Sphere Intern

Description: World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Humanitarian Partnership program (HP) works with the American Red Cross in the areas impacted by the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. The goal of the Humanitarian Partnerships Program is to ensure that recovery and reconstruction efforts include environmentally sustainable considerations. To reduce risk and vulnerability and achieve long-lasting results for affected communities, the relief, recovery and reconstruction process should be comprehensive and include a 'design through implementation' approach to ensure restoration of water and sanitation, shelter, livelihoods, protection of natural resources, and strengthening of communities against future disasters.

Based on the program’s experience providing environmental advisory services to humanitarian aid agencies, WWF-US has been asked to be the focal point for the Environment/Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Climate Change (CC) components of the SPHERE revision process. SPHERE is the handbook of minimum standards in humanitarian aid and the revision process is an opportunity to mainstream environment/DRR/CC issues in humanitarian aid. WWF-US is the focal point for a working group of international Environment/DRR/CC experts. WWF-US is currently seeking a graduate intern with a background in humanitarian aid, conservation and/or development to aid in the SPHERE revision process. The Humanitarian Partnership-Sphere Revisions Internship is a wonderful opportunity for a student interested in issues pertaining to and integrating humanitarian aid/conservation/disaster risk reduction/climate change.

The Intern will assist the HP program research, analyze, draft and edit the environment, disaster risk reduction and climate change components of the SPHERE 2010 handbook. Objectives include: help research and collect relevant data and practices that will be integrated into the handbook; help support the working group and organize, edit and compile data retrieved by environment, disaster risk reduction and climate change working groups; assist in drafting and/or editing revision language; assist in representing the working group at professional seminars and conferences and/or with individual agencies to seek input to the revision process.

A Bachelor’s degree is required with related background experience in any combination of environmental or conservation sciences, humanitarian aid and/or development. Experience in the non-profit sector is desirable. Candidate must possess excellent research, written/oral communication, analytical and critical thinking skills, and strong computer skills, especially Microsoft Word, Outlook and Excel. Working knowledge of conservation, humanitarian aid, and/or environmental policy is required.

Stipend: Unpaid, School credit only (Must be currently enrolled in Graduate Studies Program.)