Internship (INTERNSHIP-2026-DPPD - 1), Geneve

Background

The Private Sector and Philanthropic Engagement (PSPE) Unit, within the Division of Development Partnerships and Programme Delivery (DPPD), coordinates WMO's institutional engagement with private and non-state actors, including foundations, philanthropies, commercial entities, business associations and high-net-worth individuals. The Unit focuses on mobilizing private and philanthropic resources, both financial and in-kind, by cultivating high-impact partnerships, and supports WMO technical departments and Members in pursuing mutually beneficial collaboration with the private sector.

Additionally, PSPE leads the operationalization of the WMO Commons, WMO's new pooled financing mechanism, with an objective to raise 100 million USD over the course of five years. The Unit also coordinates engagement with private-sector actors across the weather, climate and water monitoring and forecasting ecosystem, including HMEI and major technology companies.

The PSPE Unit is currently managing an expanding portfolio of engagements in support of the WMO Commons and the Open Consultative Platform (OCP), WMO's primary mechanism for structured dialogue with the private and academic sectors, while also preparing for several high-level events, including TECO Amsterdam (October 2026), SERCOM-4, COP31 (Antalya, November 2026) and the World Economic Forum (January 2027).

The volume and complexity of these workstreams exceed the Unit's current staffing capacity. An intern would provide additional capacity to meet the Unit's growing workload, providing critical operational support in research, meeting coordination, documentation, due diligence and communications, thereby enabling the Unit to deliver effectively on its partnership and resource mobilization objectives.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the supervision of the Head of PSPE, the intern will:

Partnership engagement, meeting support and follow-up:
Support the coordination of bilateral meetings with private-sector companies, philanthropic foundations, investors and other non-state actors; prepare agendas, background notes and participant profiles; take notes and produce structured meeting summaries; track and follow up on agreed actions; and maintain the Dialogue Tracker, contact lists and partner engagement records. Partnership research and resource mobilization:
Conduct research and mapping of prospective private-sector and philanthropic partners, contributors and funding opportunities; prepare organizational and partner profiles; monitor relevant philanthropic, sustainable finance and private-sector developments; and support the identification and prioritization of potential partnership and resource mobilization opportunities. Due diligence and reputational risk support:
Help conduct background research on companies, foundations and other organizations being considered for engagement with WMO; support the preparation and documentation of due diligence reviews and risk assessments; monitor relevant public information and databases; and maintain due diligence records and trackers in accordance with WMO procedures. WMO Commons support:
Support the operationalization and promotion of the WMO Commons, including research and mapping of potential contributors and strategic partners; preparation and updating of pitch materials, FAQs, presentations and other communications products; and preparation of background information for contributor and investor engagement. Open Consultative Platform and high-level event support:
Support the preparation and follow-up of Open Consultative Platform (OCP) sessions and other high-level private-sector and philanthropic engagements; assist with concept notes, agendas, participant research, briefing materials, logistical documentation and meeting reports; and support participant coordination and follow-up. Strategic platforms and sector engagement:
Support research and preparation for WMO engagement with relevant private-sector platforms, networks and forums, including the World Economic Forum and other initiatives related to sustainable finance, climate risk, technology and global weather, climate and water services; monitor upcoming opportunities and prepare short background and briefing materials as required. Briefings, communications and knowledge management
Support the preparation of correspondence, briefing notes, talking points, presentations and internal reports for senior-level engagements; maintain organized records of PSPE partnerships and activities; and support coordination and information exchange with other WMO units and technical departments. Perform any other related duties as assigned by the supervisor.

Required Skills and Experience

Education: 

Master's level in international relations, international development, climate studies, business, economics, legal or a related field

Experience:

No prior experience required. Coursework or academic exposure to international organizations, private sector engagement, partnerships, resource mobilization or sustainability would be an asset.

Other Requirements: 

Strong research and writing skills; ability to work in a multicultural environment; attention to detail; ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously.

Languages: 

Fluency in English required. Knowledge of French would be an advantage.

Additional Information:

Learning component of the internship:

The intern will gain hands-on experience in public-private engagement at the international level, including partnership development, resource mobilization, event coordination and due diligence processes within a UN agency.

Probation

Possibility of renewal subject to the availability of funds and pending satisfactory performance after an initial probationary period of one year which can be extended up to a maximum of two years.

Applications:

Applications should be made online through the WMO e-recruitment system.

Do not send your application via multiple routes. WMO no longer accepts applications via post or email. Only applicants for whom WMO has a further interest will be contacted. Shortlisted candidates may be required to sit a written test and/or an interview.

Statements:

WMO is committed to achieving diversity and a balanced workforce. Applications are welcome from qualified women and men, including those with disabilities. The statutory retirement age is 65. Pursuant to WMO Standing Instructions, the minimum age to be eligible for consideration for vacant positions is 18, and the maximum age must enable the candidate to serve for at least the term of the contract before reaching mandatory age of separation.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

WMO does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles.

Scam alert

WMO does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). WMO will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.