Intern – Climate and Energy Project Support - Office based (Rome, Italy) / Home Based: Overview
- Organisation: UNDP
- Location: Rome, Italy
- Deadline: 20 November 2026
Intern – Climate and Energy Project Support – (Office based (Rome, Italy) / Home Based)
Background
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are core principles at UNDP: we value diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate, we foster inclusion as a way of ensuring all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, and we ensure equity and fairness in all our actions. Taking a ‘leave no one behind’ approach to our diversity efforts means increasing representation of underserved populations. People who identify as belonging to marginalized or excluded populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Learn more about working at UNDP including our values and inspiring stories.
UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.
UNDP is the United Nations’ lead agency on international development. We support countries and communities as they work to eradicate poverty, implement the Paris Agreement on climate change and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. We advocate for transformative change, and we connect countries to the resources they need to help people build a better life.
Rome Centre for Climate Action and Energy Transition
The central purpose of the Rome Centre is to ensure the effective implementation and further development of the strategic partnership between UNDP and the government of Italy across the objectives of sustainable development and in doing so advancing the broader partnership between UNDP and G7 and G20 countries.
The Rome Centre focuses on the critical policy areas of youth engagement in climate action, energy for development and climate finance. These objectives are pursued through the effective implementation of three initial main programmes: the Technical Assistance and Investment Support Facility, the Italy-UNDP Energy Partnership and Youth4Climate.
• PISTA (Platform for Investment Support and Technical Assistance) aims to mobilise finance for climate, energy and environment. Specifically, the Facility aims to originate projects that contribute to the decarbonization efforts of developing economies and to their transition to climate-resilient economies, and it aims to catalyse international financial resources toward these initiatives. Matching impactful projects with investors and capital providers goes hand in hand with the engagement with financial institutions – both institutional and private – at Italian and global level.
• The Energy for Growth initiative aims to promote access to sustainable energy in developing countries, contributing to SDG7. The goal of the partnership is to assist partner countries in unlocking finance to scale up the diffusion of clean energy solutions, increase access to energy and boost the energy transition. Overall, the initiative aims to foster the mobilization of public and private capital toward projects aligned with the international policy agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals. It does so by connecting UNDP's capacity and connections in emerging economies and developing countries with the public-private ecosystem of Italy and other G7-G20countries, in the crucial sector of energy.
• Youth4Climate promotes youth engagement in climate action, contributing to SDG13. Youth4Climate supports the implementation of youth-led and youth-inclusive solutions to environmental and climate challenges, both financially and through capacity development. It also gives young people around the world who are committed to fighting climate change a platform to engage with policymakers and global leaders.
• The Rome Centre also has a broader mandate to engage with the Italian ecosystem as a whole, which involves close collaboration with key actors in the public and private sector, with the aim to effectively mobilize financial resources for development objectives. To guarantee the effective implementation of the Rome Centre’s workplan, and indeed to ensure the strategic and long term impact of both its programmes, the Centre will develop broader strategic partnerships and reinforce the overall collaboration with Italy and other meaningful partners.
• The Rome Centre functions as the UNDP Office in Italy. As a result, it plays a key role in the strategic engagement of public stakeholders in advancing Italy’s international cooperation priorities within broader multilateral frameworks, including the G7 and G20, as well as supporting the development objectives of National Strategies such as the Mattei Plan for Africa. For instance, it supports initiatives such as: Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII), the G7 Adaptation Accelerator Hub, the Digital Flagship for Africa, the AI Hub for Sustainable Development, as well as crises and recovery programmes. Through these efforts, the Centre acts as a hub to channel Italian priorities into global and regional programmes, while mobilizing finance and partnerships that scale SDG-aligned impact in developing and crisis-affected countries.
Delivering on its programmes, the Rome Centre will provide support to the international cooperation efforts of Italy and it will support UNDP’s global policy initiatives. Recognizing that change will be disruptive, UNDP will work to ensure that such transitions are just, and that their impact on vulnerable people is understood and duly mitigated.
Duties and Responsibilities
The main objective of the assignment is to provide daily support to UNDP Rome Centre in day-to-day management of the climate and energy portfolio. The intern will work under the guidance and technical supervision of team leaders.
The main duties that the intern will be expected to carry out are:
Research and Analysis:
• Assist in researching climate and energy topics, including sustainable energy solutions, renewable energy systems, and climate change mitigation strategies.
• Compile and analyze data for reports and presentations.
Project Coordination Support:
• Aid in coordinating ongoing projects within the Climate and Energy portfolios, including support to project preparation and investment facilitation activities.
• Track project progress and deadlines, and support logistics for meetings and events.
Administrative Assistance:
• Prepare documents, meeting minutes, and correspondence for the Climate and Energy teams.
• Maintain organized digital and physical records of the portfolio's activities.
Communication and Outreach:
• Contribute to drafting communications materials, including social media posts, newsletters, and briefing notes.
• Support outreach efforts to partners and stakeholders.
Event Support:
• Help organize workshops, webinars, and events related to climate and energy.
• Assist with logistical and technical arrangements during events.
Ad hoc:
• Perform any other related duties as may be required to support the effective functioning of the relevant team and the Rome Centre as a whole.
Competencies
Corporate
• Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Treats all people fairly without favoritism.
Professionalism
• Works toward creative solutions by analyzing problems carefully and logically;
• Has a dynamic, positive and adaptive attitude towards work-related challenges;
• Facilitates discussions and meetings effectively and efficiently;
• Resolves conflicts as they arise;
• Sets priorities, produces quality outputs, meets deadlines and manages time efficiently;
• Highly organized, detailed oriented.
Communication
• Writes and presents clearly and convincingly.
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
Applicants to the UNDP internship program must at the time of application meet one of the following requirements:
• Be enrolled in a graduate school program (second university degree or equivalent, or higher - Preference for master level) in fields such as Public Policy, Political Sciences Studies Environmental Science, Energy Studies, Climate Policy, International Relations, Economics, Engineering, Marketing or a related field or any related field.
• Be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree program (minimum bachelor’s level or equivalent) in field mentioned above.
• Have graduated with a university degree (as defined above), and, if selected, must start the internship within one-year of graduation.
Experience:
• Strong research and analytical abilities;
• Proficiency in MS Office and familiarity with project management tools;
• Interest in sustainable development and climate change issues;
• Knowledge at the intersection of youth and climate is an asset;
• Excellent writing skills, as well as strong analytical aptitude and strong communication skills;
• Strong organizational skills; ability to work independently and meet tight deadlines;
• Familiarity with the UN system, and/or other international organizations, multi-lateral and other academic and international institutions;
• Commitment to UNDP's mission, vision and values;
• Strong willingness and ability to learn on the job.
Language requirements
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English language is required.
• Working knowledge of another official UN language or Italian is an asset.
In case an applicant is successfully selected, s/he will be requested to provide electronic versions of:
• letter from his/her university confirming current enrollment and graduation date;
• if sponsored - letter from his/her university confirming their sponsorship for the internship;
• letter of recommendation from a professor;
• copy of his/her most recent school transcript;
• copy of passport;
• completed UNDP internship application form;
• signed UNDP Internship Agreement;
• Medical Certificate of Good Health;
• Proof of medical insurance.