Internship – Environmental Studies & Policy at UNECE

About the role

This internship is based in the Water and Industrial Safety Section of the Environment and Forests Division at the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) in Geneva. The intern will support the secretariat of the Convention on the Transboundary Effects of Industrial Accidents, contributing to research, event organization, and communication activities that advance industrial safety and sustainable development.

Key responsibilities

• Assist in organizing the 14th meeting of the Convention’s Conference of the Parties and a preceding chemicals safety seminar.
• Prepare draft presentations, reports, and project proposals on industrial accident prevention, preparedness, and emerging risks.
• Conduct research and provide analytical inputs on topics such as land‑use planning, accidental water pollution, mine‑tailings safety, energy‑transition risks, and Natech events.
• Support meetings of the Convention’s subsidiary bodies and facilitate expert exchanges.
• Contribute to capacity‑building activities and projects under the Convention’s Assistance and Cooperation Programme.
• Identify links between the Convention, the SDGs, the Sendai Framework, and other international policy processes.
• Update and improve content for the Convention’s web‑page, ensuring usability and accessibility.
• Assist in creating communication materials, including brochures, flyers, articles, social media posts, press releases, and meeting minutes.

Required profile

• Currently enrolled in or recently completed a graduate programme in environmental studies, economics, international relations, international law, social or political studies.
• Strong interest in environmental policy, industrial safety, and sustainable development.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
• Ability to conduct independent research and produce clear analytical outputs.

Required skills

What we offer

• Hands‑on experience with UN intergovernmental processes and international conventions.
• Opportunity to work on real‑world projects related to environmental safety and the Sustainable Development Goals.
• Professional development through mentorship, workshops, and networking with experts in the field.