preparation of the Ocean Decade, is now looking for an intern to support a variety of tasks related to the implementation of the Ocean Decade over the next three months.
2. Purpose of the Assignment
Under the direct supervision of the Programme Specialist of the Marine Policy and Regional Coordination Section, and the overall supervision of the Chief of Section for Marine Policy and Regional Coordination, the intern will support a variety of tasks including helping to coordinate analysis of the responses to the Call for Decade Actions, and providing data management for ongoing Decade Action review.
3. Duties/Tasks and Expected Output
With support of other members of the Ocean Decade team, the intern will be responsible for a variety of tasks including:
● Maintenance and further improvement of the database of Decade Actions, including updating of database following future Calls for Decade Actions
● Assistance in communication with proponents of Decade Actions including those already endorsed and applicants to future Calls for Decade Actions during the review process and following endorsement of Decade Actions
● Summarising Decade activity requests for review, notifying proponents and following up requests for reporting from proponents
● Monitoring and following-up due diligence processes for a range of Decade Action proponents
● Support to the organisation of online and in-person meetings and taking of meeting notes
● Management of the Ocean Decade calendar
● Management of Ocean Decade contact databases
● Other relevant tasks as discussed with the supervisor
4. Qualifications
The intern must currently be studying for an undergraduate or postgraduate degree in a relevant ocean science, ocean management or ocean policy discipline. He/she should be able to demonstrate the following skills:
● Excellent verbal and written communications skills
● Excellent organisational and analytical abilities and ability to be flexible in response to the needs of the team.
● Good knowledge of Excel, preferably for data management purposes, and ideally experience with CRM or grant management software (or willingness to become familiar with such software)
● Desk based research experience.
● An understanding of IOC-UNESCO and the UN system
● Ability to plan and independently execute work and respond effectively to changing priorities
● Native or native-like fluency in English or French, with strong working knowledge of the other language
● Very good interpersonal skills and ability to maintain effective working relations within a multi-cultural environment
5. Supervisory arrangements
The intern will be supervised by the Programme Specialist of the Marine Policy and Regional Coordination Section, and will be under the overall supervision of the Chief of Section for Marine Policy and Regional Coordination. The supervisor will brief the intern at the start of the contract, and a series of meetings will be organized to get the intern acquainted with the work of the Ocean Decade and the IOC Secretariat.
6. Duration
Approximate start date: 15 July 2021
Duration: 4 months (negotiable depending on availability of intern)
The intern will work remotely (unless he/she is already based in Paris or in another location where IOC has a permanent office, in which case a mix of remote and office work can be envisaged), and will attend regular on-line coordination meetings with supervisors and colleagues. The intern will provide his/her own computer, telephone and have access to a reliable internet connection.
7. Learning Objectives
The internship will allow the successful candidate to achieve the following objectives:
Acquire skills in project and programme management and stakeholder engagement
Acquire analytical skills across a range of ocean science disciplines
Acquire knowledge of and experience in the UN system with exposure to a multi- disciplinary and multi-disciplinary team Please send your applications including a CV and short cover letter to a.clausen@unesco.org before end of the day 25 June 2021. Please use the subject line: “Intern – Ocean Decade Implementation Support’ and ensure that the file names that you use include your family name. Applications should be sent in English or French.
Comments