Intern, Science Panel for the Congo Basin

ABOUT THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT SOLUTIONS NETWORK (SDSN)

The UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) has been operating since 2012 under the auspices of the UN Secretary-General. The SDSN mobilizes global scientific and technological expertise to promote practical solutions for sustainable development, including the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Climate Agreement. We aim to accelerate joint learning and promote integrated approaches that address the interconnected economic, social, and environmental challenges confronting the world.

The SDSN works closely with United Nations agencies, multilateral financing institutions, the private sector, and civil society. It is directed by Professor Jeffrey D. Sachs and operates through offices in New York, Paris, and Kuala Lumpur.

ABOUT THE SCIENCE PANEL FOR THE CONGO BASIN

The Science Panel for the Congo Basin (SPCB) is the first-of-its kind independent scientific panel dedicated to synthesizing existing knowledge of the status of, and threats to, the Congo Basin and its ecosystems. As the world’s second largest tropical forest, the Congo Basin is providing key services at local, regional, and global scales that are critical for limiting the impacts of climate change - and yet remains largely under-researched and chronically underinvested.

The SPCB was launched on December 3rd, 2023, at COP28 in Dubai, to mobilize scientists in the region to jointly address these challenges, inspired by the call of environment ministers and scientists across the region for renewed efforts, increased scientific investment, and involvement of science in policy making for the sustainable development of Congo Basin countries.

Led by and composed primarily of leading scientists from the region, the SPCB presented a landmark Assessment Report at the African Development Bank 2026 Annual Meeting. The Report provides a comprehensive scientific synthesis of the Congo Basin ecosystem — one of the most critical natural systems on Earth — covering its biophysical role in the global climate system, human interactions with the ecosystem from prehistory to the present, social-ecological transformations following the 1992 Rio Earth Summit, and a forward-looking solution space for sustainable development.

In line with the Panel's engagement strategy, the Panel will translate the Assessment Report into French and produce Chapters in Brief — condensed, highly accessible summaries in English and French of each of the 40 chapters — tailored to policy makers and broader audiences.

POSITION SUMMARY

This position will support the Secretariat of the Science Panel for the Congo Basin based in SDSN’s New York Office, and will have as first report the SPCB Program Associate. The incumbent provides a wide range of duties. Responsibilities will be largely administrative and include supporting the payment of all partners, production of the assessment report and associated activities (e.g. formatting citations, fact checking, requesting permissions for figures, copyediting), and supporting events and meetings (e.g. organizing meeting, preparing invitations, and taking notes).

PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Science Communication & Writing

• Draft Chapters in Brief by synthesizing key findings from full assessment chapters into 5–10 page accessible summaries.
• Ensure scientific accuracy while adapting language and tone for policy and braoder audiences.
• Review translations of Assessment Report and Chapters in Brief between English and French, maintaining scientific precision and natural readability in both languages.
• Incorporate feedback from chapter authors, the Panel Secretariat, and peer reviewers into successive drafts.

Editorial & Quality Assurance

• Apply and maintain consistent formatting, style, and visual standards across all 39 Chapters in Brief.
• Conduct fact-checking and cross-referencing against source chapters to ensure fidelity of summarized content.

Coordination & Administration

• Maintain a production tracker to monitor the status of each Chapter in Brief through drafting, review, translation, and finalization stages.
• Liaise with chapter authors and section coordinators to solicit inputs, clarifications, and approvals.
• Participate in regular team meetings and provide progress updates to the Panel Secretariat.
• Assist with the preparation of outreach and dissemination materials derived from the Assessment Report and Chapters in Brief.

QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE, AND EXPERTISE

Education

• Bachelor’s degree or currently enrolled in a postgraduate degree (Master's or equivalent) in environmental science, natural resource management, science communication, public policy, or a related field.

Language Skills

• Professional proficiency in both English and French is mandatory. The intern must be able to research, draft, and edit scientific documents to a high standard in both languages, reflecting the bilingual nature of the Panel's audience across the Congo Basin region.

Technical & Professional Skills

• Demonstrated ability to synthesize and communicate complex scientific or technical information for non-specialist audiences.
• Strong writing, editing, and proofreading skills.
• Familiarity with environmental science, biodiversity, and sustainable development topics is a strong asset.
• Proficiency with standard office software (Microsoft Word, Excel); experience with reference management tools (Zotero, Mendeley) is a plus.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks, respect deadlines, and work independently in a remote setting.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Conditions of the Assignment

• The assignment is home-based/remote, with availability during core working hours aligned to Eastern Time (ET)
• Compensation in line with the UN SDSN internship policy. Intern will be paid a rate of $17-19.00 USD per hour for an anticipated 29 hours per week. The total work time is estimated to be approximately 9 weeks.
• The intern will be required to sign a confidentiality agreement regarding unpublished scientific content.
• The intern will report to the Science Panel for the Congo Basin Program Associate
• SDSN does not sponsor visas, and therefore applicants must have proper authorization to work in the United States. SDSN is required by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to secure verification of eligibility to work in the United States. Applicants do not need a visa if they will be working remotely from a different country.

Application Process

• Interested candidates should submit the following documents on HR Partner by June 24:
• A cover letter (maximum 1 page) outlining relevant experience and motivation.
• A curriculum vitae (maximum 3 pages).
• A writing sample demonstrating science communication or technical writing ability (in English or French, or ideally one sample in each language).
• Contact details of two references.
• Interviews with the selected candidates will take place in June 25.

SDSN IS AN EQUAL-OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

SDSN provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to unlawful considerations of race, color, creed, religion, gender, sex, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, genetic information, military or veteran status, age, and physical or mental disability, or any other classification protected by applicable local, state, or federal laws.