Programme Assistant

Host entity: UNEP

Volunteer type: National

Areas of expertise: Administration, Translation and interpretation, Project management, programme development, strategy

Application deadline: 11/10/2026

Mission and objectives

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.

UNEP’s Asia and the Pacific Office geographically serves 41 countries across the region to promote and implement sustainable development solutions. It assists countries of the region pursue sustainability, particularly in their implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development including technical expertise, facilitating access to finance, undertaking cutting-edge science-policy assessments, offering advisory services and strengthening laws, policies, management and governance.

UNEP China Office, under the supervision of UNEP’s Asia and the Pacific Office, was officially established in September 2003 in Beijing, China. UNEP has been working closely with governments and key partners on complementing the country’s efforts for achieving SDGs and advancing 2030 Agenda, and for developing response and deploying solutions that aspire to achieve three interlinked and mutually reinforcing strategic objectives including climate stability, living in harmony with nature, and towards a pollution-free planet.

Assignment context

UNEP’s Asia and the Pacific Office geographically serves 41 countries across the region to promote and implement sustainable development solutions. It assists countries of the region pursue sustainability, particularly in their implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development including technical expertise, facilitating access to finance, undertaking cutting-edge science-policy assessments, offering advisory services and strengthening laws, policies, management and governance.

UNEP China Office, under the supervision of UNEP’s Asia and the Pacific Office, was officially established in September 2003 in Beijing, China. UNEP has been working closely with governments and key partners on supporting the country’s efforts for achieving SDGs and advancing 2030 Agenda, and for developing response and deploying solutions that aspire to achieve three interlinked and mutually reinforcing strategic objectives including climate stability, living in harmony with nature, and towards a pollution-free planet.

More specifically, UNEP has been working closely with China in shaping China’s green economy, environmental policies, and climate actions including actions in building capacity among youth and media on the science of environment, in particular on the climate crises and urgency of climate action, green cooling, district energy in cities, sustainable consumption and production, reducing methane emissions from the oil and gas value chains, nature-based actions, green financing, advocacy and outreach, etc.

This United Nations Volunteers (UNV) assignment is based in the UNEP China Office and supports the implementation of UNEP’s cooperation activities and projects in China and with China, with a focus of the position on climate mitigation, green and low-carbon development, science for policy and youth empowerment.

Task description

Under the direct supervision of the Head (a.i.) of UNEP China Office, the National UN Associate Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:

• Support organizing meetings, events, and missions by drafting invitations and meeting documents, preparing meeting minutes, drafting briefing notes and supporting logistical arrangements;
• Assist in providing English-Chinese interpretation and translation to bilateral meetings between UNEP and Chinese partners;
• Assist in environmental and climate research, analysis and present information gathered from diverse sources to inform the work of UNEP and the UN in China;
• Assist in collecting, translating and consolidating information on China’s legislation, polices, practices, case studies on environment and sustainable development;
• Support drafting or consolidating inputs to the partnership database, cooperation initiatives, briefing notes, UN INFO and other reporting as required;
• Assist in communication with partners on UNEP’s and UN’s initiatives and activities;
• Support to advocacy efforts by developing and supporting UNEP China social media and press releases;
• Support UNEP China Office’s role in advising the UN Country Team on environmental dimension of the implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF);
• Assist in administrative work and any other assignment required by the supervisor.

Skills and experience

• Good interpersonal, networking and communication skills;
• Willingness to contribute and work as part of a team;
• Good planning and organization skills, ability to work with tight deadlines;
• Flexible and open to learning and new experiences;
• Previous experience with the UN would be highly regarded
• Previous experience as a volunteer and/or experience of another culture, (i.e. studies, volunteer work, internship) would be highly regarded;
• Computer skills (i.e. Word, Excel, PowerPoint, social media, and others).

Competencies and values

• Planning and organizing: effective organizational and problem-solving skills and ability to manage a large volume of work in an efficient and timely manner; ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor (own) work; ability to work under pressure, with conflicting deadlines, and to handle multiple concurrent projects/activities;
• Communication: proven interpersonal skills; good spoken and written communication skills, including ability to prepare clear and concise reports; ability to conduct presentations, articulate options and positions concisely; ability to make and defend recommendations; ability to communicate and empathize with staff (including national staff), military personnel, volunteers, counterparts and local interlocutors coming from very diverse backgrounds; capacity to transfer information and knowledge to a wide range of different target groups;
• Teamwork and respect for diversity: ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries; excellent interpersonal skills; ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and harmonious working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, mixed-gender environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity; sensitivity and adaptability to culture, gender, religion, nationality and age; commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of UN operations; ability to achieve common goals and provide guidance or training to colleagues;
• Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity and self-reliance; and commitment towards UNEP’s mission and vision, as well as to the UN Core Values.

Living conditions

The duty station of the national UN Volunteer is located in Beijing. You can check full entitlements at the duty station at https://app.unv.org/calculator.

The complete UN Volunteer Conditions of Service is available at https://explore.unv.org/cos

As this is a national UN Volunteer assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging his/her own housing and other living essentials.

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