Organisational Unit: UNU International Institute for Integrated Management of Material Fluxes and of Resources (UNU-FLORES)

About the United Nations University

The United Nations University (UNU) is a global think tank and postgraduate teaching organisation headquartered in Japan. The mission of UNU is to contribute, through collaborative research and education, to efforts to resolve the pressing global problems of human survival, development, and welfare that are the concern of the United Nations, its Peoples, and Member States. UNU encompasses 13 research and training institutes and programmes located in 12 countries around the world.

UNU Institute for Integrated Management of Material Fluxes and of Resources (UNU-FLORES)

As part of the United Nations University, the Institute helps build a bridge between the academic world and the United Nations. UNU-FLORES develops strategies to resolve pressing challenges in the area of sustainable use and integrated management of environmental resources such as water, soil, and waste. Focusing on the needs of the UN and its Member States, particularly developing countries and emerging economies, the Institute engages in research, capacity development, and advanced teaching and training as well as dissemination of knowledge. In all activities, UNU-FLORES advances a Nexus Approach to the sustainable management of environmental resources. For more information, please visit https://flores.unu.edu.

The Institute comprises of five research units:

  • Systems and Flux Analysis Considering Global Change Assessment
  • Capacity Development and Governance
  • Water Resources Management
  • Soil and Land-Use Management
  • Waste Management

Responsibilities

Under the authority of the Director of UNU-FLORES and supervision of one of the Academic Officers (of the units above), the successful candidate shall carry out the following tasks:

  • assist with the development of the respective research unit
  • assist with data collection and statistics
  • assist with policy-oriented research
  • assist with editing publications
  • assist with logistical organisation of workshops/conferences
  • perform other tasks assigned by the supervisor

Required qualifications and experience

  • The candidate must be currently pursuing, or have recently completed, postgraduate studies (master’s  degree or equivalent), or be in the final year of the first university degree programme (bachelor’s level or equivalent), in the field of system fluxes, capacity development, governance, water resources management, hydrology, soil and land-use, geography, waste management, or other related subjects; applications from non-students will be accepted only in exceptional cases.
  • The candidate must have proficient knowledge of English; knowledge of other UN official languages or German would be an asset.
  • Sound skills of using Microsoft Office applications. such as Word, Excel, etc.. are a requirement.

Competencies

• Results-oriented
• Quality orientation
• Creativity
• Teamwork
• Ability to work within agreed timelines

Important information

Please note that interns are not financially remunerated; selected candidates have the responsibility of arranging their own travel and accommodation and living by themselves.

UNU-FLORES accepts no responsibility for the medical and life insurance of the intern or costs arising from accidents and illness incurred during an internship. Interns will be requested to show proof of insurance when commencing their internship.

The purpose of the internship programme is not to lead to further employment with UNU-FLORES but to complement an intern’s studies. Therefore, there should be no expectation of employment at the end of an internship.

Duration

The successful candidate shall be based at UNU-FLORES in Dresden, Germany, on a full-time basis (40 hours per week) for a period of 2–6 months. Part-time applications will be considered under exceptional conditions.

Starting date

As soon as possible

https://unu.edu/about/internship/intern-research-2.html#overview