Project Management Support - Intern (Part-time 50%)

UNOPS supports partners to build a better future by providing services that increase the efficiency, effectiveness and sustainability of peace building, humanitarian and development projects.  Mandated as a central resource of the United Nations, UNOPS provides sustainable project management, procurement and infrastructure services to a wide range of governments, donors and United Nations organizations.  

New York Service Cluster (NYSC) supports the United Nations Secretariat, as well as other New York-based United Nations organizations, bilateral and multilateral partners in the delivery of UNOPS mandate in project management, infrastructure management, and procurement management.

The Sustainable Development Cluster (SDC) supports diverse partners with their peacebuilding, humanitarian and development operations. It was formed by combining the following portfolios: Grants Management Services (GMS), UN Technology Support Services (UNTSS), Development and Special Initiatives Portfolio (DSIP). It provides Services to partners' programmes that are designed, structured, and managed with a global perspective and primarily serving partners that are headquartered in New York.  The SDC has a footprint of approximately 125 countries.

UNOPS has signed an agreement with the UNDP Country Office (CO) in Malaysia to implement the project activities for the Small Grants Programme. 

The seventh Operational Phase (OP7) of the GEF Small Grants Programme (SGP) in Malaysia aims to build upon the long-standing achievements of SGP in the country, specifically involving strengthening civil society organizations and improving socioeconomic conditions for local communities through implementation of participatory conservation, restoration, and climate change mitigation interventions. 

Starting in OP7, Malaysia has transitioned to a SGP Upgraded Country Programme (UCP). With the aim of achieving impacts at scale and ensuring sustainability of results achieved, the programme level strategy of the UCP is based on a landscape approach, following the UNDP approach of community-driven planning and management of socio-ecological production landscapes and seascapes. The three selected landscapes (Crocker Range Biosphere Reserve in Sabah; Middle and Upper Baram River Basin in Sarawak; and the Klang Valley in Peninsular Malaysia) cover expansive and complex rural and urban geographies. Globally significant biodiversity in these regions faces a variety of threats influenced by a variety of drivers, e.g., infrastructure development and increased global demand for food and plantation commodities. These factors, many of which have been exacerbated by the impacts of climate change, have led to biodiversity loss, degradation of fragile ecosystems, and restricted opportunities for local communities to sustain nature-based livelihoods. Many of the local communities in the target regions also lack knowledge and access to clean energy solutions. The project strategy addresses the threats and barriers in the target regions to generate multiple benefits for biodiversity, climate change, land degradation, and the well-being of local communities through participatory, integrated land and resource management approaches implemented across socio-ecological production landscapes. 

Reaching an estimated 10,000 direct beneficiaries, 50% of whom are women, the project facilitates community-driven interventions that generate global environmental benefits, including bringing an estimated 43,000 ha under improved management practices to benefit biodiversity, restoring 1,000 ha of degraded ecosystems, and increasing adoption of renewable energy and energy efficient solutions at the community level, resulting in the mitigation of more than 341,500 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent of greenhouse gas emissions (lifetime direct). The durability of the results achieved will be ensured through implementation of integrated landscape approaches, supported by multi-stakeholder governance platforms that foster enabling partnerships among civil society organizations, national and local government entities, private sector enterprises, and academic-research institutions.

The total project budget administered by UNDP is USD 2,500,000. The total co-financing planned for the project is USD 2,750,000. The lifetime of the project is 4 years and is set to close in April 2026. The project is implemented by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS). The incumbent of this position will be a personnel of UNOPS under its full responsibility.

The incumbent of this position will be personnels of UNOPS under its full responsibility.

Under the direct supervision of the National Coordinator, the intern will be expected to provide support to the UNDP-GEF/SGP Team.

Main Responsibilities

• Assist in writing, compiling and organizing SGP Publication and designing of outreach materials.
• Assist designated NGOs, CBOs and community groups in identifying, formulating, monitoring and evaluation of projects and formulation of lessons learned.
• The intern will assist the National Coordinator and the Programme Assistant in the compiling of data of all SGP implemented projects past and present and updating the electronic database.
• Assist the National Coordinator in the organization of stakeholder workshops and project development sessions for NGOs, CBOs, and other stakeholders to explain the programme, and to assist designated potential applicants in making the link between local environmental problems and the global concerns of the GEF focal areas and operational programs.
• Perform other tasks and responsibilities relevant to the scope of this position. 

• Currently enrolled in a university programme such as Bachelor, Masters or Ph.D. (or the equivalent) preferably in Environmental Science or related areas or have graduated from such studies within three (3) years prior to the application date of the internship.

Internship-related experiences

• Past experience with SGP is an added advantage. 

Language skills:

• Fluency in Malay and English (read, write and speak) is required.

Computer Literacy

• Knowledge on basic computer skills including Microsoft Office packages (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) is required.
• Knowledge on handling virtual meeting platforms such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams is required.

• Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments.
• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures,  languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. 
• Qualified women and candidates from groups which are underrepresented in the UNOPS workforce are encouraged to apply. These include in particular candidates from racialized and/or indigenous groups, members of minority gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities.
• We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process.  If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.

Terms and Conditions 

• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda.
• It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.