Data and Secondary Research Support for UNEP

Provides desk-based research and data-compilation support for UNEP India’s work on marine plastic litter, solid waste and circularity. The online volunteer identifies credible sources, compiles and documents information, checks evidence, records data gaps, prepares tables and summaries, maintains references, and revises outputs while UNEP retains responsibility for policy interpretation.

• Conduct desk-based research on marine plastic litter and solid and plastic waste management
• Identify relevant reports, datasets, academic literature, government publications and technical sources
• Compile quantitative and qualitative information for UNEP programme activities
• Organise data on waste generation, collection, recycling, disposal, plastic flows and marine litter
• Document each dataset’s source, year, geography, unit and definition in structured spreadsheets or tables
• Cross-check important data against original or authoritative sources
• Identify and document important data gaps and limitations
• Prepare tables, charts and data summaries and maintain a bibliography and reference repository

• Be enrolled in a university degree programme at Bachelor’s level or equivalent, preferably in environmental science, environmental engineering, environmental management, waste management, marine science, sustainability, natural-resource management, environmental policy or a related field, or have completed a university degree
• English

• Academic exposure, coursework, research or interest in marine litter, marine plastic pollution, solid waste management or plastic waste management
• Relevant university research, dissertations, coursework, internships, volunteer assignments or academic projects
• Familiarity with data-visualisation tools, basic statistical analysis, reference-management software or academic research databases

• Desk Research
• Literature Review
• Data Compilation
• Data Documentation
• Data Quality Assurance
• Information Synthesis
• Waste Management Research
• Marine Litter Research
• Bibliographic Management
• Data Visualisation

• Microsoft Excel

• Online UN Volunteer assignment planned across two weeks
• UNEP retains responsibility for official interpretation, policy recommendations and institutional positions
• Applicants are not required to have prior professional work experience