Energy Planning Intern, Multiple positions

Background Information

UNOPS hosts Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) Secretariat/Programme in Vienna, Austria. Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) is an independent organization with a global mandate to accelerate progress on the energy transition in emerging and developing countries. We work at the intersection of energy, climate, and development. We collaborate with governments and partners worldwide to end energy poverty, accelerate the deployment of renewable energy solutions, and combat climate change.

Our vision is a world where everyone, everywhere, can lead a dignified life on a healthy planet, powered by sustainable energy. We promote this vision by pushing for higher ambitions, stronger policies, greater finance flows, increased localization and green jobs, and faster results toward an energy transition that leaves no one behind.

Former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon launched the Sustainable Energy for All initiative in 2011. Since then, our CEO has served as the UN Secretary-General's Special Representative for Sustainable Energy for All and Co-Chair of UN-Energy.

This position is located within the Integrated Energy Access Planning Programme.

The Integrated Energy Access Planning Programme provides technical assistance to governments to develop their Integrated Energy Access Plans (IEPs) as a way of helping high energy access-deficit countries gain a more integrated and data-driven understanding of the technologies and spending required to achieve universal energy access. IEPs can generate strategic insights into the optimal ways to expand access to not just electricity but also clean cooking, enhanced agricultural and medical cold-chains. This is for ensuring an integrated and holistic approach for achieving energy access targets. Besides this, through its Centre of Excellence, the programme also seeds the sector with resources and innovations, e.g., better data and tools, training, global advocacy for the widespread adoption of IEPs while working with governments to showcase, implement and learn from best-in-class IEPs energy.

The Assignment’s specific objectives will be set taking into account the skills, expertise and personal interests of the selected internship candidate.

Functional Responsibilities

Main duties and tasks

• Work closely with the IEP Program Manager and other team members for the purpose of providing program and project support to the IEP program;
• Support the Centre of Excellence in the creation of standards, tools, documentation, and guidance that support the development and/or adoption of best-in-class IEPs;
• Support with desktop research on new tools, datasets, and methodologies and landscape analysis for new geographies of interest;
• Secondary data collection and analysis;
• Support stakeholder engagement and outreach, including government agencies and ministries, international development organizations, donors, research institutions, and the private sector;
• Support in the development, optimization, and standardization of internal procedures.

Learning Objectives

This internship provides hands-on experience and growth opportunities in the following areas:

• Developing a deep understanding of the energy access planning sector;
• Hands-on development and/or application of (GIS-based) energy modelling tools;
• Exposure to the international development sector with regional/country focus;
• Active involvement in at least one ongoing country project of the SEforALL IEP team.

Education/Experience/Language requirements

Education

Applicants should have recently (in the last 3 years) graduated with a first level or advanced university degree (Bachelors, Masters or equivalent) in relevant fields such as Sustainable Energy Engineering, Economics, Regional Planning, Geography, Geo-informatics, Energy Policy

Experience 

Applicants are not required to have prior work experience, however prior experience in GIS-based energy modeling and planning is desirable;
Understanding of the energy access sector, including access to electricity and clean cooking is desirable;
Experience in Python programming, data analysis and GIS is an asset.

Language 

Fluency in English is required. Working knowledge of another official UN language is an asset.
 

Please note, that this is a summary of the complete job offer, which can be found on the application link.