STEM Trainee
Job Highlight
The STEM Trainee will work at the critical intersection of sustainable energy, private equity, and national policy. Trainees will gain hands-on experience in the financial sector. By combining high-level project involvement with targeted professional development, this programme is designed to build the technical expertise and soft skills necessary to catalyze a successful career in the global energy sector.
About The Project Office
Sustainable Energy for All has a global mandate to accelerate progress on the energy transition in emerging and developing countries. Hosted by UNOPS, we work at the intersection of energy, climate and development, partnering with governments and organizations worldwide to end energy poverty, double energy efficiency, significantly expand renewable energy and combat climate change.
Our vision is a world where everyone, everywhere, can lead a dignified life on a healthy planet, powered by sustainable energy. We promote this vision by pushing for higher ambitions, stronger policies, greater finance flows, increased localization and green jobs, and faster results toward an energy transition that leaves no one behind.
Former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon launched the Sustainable Energy for All initiative in 2011. Since then, our CEO has served as the UN Secretary-General's Special Representative for Sustainable Energy for All and Co-Chair of UN-Energy.
About The Group
As part of the Global Portfolios Office, UNOPS Geneva provides comprehensive solutions in secretariat hosting, operational support, and fund management. We manage global programmes, including the Water, Environment and Climate (WEC) Portfolio, offering project management, procurement, HR, and financial services. Geneva hosts the secretariats of nine global partnerships focused on health (RBM, Stop TB, ATscale), nutrition (SUN), water/sanitation (SHF), sustainable energy (SEforALL) humanitarian leadership (GELI), urban development (Cities Alliance), and disaster displacement (PDD). We also provide fund management for EIF and UN Water, and operational support to Geneva-based partners like the Global Fund and UNHCR.
Role Purpose
Under the supervision of the Programme Manager, Gender & Youth, the STEM Trainees will support SEforALL’s key energy access initiatives in Nigeria. The role focuses on technical project assistance, data analysis for energy planning, and supporting the operationalization of renewable energy financing mechanisms.
Functions / Key Results Expected
The STEM Trainee will be a part of a Nigerian cohort, with the traineeship focused on the following areas:
Technical Support and Operations:
Training components and learning elements to include, but not limited to:
Required:
Required:
The STEM Trainee will work at the critical intersection of sustainable energy, private equity, and national policy. Trainees will gain hands-on experience in the financial sector. By combining high-level project involvement with targeted professional development, this programme is designed to build the technical expertise and soft skills necessary to catalyze a successful career in the global energy sector.
About The Project Office
Sustainable Energy for All has a global mandate to accelerate progress on the energy transition in emerging and developing countries. Hosted by UNOPS, we work at the intersection of energy, climate and development, partnering with governments and organizations worldwide to end energy poverty, double energy efficiency, significantly expand renewable energy and combat climate change.
Our vision is a world where everyone, everywhere, can lead a dignified life on a healthy planet, powered by sustainable energy. We promote this vision by pushing for higher ambitions, stronger policies, greater finance flows, increased localization and green jobs, and faster results toward an energy transition that leaves no one behind.
Former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon launched the Sustainable Energy for All initiative in 2011. Since then, our CEO has served as the UN Secretary-General's Special Representative for Sustainable Energy for All and Co-Chair of UN-Energy.
About The Group
As part of the Global Portfolios Office, UNOPS Geneva provides comprehensive solutions in secretariat hosting, operational support, and fund management. We manage global programmes, including the Water, Environment and Climate (WEC) Portfolio, offering project management, procurement, HR, and financial services. Geneva hosts the secretariats of nine global partnerships focused on health (RBM, Stop TB, ATscale), nutrition (SUN), water/sanitation (SHF), sustainable energy (SEforALL) humanitarian leadership (GELI), urban development (Cities Alliance), and disaster displacement (PDD). We also provide fund management for EIF and UN Water, and operational support to Geneva-based partners like the Global Fund and UNHCR.
Role Purpose
Under the supervision of the Programme Manager, Gender & Youth, the STEM Trainees will support SEforALL’s key energy access initiatives in Nigeria. The role focuses on technical project assistance, data analysis for energy planning, and supporting the operationalization of renewable energy financing mechanisms.
Functions / Key Results Expected
The STEM Trainee will be a part of a Nigerian cohort, with the traineeship focused on the following areas:
Technical Support and Operations:
- Provide technical support for the implementation of gender- and youth-responsive energy activities;
- Assist the project team in coordinating activities, meetings, and resources necessary for the successful execution of energy-focused initiatives; and
- Participate in energy audits, site visits & needs assessments for in-country workstreams.
- Support the implementation of the Sustainable Energy Finance Developers Platform by refining and validating project data entries;
- Support the project team in developing training curricula and knowledge-sharing materials for developers, financial institutions, and policymakers;
- Assist in the development of financial models by analyzing cost structures and learning the impact of different capital types (e.g., grants, debt, equity) on project bankability; and
- Support the team in tracking financing commitments and emerging funding mechanisms within the clean energy ecosystem.
- Support project partners in data collection exercises and market research on climate finance trends; and
- Support with data analysis, platform performance tracking, monitoring of user experience and feedback and regular project reporting.
- Contribute to initiatives promoting sustainable energy finance and tracking financing commitments in the clean energy ecosystem;
- Gain insights into viability gaps and the role of various financial instruments in driving sustainable energy projects; and
- Participate in advocacy efforts to raise awareness for sustainable energy finance policies and support in stakeholder engagement initiatives.
- Use social media channels to promote project visibility, sustainability practices, and advocacy efforts;
- Create and publish engaging digital content, including posts, videos, and graphics, to share across social media channels (e.g. Facebook, X, Instagram, LinkedIn).
Training components and learning elements to include, but not limited to:
- Undertake soft skills training sessions to support professional development of STEM Trainees:
- Career development (including resume development, interviewing, networking, and mentorship); and
- Communications and social media training.
- Undertake technical training sessions to enhance technical understanding of the energy sector with a focus on project operations and climate finance, including:
- Knowledge of energy implementation, gender & youth-responsive energy activities, and site assessment methodologies;
- Appropriate use of financial modeling tools, viability analysis, and data platforms;
- Familiarity with monitoring tools and framework (market research, performance tracking, and reporting); and
- Introduction to climate finance mechanisms and capital structures for energy activities.
Required:
- Applicants should be enrolled in a university programme such as Bachelor, Masters or Ph.D. (or the equivalent) or have graduated from such studies within three (3) years prior to their application, in a STEM field (i.e., sciences, renewable energy, engineering, data science, geographic information systems, or related areas).
Required:
- Applicants are not required to have prior work experience
- Prior experience in energy, engineering, finance, communications or related fields would be an advantage.