Remote United Nations Volunteer Opportunity 2026 in Climate Change Research

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is offering an online volunteering opportunity for 2026 titled “Climate Change Research Needs in Lebanon.” The opportunity is aimed at researchers and professionals in environmental sciences, climate change, and sustainability who are interested in helping identify research priorities and knowledge gaps related to climate change in Lebanon.

The assignment aims to review national climate-related documents and policies, identify gaps in available data and scientific knowledge, and formulate practical research questions that universities, researchers, and research centers can use to develop solutions that support climate change adaptation and risk reduction.

The volunteer will focus on key areas including water resources, agriculture, health, biodiversity, infrastructure, and disaster risk reduction, while also analyzing how the identified research needs align with Lebanon’s national policies.

Benefits

• Fully remote volunteering with no need to travel to Lebanon.

• Gain research experience in climate change and climate adaptation.

• Contribute to a research project connected to the work of the United Nations Development Programme.

• Develop skills in analyzing environmental policies and climate strategies.

• Gain experience reviewing national documents and scientific reports.

• Develop skills in identifying research gaps and translating them into researchable questions.

• Strengthen experience in data analysis, research matrix preparation, and report writing.

• Contribute to identifying research priorities that may support universities and research centers in Lebanon.

• Potentially receive an electronic certificate of appreciation from the United Nations Volunteers programme, subject to successful completion of the assignment.

• Review Lebanon’s national climate change documents, including the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

• Analyze National Communications, Biennial Transparency Reports (BTRs), and climate risk assessments.

• Identify gaps in data, scientific knowledge, and available evidence related to climate change adaptation.

• Assess scientific and methodological limitations, including needs related to modeling and analysis.

• Translate identified gaps into clear, practical research questions linked to public policy needs.

• Organize research needs by sector and cross-cutting themes.

• Focus on sectors including water, agriculture, health, ecosystems, biodiversity, cities, infrastructure, and disaster risk reduction.

• Prioritize research needs according to their relevance to national climate policies and their potential to improve planning and implementation.

• Have an academic background in environmental studies, environmental science, climate change, sustainability, environmental technology, urban planning, architecture, or a related field.

• Have knowledge of climate change policies, climate strategies, and environmental assessment.

• Be able to review and analyze scientific reports and national policy documents.

• Possess strong research, data collection, and information organization skills.

• Be fluent in English.