Conservation Project Development Internship

Conservation Project Development Intern (Voluntary) – Job Description

Position Overview:

As the international development and environmental sector continues to grow, most jobs at international not-for-profits, charities, and NGOs will require their employees to have experience working abroad. This position represents an excellent opportunity to gain on-the-ground experience for anyone wishing to pursue a career in international development or conservation.

The Conservation Project Development Intern will work with Azafady for a minimum of 12 months, spending time initially in the London office (the duration of this is dependent on the needs of both the intern and Azafady) before joining the team in Madagascar.  The intern will be based in Azafady's office in Fort Dauphin, working across the Conservation and Project Development departments supporting the day to day monitoring and evaluation of projects, providing research regarding conservation issues and developing new proposals for future projects. He or she will get a valuable insight to the work of a small international NGO, by experiencing both on-the-ground project management and administrative activities in Fort Dauphin.

The diversity of activities which will be undertaken are aimed at providing rounded experience for someone starting a career in international development or conservation or for someone looking to further their existing experience.  Example tasks include- revising funding proposals, designing monitoring systems for new or existing projects, providing support in evaluating projects, providing technical support in the areas of conservation and researching community led conservation.

Objectives

Over the course of 12 months it is expected that the Conservation Project Development Intern will work alongside the team in completing the following objectives-

• Evaluate methods of improved stove production in resource dependent communities
• Support the team with ideas in how best to communicate the benefits of stoves
• Research issues regarding the sustainable establishment and operation of community-based environment management structures
• Write update reports on issues regarding conservation relating to Azafady’s work from internet searches, for examples, REDD, Fire break management, Climate change
• Assist with writing funding proposals for direct species intervention and/or habitat conservation projects
• Design and oversee implementation of a fragment mapping initiative with regards to a critically endangered palm species
• Design and assist in implementing evaluations for Azafady’s conservation and environment projects
• To work alongside the Head of Conservation in ensuring compliance with donor requirements throughout project activity
• Design and supervise monitoring of Azafady’s conservation projects
• Assist the Head of Department in training field based staff with regards to undertaking accurate monitoring activities
• Analyse the success of Azafady’s current projects and make recommendations for improvements
• Provide informal information exchange to the team managing Azafady’s International Volunteer Programme
• Produce an evaluation report of Azafady’s 50ha agro-forestry plantation
• Assist with writing a funding proposal regarding the development of Azafady’s agro-forestry plantation
• Work alongside the Head of Conservation and the Environment in writing reports to funders of current projects

Contract type: Voluntary, unsalaried, no expenses

Contract duration: 12 months

Location: Azafady Ltd, London, UK and ONG Azafady, Fort Dauphin, Madagascar

Reporting to: Heads of Conservation and Project Development

Required skills:

The successful applicant will:

• Hold an undergraduate degree in either Conservation or Development or another relevant subject, combined with experience
• Have a proven interest in community conservation issues, especially those in least         developed countries 
• Have proven ability to design scientifically sound research methodologies
• Have proven ability to produce clear and engaging written work, for a variety of audiences
• Have proven ability to conduct internet based research and compile results
• Have excellent analytical skills, particularly with regards to conducting research pertinent to Azafady’s project areas
• Ideally have experience living, working or travelling in a developing country, though is not essential
• Be fluent in written and spoken English. A working knowledge of French is desirable but not essential
• Be capable and comfortable adapting to life in a least developed country with sometimes basic living conditions
• Be able to adjust to life in another culture and a foreign language, and be able to work at all times with cultural sensitivity
• Be able to financially support themselves for 12 months and be equipped with a laptop

Country and organisation background:

Madagascar is the fourth largest island in the world. It has an ethnically diverse population of some 20 million people, and the number of inhabitants is increasing at a rate of about 3% per year.  It is one of the world’s poorest countries, ranking 145/182 in the 2008-9 Human Development Report, with more than 70% of the population living below the poverty line. 

Isolation of communities and lack of state capacity mean service delivery is extremely poor. Government educational services, extremely limited as they are across the island, rarely reach rural communities. State provided health facilities are seriously under-funded. Island-wide, among rural populations only 35% of people have improved water sources, and just 26% have adequate sanitation facilities (UNICEF, 2008).

Tolagnaro (or Fort Dauphin), where ONG Azafady is based, is an isolated town in the southeast of the island, in Anosy Region. The people of Anosy are among the poorest in the country.  Whilst the government has adopted a detailed strategy paper for poverty reduction, Anosy’s isolation means that little has changed. The region’s population suffers one of the lowest per capita incomes and highest rates of disease, infant mortality (34% in some communities) and illiteracy (over 80%). Diarrhoeal disease, malaria, respiratory and sexually transmitted infections are rife: as many as 3 in 10 children under 5 years old die from easily preventable diseases and illnesses. Average life expectancy is just 59 years, (UNICEF, 2006) and the mortality rate for those under five years is over one in ten (115/1000 live births, UNICEF, 2008 estimate).

Azafady has over 10 years experience in grassroots community development work. The organisation intervenes in Fort Dauphin and surrounding rural communities aiming to alleviate extreme poverty and protect a unique but greatly endangered environment by empowering the poorest people of the region to improve health and wellbeing and establish more sustainable livelihoods. At the heart of Azafady’s work is an integrated approach to community development sensitively built around what are directly expressed to be the most pressing needs of local populations and which maximises their participation. Project activities are focused on the fields of construction, health and sanitation, livelihood diversification and natural resource management. All projects align with and contribute to achievement of the Millennium Development Goals and Madagascar Action Plan commitments in these sectors.

Application procedure

Send CV and cover letter to Lisa@azafady.org. Shortlisted applicants will be contacted by email. Interviews will take place with the Madagascar team by phone and with the London team in person.