Internship with United Nations University Institute for Environment and Human Security – Germany
Organization: United Nations University Institute for Environment and Human Security
Position Title: UNU-EHS Intern
Location: Bonn, Germany
Dates and compensation: Start date June 2015; full-time basis for a contractual period ranging from 3-6 months. The internship is not remunerated.
Application Deadline: Rolling
Description: WASCAL (West African Science Service Center on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use) is a large-scale research-focused program initiated to develop effective adaptation and mitigation measures to climate change. Its overall objective is to enhance the resilience of social-ecological systems to the impacts of climate change and increased climate variability. The geographical focus of WASCAL is on selected case study watersheds in West Africa.
WASCAL is based on three principle components: a Competence Center, a core Research Program and a Graduate Research Program. The Core Research Program relates to the scientific activities of the Competence Center, and is implemented by a network of German and West African research institutes. Within the core research program, UNU-EHS will analyze rural households’ vulnerabilities and risks to rapid onset and creeping hazards in the context of climate change and explore potential coping and adaptation strategies. Specifically, UNU-EHS deals with the identification, characterization and quantification of major climate change-related hazards to rural households/communities at different spatial and temporal scales, the assessment of the social-ecological system’s social, environmental and economic vulnerabilities as well as their resilience to multiple climate change-related hazards and consequent cascading effects.
Responsibilities:
- Conduct background literature searches in the context of vulnerability and risk assessment,
- Search for secondary data from various sources,
- Compile and edit data,
- Support the work of the team in spatial (GIS) data processing and analysis,
- Support the work of the team in data analysis,
- Any other duties as may be assigned or required.
Qualifications:
Field of Study: Geography, Social Science, Environmental sciences with social sciences minors, or a related field.
Essential Skills and attributes:
- Very good command of oral and written English,
- Proven record of computer proficiency (particularly strong skills in excel),
- Experience with data collection and management,
- Experience with data entry, validation and processing,
- Knowledge of GIS and SPSS is required,
- A willingness to learn new technology skills and methods is a must,
- Ability to be flexible and multitask.
Desired Skills:
- French would be desirable,
- Knowledge of quantitative and qualitative data analysis tools would be desirable,
- Research experience in West Africa would be an asset,
- Background in vulnerability assessments and indicator development will be looked on favourably.
How to Apply: Interested applicants should submit their application, preferably by e-mail, and must include the following:
- Quote reference number UNU-EHS/EVES/WASCAL/2015(1) in the email subject line;
- Curriculum Vitae in English;
- Cover letter in English: outlining your motivations, possible contributions to the programme and future career goals;
- Completed UNU-EHS application form (downloadable at: ehs.unu.edu/article/read/about-the-internship-programme-at-unu-ehs under Links & Documents);
- Two letters of recommendation.
Applications: By email to: [email protected]
By post to:
UNU-EHS / UNU-ViE
Internship Coordinator
UN Campus
Platz der Vereinten Nationen 1
D-53113 Bonn, GERMANY
