Working at IRENA

Staff in this category are generally recruited locally from the area in which the IRENA office is located but could be of any nationality. The work of General Service staff supports the functioning of the Agency and includes administrative, secretarial and clerical support as well as specialised technical functions. Staff in this category may perform work in various administrative roles (e.g. human resources, finance, procurement, general services, information systems and communication technology, etc.) or may provide support to substantive programmes.

Basic requirements: High school diploma or equivalent is normally required, and additional education or training at a technical level is desirable. The level of the position determines the required number of years of work experience relevant to the job, which is specified in the vacancy announcement. Excellent command of English, both written and spoken. Knowledge of another language may be an asset.

IRENA offers some job opportunities under a Junior Professional Officer (JPO) Programme. The Programme provides young professionals an opportunity to acquire hands-on work experience in the Agency, and enhances the source of potential future talents for IRENA. JPOs work as a professional staff member under the guidance of a senior professional.

The purpose of the Associate Professional Programme is to enable talented young university graduates and post-graduates to gain first-hand professional work experience in IRENA’s work and a deeper insight into its global role in promoting renewable energy. The programme offers valuable exposure to IRENA’s main activities, operations and programmatic areas. Associate Professionals are normally engaged for an initial duration of one year, which may be renewed for another year subject to the needs of service.

Basic requirements: Advanced university degree or a first-level university degree, preferably combined with relevant work experience. Excellent command of English, both written and spoken. Knowledge of another language may be desirable.

IRENA frequently engages experts under individual consultant contracts to work on short-term projects or assignments. A consultant is a recognised authority or specialist in a specific field, engaged by the Agency in an advisory or consultative capacity or to provide expertise, skills or knowledge for the performance of a specific task or assignment, which may involve analysing issues, conducting seminars or training courses, preparing documents for conferences and meetings, or writing reports on matters within their area of expertise.

IRENA’s internship programme provides an opportunity for graduate and/or university students from diverse academic backgrounds to enhance their educational experience through practical work assignments. It allows selected candidates to gain direct exposure and insight into the work of the Agency and provides a learning opportunity in various professional fields. Internship duration is normally between two and six months.

Eligibility: Candidate should normally be enrolled in a post-graduate programme or in their final year of undergraduate programme. Recent graduates can also be included in the internship programme provided the start date of the internship is less than six months from completion of studies.

Stipend: Interns receive monthly stipend to assist them to cover living and accommodation expenses.

Travel: Round-trip air or rail ticket is provided to interns who reside beyond commuting distance from the duty station.

IRENA has initiated a Capacity Building Programme for professionals from Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Islands Developing States (SIDS). The programme will provide an opportunity for young professionals who are nationals from LDCs and SIDS, with the agreement and support of their governments, to serve at IRENA Headquarters in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates or at its office in Bonn, Germany, for a period of one year (renewable to two years) aiming to build capacity for addressing renewable energy issues in SIDS and LDCs and to provide experience in an intergovernmental organisation setting. Participating governments would be asked to release selected employees to the Agency, for a period of one or two years, on a loan arrangement, whereby the government employee would continue to receive their salary and emoluments from the releasing government. The Agency will cover the cost of travel, medical insurance and pay a monthly lump sum to support the candidates with the cost of living, in line with the current Associate Professional programme benefits. The intent is that following the assignment, they will return to their releasing government. To ensure a transparent and competitive process, the Agency has advertised a vacancy notice on its website which specifies the occupational areas to be performed and the profiles that will be considered for the candidates from LDCs and SIDS. Once selected, the Agency would then contact the Government of the selected individual to enter into a loan agreement with the respective releasing office.

Monthly allowance: A living stipend to assist with accommodations and living in Abu Dhabi/Bonn.

Travel: For a complete list of LDC and SIDS countries, please refer to the following sites:
https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/
https://www.un.org/