Data and Secondary Research Support for UNEP

Host entity: UNEP India

Application deadline: 22/09/2026

Mission and objectives

UNEP’s mission is to provide leadership and encourage partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing, and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations.

For five decades, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has been a leading advocate for the environment, a steadfast partner and a trusted adviser with a mission to inform, enable and inspire nations and peoples to improve their quality of life – without compromising that of future generations.

UNEP monitors the state and health of the planet, ensures that science remains at the centre of decision-making processes, and that environmental rule of law continues to underpin global environmental governance.

Together with its partners, UNEP has made significant progress, yet there is no denying that today, environmental challenges have reached unprecedented levels. Unsustainable patterns of consumption and production have led to the triple planetary crisis of climate change, nature and biodiversity loss, and pollution and waste.

The science is clear: human health, prosperity, equity and peace are all under threat. We must urgently transform our economies and societies – and our relationship with nature.

UNEP is here to lead this transformation with its 193 Member States, and in partnership with other
UN agencies and stakeholders. With its experience, expertise, dynamic programmes and forward-thinking strategy, and with its dedicated staff, UNEP is uniquely positioned to be your partner in addressing and reversing the triple planetary crisis.

As UNEP relies on voluntary contributions for 95 per cent of the funding, the work is made possible by partners who fund and champion its mission.

Assignment context

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system, and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment.
The UNEP India Country Office works with national and local authorities, civil society, other United Nations organizations, research institutions and the private sector to support action on environmental priorities, including pollution prevention, waste management and marine litter.

Reliable data and evidence are important for understanding trends, identifying knowledge gaps, supporting programme development and informing UNEP’s engagement with stakeholders.
UNEP India Country Office is looking to engage an online UNV with an environmental academic background and strong research skills to support secondary research and compilation of information relating to:

• marine plastic litter;
• solid waste management;
• plastic waste management; and
• closely related waste-management and circularity issues.

The assignment will primarily involve desk-based and secondary research, data compilation, literature review, source documentation and preparation of research summaries.

The volunteer will not be expected to conduct independent primary field research or formulate official UNEP policy recommendations.

Task description

Under the guidance of the Assistant Programme Officer, UNEP India Country Office, the Online Volunteer will:

• Support desk-based research on marine plastic litter, solid waste management and plastic waste management.
• Assist in identifying relevant reports, datasets, academic literature, government publications, international assessments and other credible technical sources.
• Support compilation of quantitative and qualitative information relevant to UNEP’s programme activities.
• Assist in collecting and organizing available data relating, as relevant, to waste generation, collection, segregation, processing, recycling, disposal, plastic flows, plastic leakage and marine litter.
• Assist in organizing data in structured spreadsheets or tables, clearly documenting the source, year, geography, unit, definition and other relevant information.
• Support cross-checking of important data against original or authoritative sources wherever available.
• Support identification and documentation of important data gaps and limitations.
• Assist in compiling national, state-level, city-level or international information based on specific research questions provided by UNEP.
• Support preparation of simple tables, charts and data summaries based on information compiled during the assignment.
• Maintain an organized bibliography and reference repository of the sources reviewed.
• Support updating and revision of research outputs based on guidance and comments received from UNEP.

The Online Volunteer will provide research, evidence-gathering and data-compilation support. Analysis requiring official UNEP interpretation, policy recommendations or institutional positions will remain the responsibility of UNEP.

The assignment will primarily involve desk-based and secondary research, data compilation, literature review, source documentation and preparation of research summaries. The Online Volunteer will not be expected to conduct independent primary field research or formulate official UNEP policy recommendations. All work will be planned across the 2 weeks in consultation with the Online Volunteer.

Skills and experience

Applicants must, at the time of application, meet one of the following requirements:

a) Be enrolled in a university degree programme, minimum Bachelor’s level or equivalent, preferably in Environmental Science, Environmental Engineering, Environmental Management, Waste Management, Marine Science, Sustainability, Natural Resource Management, Environmental Policy or a closely related field; or

b) Have completed a university degree, preferably in one of the above/ closely related field.

Applicants should:
• Have strong desk-research and analytical skills.
• Be able to identify, review and summarize technical and academic literature.
• Be comfortable working with quantitative and qualitative information.
• Be able to organize data systematically and accurately document sources.
• Have good skills in spreadsheet applications such as Microsoft Excel or equivalent.
• Have good written communication and information-synthesis skills.
• Have a keen interest in environmental issues and the work of the United Nations.
Academic exposure, coursework, research or demonstrated interest in marine litter, marine plastic pollution, solid waste management and/or plastic waste management will be strongly preferred.
Applicants to the UNV programme are not required to have prior professional work experience.
Relevant university research, dissertations, coursework, internships, volunteer assignments or academic projects will be considered appropriate evidence of research capability.
Familiarity with data visualization tools, basic statistical analysis, reference-management software or academic research databases will be considered an asset.

Full eligibility requirements, conditions of service and application instructions are available on the official UNV platform.