Internship - Climate Change and Food Security Unit

To be considered for this internship opportunity, please clearly follow the instructions below by the
application deadline December 8, 2025

Name of Organizational Unit:
Climate Change and Food Security Unit, Office of the Assistant Director General, Global Challenges and Partnerships Sector

Place of Internship:
Geneva

Expected Duration of Internship:
6 months with possible renewal

Expected Start Date:
January 15, 2026

1. Organizational Context

(a) Organizational Setting

The WIPO Internship Program provides an opportunity for interns to complement their educational experience and develop their professional skills and competencies through work participation in an international context. Learning through experience and exposure together with feedback from the intern's supervisor and colleagues, play a major role in achieving these objectives. In addition, learning opportunities in the form of structured courses and programs may be provided to the intern during the internship.

This internship is located in the Climate Change and Food Security Unit (WIPO GREEN), Office of the Assistant Director General, Global Challenges and Partnerships Sector.

WIPO GREEN as an initiative was launched in 2013 to promote the diffusion of green technology by facilitating connections between green technology "seekers" and "providers," i.e. those looking for green technology solutions, and those developing and/or providing them.

At the heart of WIPO GREEN is its online matchmaking and knowledge hub (often referred to as "platform" and "database" interchangeably), which hosts a wide range of green technologies from a worldwide pool of contributors, ranging from small enterprises to Fortune 500 companies. It has now surpassed 140,000 entries. The database is constantly growing as new technologies and needs are uploaded and imported. It is in constant development in order to ensure that the database is at the cutting edge of new technological opportunities. WIPO GREEN has a dedicator software developer attached.

(b) Reporting Lines

The intern will work under the supervision of the Head of the Climate Change and Food Security Unit, Office of the Assistant Director General, Global Challenges and Partnerships Sector.

2. Main objectives

During the internship, the Intern should:

• apply substantive knowledge in a practical setting;
• develop greater knowledge and understanding of the intersection between intellectual property (IP) and international policy issues in the areas of climate change and food security;
• gain insight into the role of innovation and technology in climate change, food security and the environment;
• contribute to information material related to work streams of the Unit;
• become comfortable with interacting with international partner organizations and individuals from diverse cultures and professional backgrounds; and
• obtain experience working for an intergovernmental and international organization secretariat.

3. Duties and Responsibilities

Under the supervision of and reporting to the Head of the Climate Change and Food Security Unit, the Intern participates in the work of the Unit with a focus on the intersection of innovation, technology, IP and the areas of climate change and food security and in particular be involved in managing the WIPO GREEN Database of Needs and Green Technologies.

In particular, her/his tasks will include the following:

1. providing assistance and support to the WIPO GREEN Database of Needs and Green Technologies. This includes:

2. be the day-to-day technical overseer and quality control of the database and report and take action on issues encountered

3. establish contact with new uploaders with the aim of improving the matchmaking process
4. review and update existing content in the database as required
5. assist in developing new database functionality and develop ideas for improved user interface and usefulness
6. monitor and analyze database traffic and user metrics

7. identify and upload new green technologies to add to the database

8. conducting research, collecting materials and background information on selected areas and relevant stakeholders within relevant fields;

9. writing, preparing, editing and reviewing reports, papers, studies, internal briefing notes, presentations and other documents;
10. assisting on various activities related to WIPO's work at the intersection of IP and climate change and food security; and
11. performing other related tasks as required.

4. Requirements

Education (Essential)

• Advanced university degree in relevant fields such as international development studies, geography, engineering, climate change/environmental studies, climate technology development and transfer, low carbon development, or climate‐resilient development.

Experience and Skills (Essential)

• Knowledge of/ experience with issues related to climate change, food security and environment.
• Personal interest and curiosity in innovation and technology as means to combat climate change, food insecurity and environmental degradation.
• Ability to apply a cross-disciplinary approach to social and economic development and the role of innovation and technology herein.
• Intercultural openness and curiosity.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.

Experience (Desirable)

• Strong interpersonal skills.
• Knowledge of/ experience with international partnership building.
• Project management experience/skills.
• Successful coordination of relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Content development/management for websites, online-platforms, and social media.
• Experience with activity planning, e.g. conferences and seminars.

Language (Essential)

• Excellent written and spoken knowledge of English.

Language (Desirable)

• Knowledge of any other official UN languages would be an advantage.

Specific skills and competencies

• Competent user of Microsoft Office applications including Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint and the Internet, and the ability to adapt quickly to new software.

5. Organizational Competencies

1. Communicating effectively
2. Showing team spirit
3. Demonstrating integrity
4. Valuing diversity
5. Producing results
6. Showing service orientation
7. Seeing the big picture
8. Seeking change and innovation
9. Developing yourself and others

6. Eligibility

Category II Internship
:

1. Individuals pursuing their first advanced university degree who have completed their coursework, but not the final thesis; or
2. Individuals who have obtained their first advanced university degree and who are pursuing a subsequent university degree; or
3. Individuals who have obtained their most recent advanced university degree less than two years from the date of the internship application.

7. Stipend

• Category II
  interns receive a monthly stipend of 2,170 Swiss francs.

Note: the stipend amount above is for a full-time internship. The Internship takes place in Geneva, Switzerland; it cannot be carried out remotely.

8. Application Process

To be considered for this internship opportunity, please clearly follow the instructions below by the
application deadline December 8, 2025:

1. Send a copy of your 1) Curriculum Vitae, 2) Motivation Letter, and 3) relevant diplomas to
2. Clearly indicate "
   Internship –
   Climate Change and Food Security Unit
   " in the subject line of the email.
3. Please note that the diplomas must correspond to the list of advanced university degrees in the essential education portion of this document. Only holders of such degrees will be considered.
4. Please indicate your present situation and potential availability in the body of the email.
5. Any incomplete application will not be considered. By submitting these documents, you certify that all information contained therein is true, accurate, and complete, and understand that any misrepresentation may result in disqualification or termination of employment.

For more information on WIPO's Internship Program, please click here.