INTERNSHIP | Regional International Waters Team

Location: Istanbul, Türkiye

Background

UNDP works in about 170 countries and territories, helping to eradicate poverty, reduce inequalities and exclusion, and build resilience so countries can sustain progress. As the UN’s development agency, UNDP plays a critical role in helping countries achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

UNDP’s Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS) develops policy guidance and provides technical advice to support the implementation of UNDP’s Strategic Plan. Within BPPS, the Nature, Climate and Energy (NCE) Team works with governments, civil society, and private sector partners to integrate natural capital, environment and climate concerns into national and sector planning and inclusive growth policies. The NCE portfolio encompasses biodiversity and ecosystem services, sustainable land management, water and ocean governance, climate change mitigation and adaptation, renewable energy, chemicals and waste management, and green/circular economy approaches.

At the regional level, the Istanbul Regional Hub (IRH) - part of UNDP’s Regional Bureau for Europe and the CIS (RBEC) - serves as the advisory hub for 18 countries and territories across Europe and Central Asia. The IRH’s Nature, Climate and Energy Team houses the regional International Waters portfolio, which supports transboundary water cooperation, marine litter prevention, and ecosystem protection across the RBEC region.

The regional International Waters portfolio brings together projects under this framework, implemented by UNDP in cooperation with partner organizations and Country Offices across the region. These projects aim to support riparian and coastal countries in the joint management of shared river basins, lakes, aquifers and seas, to prevent and reduce pollution, including marine litter and plastic pollution, and to protect and restore water-related ecosystems through improved water governance, waste management and community engagement. They are financed by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and other partners and are implemented in close cooperation with regional bodies and national institutions.

Under the supervision of the Caspian Marine Litter Project Manager and in close cooperation with the regional International Waters Team, the intern will support the overall International Waters portfolio of the IRH Nature, Climate and Energy Team.

Duties and Responsibilities

The intern will be an integrated member of the International Waters (IW) regional team. The main responsibility of the intern will be to support the regional team in its technical, analytical, management and communication activities, through the following tasks:

Research and Analysis

Research, collect, analyse, synthesize and present information and data on the work carried out under the International Waters portfolio across the region, including results, indicator data, lessons learned and success stories, for reporting, communication and knowledge-sharing purposes;

Maintain an up-to-date portfolio database of IW projects in the region (countries, partners, donors, budgets, timelines, key indicators and results) as a basis for analysis, reporting and communication products;

Review international best practices and identify relevant case studies on transboundary water governance, regional cooperation and sustainable management of shared water resources and marine ecosystems, and contribute to technical background analyses and knowledge products that can inform the work of the IW regional team;

Review relevant international practices, initiatives and funding opportunities and compile examples, data and reports that may inform resource mobilization efforts for the regional IW portfolio;

Maintain a database of financing sources and funding opportunities relevant to the IW portfolio (e.g., GEF, Adaptation Fund, GCF, EU, IFIs and bilateral donors), including calls, deadlines and eligibility criteria;

Process, analyse and visualize project data and indicators (e.g., using Excel, GIS or data visualization tools) to inform analysis, reporting and knowledge products;

Communication and Visibility

Review existing communication and visibility tools and platforms used by UNDP Regional Hub and Country Offices involved in IW projects, including websites, social media and other relevant platforms, and identify gaps, i.e. where projects from the IW portfolio are not currently presented but could be promoted, as well as opportunities to strengthen the visibility of the IW portfolio, and on this basis support the development of a communication strategy for the regional IW portfolio;

Support the development of data visualization and communication products (e.g., infographics, factsheets, maps) showcasing the regional IW portfolio, projects, results and achievements;

Support the development of stories from countries where IW projects are implemented, for use in promoting and showcasing the IW portfolio;

Support the development of a communication strategy for the regional IW portfolio, including recommendations for improving the presentation and promotion of IW projects through relevant UNDP platforms;

Support the development of visibility guidelines for regional IW projects, taking into account UNDP and GEF branding and visibility requirements, GEF IW practices, and relevant provisions in project documents and agreements with implementing partners;

Support the review, organization and transition of relevant project communication content, including website content, to appropriate UNDP regional platforms and repositories;

Assist in boosting IW presence on social media and provide assistance as required in the maintenance of IW media accounts, including the website, Facebook, X, LinkedIn, etc.;

Support the development of IW knowledge products (e.g., blogs, articles, briefs, etc.), including those based on cross-country analysis, lessons learned and good practices from International Waters projects in the region;

Contribut