Unpaid Internship - Circular Economy and Climate Change

INTERNATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATION UNION ITU is the leading United Nations agency for information and communication technologies, with the mission to connect the world. To achieve this, ITU manages the radio-frequency spectrum and satellite orbits at the international level, works to improve communication infrastructure in the developing world, and establishes global standards that foster seamless interconnection of a vast range of communication systems. ITU applies a zero-tolerance policy against all forms of harassment. ITU is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. Achieving gender balance is a high priority for ITU. Unpaid Internship - Circular Economy and Climate Change Vacancy notice no: 2380 Sector: BDT Department: Regional Offices Country of contract: Remote Duty station: Home Based Position number: [[positionNumber]] Grade: [[PositionGrade]] Type of contract: Internship Duration of contract: 6 months Recruitment open to: External Application deadline (Midnight Geneva Time): 24 September 2026 ORGANIZATIONAL UNIT The Telecommunication Development Bureau (BDT) is responsible for the organization and coordination of the work of the Telecommunication Development Sector of the Union. BDT deals mainly with development policies, strategies, programming, projects, as well as technical cooperation activities to enable and foster universal access to affordable, high-quality and secure telecommunications/ICTs and Foster equitable and inclusive use of telecommunications/ICTs to empower people and societies for sustainable development. To effectively and efficiently serve the needs of Member States, BDT is organized into four functional areas: Operations Coordination Department (Office of the Deputy to the Director) (DDR) Projects, Partnerships & Digital Skills Department (PPS) Digital Networks & Environment Department (DNE) Digital Knowledge Society Department (DKS) The regional offices provide assistance to the ITU Member States of the Region, ensuring a close relationship and collaboration. To implement the agreed programs and projects, in accordance with the ITU Strategy Plan and the BDT Action Plan, with the active support of all Departments, providing timely information about their development. To provide proper line management and support, the Regional Directors report to the Director of the BDT. BACKGROUND INFORMATION ITU is expanding its activities relating to waste electrical and electronic equipment (e-waste) and greenhouse gas emissions associated with the information and communications technology (ICT) sector. ITU is receiving an increasing number of requests from its Member States, following the recent ramping up of efforts by governments around the world to address matters concerning climate change and a shift by industry players to start incorporating circular principles into the production and delivery of products and services. The issues of green and digital are both currently high on the policy agenda placing the projects and programmes of ITU at the heart of the global response to these issues. To this end, the ITU Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific is looking for a dedicated individual based in Bangkok, Thailand, to support the implementation of circular economy and climate change related activities of ITU in the region. TERMS OF REFERENCE Under the regular supervision of the focal point to the Environment Thematic Priority in the Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, and in close cooperation with members of the Regional Office and HQ environment team, the intern will: • Assist with the preparation and the implementation of ITU projects related to climate change and circular economy, in particular in the areas of e-waste regulation, e-waste data collection, greenhouse gas emissions data collection, green data centres, circular and sustainable public procurement for ICTs, and green ICT standards. • Assist in the promotion of activities related to the participation of Asia and the Pacific countries in standardization activities especially in ITU-T Study Group 5 “Environment, EMF and Circular Economy” • In close cooperation with the ITU Headquarters and the ITU Area Offices in the Asia and the Pacific region, assist with the organisation of meetings and workshops to support awareness raising among the ITU membership, partnership building and resource mobilization efforts, ultimately to promote the circular economy and climate change work of ITU and its membership. • Participate in online and in-person meetings and workshops with public and private sector stakeholders as part of the stakeholder consultation process during the implementation of projects relating to e-waste regulation. • Support with the maintenance and updating of ITU databases covering e-waste regulation and greenhouse gas emissions from the ICT sector in the region, in order to ensure the continuation of performance tracking against the relevant targets of the ITU Strategic Plan 2024 – 2027 and any other applicable targets set by the ITU membership. • Assist the team, when and where required, with the preparation of research into topics covering e-waste regulation, e-waste data collection, greenhouse gas emissions data collection, green data centres, circular and sustainable public procurement for ICTs, and green ICT standards. COMPETENCIES • Knowledge of environmental issues, particularly relating to circular economy and climate change. • Familiarity or willingness to learn how to use online applications and social media. • Ability to draft clear and concise documentation with good written and oral language skills. • Good interpersonal skills, willingness to work collaboratively with colleagues and ask questions to clarify work. QUALIFICATION REQUIRED Education : University degree (or completing an advanced University degree) in the areas of global environmental governance and sustainable development or environmental studies, or an equivalent level of education and specialization in a relevant field. Experience : No work experience required. Languages : Advanced level of English. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Unpaid internship. Please note that a non-remunerated internship at ITU does not carry the same conditions of employmentas a short-term or fi xed-term position. Medical insurance, travel, accommodation, and living expenses arethe responsibility ofthe intern or their sponsoring institution. ITU Internship Requirements To be eligible for an internship at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), candidates must: • Be under 30 years of age (Exceptions may be considered for candidates pursuing a Ph.D.). • Be currently enrolled in an undergraduate, graduate, or post-graduate programme, or be a recent graduate(within six months prior to the start of the internship). • Be a citizen of a Member State of ITU. INFORMATION ON RECRUITMENT PROCESS Please note that all candidates must complete an on-line application and provide complete and accurate information. To apply, please visit the ITU career website. The evaluation of candidates is based on the criteria in the vacancy notice, and may include tests and/or assessments, as well as a competency-based interview. ITU uses communication technologies such as video or teleconference, e-mail correspondence, etc. for the assessment and evaluation of candidates. Please note that only selected candidates will be further contacted and candidates in the final selection step will be subject to reference checks based on the information provided. Messages originating from a non ITU e-mail account - @itu.int - should be disregarded. ITU does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process.