| Description |
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The Vulnerability and Adaptation (V&A) Initiative under WRI’s Climate and Energy Program (CEP) seeks an energetic individual with excellent analytic, organizational, and communication skills for a full-time, 6-month internship position. The intern will provide research and administrative support to the V&A team.
As the impacts of climate change worsen, it is becoming more important to take climatic changes into account in sustainable development policy and planning. WRI’s V&A Initiative focuses on reducing the vulnerability of poor communities in developing countries by helping design innovative international and national policy solutions (http://www.wri.org/project/vulnerability-and-adaptation).
The intern will work closely with the Initiative’s staff to launch a new project focused on improving the information base for adaptation decision-making in the South Asian region. The project will produce a review of global good practice in managing uncertainty in adaptation, and will identify key strengths and gaps in climate-relevant information systems in South Asia. Project activities will include a literature review, phone and in-person interviews, development of several case studies, convening of a mid-sized workshop, a synthesis report, and development of web-based communications materials.
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| Responsibilities: |
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Research support (approx. 50%):
The intern will assist in design and execution of the literature review and associated interview research. Activities will include developing annotated bibliographies, writing research summary memos, and maintaining databases and reference lists. The intern will also help develop interview questions and conduct phone interviews. He/she will be expected to make clear and concise contributions to reports and independently develop case summaries and online communications materials.
Management and administrative support (approx. 50%):
The intern will assist with critical administrative aspects of the project, including maintenance of contacts databases, correspondence with a variety of project participants, coordination of meeting schedules, and management of contracts with partners in South Asia and elsewhere. The intern may have the opportunity to travel to South Asia in February to provide logistical support for the final workshop. Given time zone differences, he/she may sometimes need to work outside of regular business hours.
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| Qualifications: |
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The individual selected must have the following key competencies:
- Excellent research and analytic skills.
- Excellent (we’re not kidding) writing and editing skills in English.
- Graduate degree, preferably in environmental science, public policy, natural resource management, sociology, international economics, or a related field.
- Strong computer skills in Microsoft Office. Ability to quickly learn new software and software functions, such as Outlook’s scheduling functions, advanced Excel formatting functions, and the Raiser’s Edge constituent management system.
- Solid quantitative skills.
- Passion for details, and respect for the importance of administrative tasks.
- Genuine interest in sustainable development.
- Ability to juggle multiple priorities, handle quickly emerging tasks, and work under tight deadlines.
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills, including experience in a cross-cultural context.
- Flexibility, patience, and a good sense of humor.
The ideal candidate will also have interest and experience in South Asia, and will be familiar with issues and concepts in climate adaptation. He/she will be a highly motivated self-starter capable of working both independently and in team situations. Past professional experience is preferred, but not required.
Internship period: Sep. 6, 2011 – Mar. 31, 2012
All applications must include a cover letter, resume and a writing sample (5 page maximum). Please note that when you click the "apply now" link, you will be prompted to create your profile, upload your resume, paste your cover letter and then submit the application. Immediately following the basic application process, a window will open for you to paste in your writing sample.
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