- Organiser: United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), through the United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI).
- Target Audience: Graduate students, final-year undergraduate students, and recent graduates who have graduated within the past year.
- Internship Location: Remote or Geneva, Switzerland.
- Duration: 6 months.
- Work Arrangement: The internship is classified under the I-1 category. Previous professional experience is not required for applicants to the UN internship programme.
- Field: Sustainable finance, environmental economics, political economy, academic research, financial institutions, banking, insurance, and investment.
- Main Responsibilities: Follow up on the outcomes and recommendations of the Taskforce and assist in developing a workplan for the next phase.
- Academic Engagement: Support the expansion of cooperation with researchers and academic institutions in the banking and insurance sectors.
- Research: Contribute to developing an annual list of priority research questions and preparing periodic research briefs.
- Events: Support the design and implementation of regional sessions and webinars related to the latest research in banking, insurance, and investment.
- Researcher Database: Update and expand the database of researchers and academic institutions relevant to UNEP FI’s work.
- Stakeholder Engagement: Assist in preparing briefing materials, presentations, virtual meetings, and written outputs.
- Language: Fluency in spoken and written English is required. Knowledge of another UN language is an advantage.
- Funding: The internship is unpaid by the United Nations.
- Travel, Visa and Accommodation: The intern or sponsoring institution is responsible for travel arrangements, visa costs, accommodation, and living expenses.
- Fees: There are no application fees or fees at any stage of the UN recruitment process.
- Proof of Study or Graduation: Proof of enrolment or graduation date must be provided if the applicant is selected.
- How to Apply: Applications are submitted through the application form linked to the internship announcement.
Publish Date
8/10/2026
Application Deadline
8/24/2026
Opportunity Type
Internships
Publisher
Foras Khadra
Available Countries
All World, The Arab World, Palestine, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Yemen, Egypt, Sudan, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Mauritania, Djibouti, Somalia, Comoros
Description
This internship provides an opportunity to join the Academic Engagement Taskforce of the United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) and contribute to research and engagement between academia and the financial sector in the field of sustainable finance.
The Taskforce aims to bridge the gap between researchers and market actors, strengthen cooperation between financial institutions and the research community, and develop research outputs and tools for communication and knowledge exchange. The intern will contribute to following up on the outcomes of the Taskforce and the 2026 UNEP FI Global Roundtable, expanding academic engagement with the banking and insurance sectors, preparing research briefs, supporting events and webinars, and developing a database of researchers and academic institutions.
Details
Eligibility Criteria
- The applicant must be enrolled in a graduate programme, such as a master's degree or equivalent, or a higher degree.
- Or the applicant must be in the final academic year of an undergraduate degree or equivalent.
- Or the applicant must have obtained a university degree and begin the internship within one year of graduation if selected.
- A background in finance, business administration, environmental studies, or a related field is preferred.
- Relevant fields may include sustainable finance, environmental economics, political economy, or related disciplines.
- Strong analytical and research skills are required.
- Ability to work with academic literature, research materials, and complex concepts.
- Knowledge or experience in sustainable finance and/or financial institutions is a strong advantage.
- Excellent writing, critical thinking, and English communication skills.
- Familiarity with academic databases, reference-management and citation tools, or data-visualisation tools is an additional advantage.
- Ability to provide proof of enrolment or graduation status when requested.
- Previous professional experience is not required for the internship programme.
- The applicant's field of study must be closely related to the type of internship for which they are applying.
Opportunity Benefits
- Gain practical experience with the United Nations Environment Programme and its Finance Initiative (UNEP FI).
- Work in the field of sustainable finance and contribute to connecting academic research with financial-sector practices.
- Gain experience in research, analysis, and preparation of research outputs.
- Contribute to strengthening cooperation between researchers and the financial sector.
- Gain exposure to banking, insurance, and investment issues from a sustainability perspective.
- Develop skills in preparing research briefs, briefing notes, and presentations.
- Gain experience in organising webinars, events, and stakeholder engagement activities.
- Build a professional network with researchers, academic institutions, and financial-sector stakeholders.
- Opportunity to work remotely or from Geneva, Switzerland.
- Gain experience working in an international United Nations environment.
- The internship does not require previous professional experience.
- There are no application or participation fees.
- The internship does not provide a salary or financial compensation, and travel, visa, accommodation, and living expenses are the responsibility of the intern or sponsoring institution.