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Intern Nature Based Solutions

Vacancy #:   6670
Unit:   European Regional Office- Nature-Based Solutions
Organisation:   International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
Location:   European Regional Office Belgium, Brussels, Belgium
Reporting to:   Senior Officer – Nature Based Solutions
Work percentage:   100%
Grade:   I
Expected start date:   25 March 2024
Type of contract:   Fixed-term
Closing date:   22 December 2023
BACKGROUND
About the International Union for Conservation of Nature - IUCN
IUCN is the world’s oldest and largest global environmental network - a democratic membership union with more than 1,000 government and NGO member organizations, and almost 11,000 volunteer scientists in more than 160 countries. IUCN’s work is supported by more than 1,000 professional staff in 45 offices and hundreds of partners in public, NGO and private sectors around the world. Its headquarters are based in Gland, Switzerland.
IUCN’s work focuses on valuing and conserving nature, ensuring effective and equitable governance of its use, and deploying nature-based solutions to global challenges in climate, food and development. IUCN supports scientific research, manages field projects all over the world, and brings governments, NGOs, the UN and companies together to develop policy, laws and best practice.
The IUCN European Regional Office represents around 360 Members. We provide regional and global services to IUCN, by providing vital linkages to EU institutions and other stakeholders in Brussels. Our primary role is to connect and engage in policy dialogues with European institutions, governments, civil society, NGOs, science and the business communities to improve conservation policy and action. As a science-based organisation, IUCN provides essential knowledge products for a broad range of policy debates.
One of the specific areas of work that will be part of the focus of this internship is the cooperation with cities and local and regional governments, business, practitioners and other key actors for strengthening the awareness and implementation of nature-based solutions across ecosystem types. Nature-based solutions use ecosystems to address global challenges such as climate change, natural hazards, food security, or urban heat production.
JOB DESCRIPTION
Tasks and Responsibilities
The IUCN Brussels team is looking for a highly motivated intern (with student status) for a period of 6 months to provide support to one specific area of the office’s activities: upscaling the implementation of nature-based solutions.
The position is unpaid, with expenses paid for food and transportation.
Under the supervision of the IUCN EU Programme Officer Nature Based Solutions, the intern will support two major projects focused on implementing and upscaling nature-based solutions – NetworkNature+, which is a European and global platform for strengthening the use of nature-based solutions and BiodiverseCities, which focuses on the development of nature-based solutions for biodiversity in cities. In addition, the intern will provide support to other projects, focusing on rewilding, climate-resilience, and forestry research & innovation. He/she will support communications, outreach and capacity building events, both online and in person. The intern will also contribute to research tasks, mapping potential partners for nature-based solutions at EU, national and regional level, will follow relevant EU policy developments and will maintain an overview of reports, documents and case studies of nature-based solutions.
This assignment will include the following responsibilities:
• Assist in developing the evidence-base for nature-based solutions via desk-based research, particularly to identify reports, documents, policy developments and analyses at EU and national level;
• Contribute to mapping potential partners for nature-based solutions at EU, national and regional level;
• Monitor news, developments and events on nature-based solutions, including maintaining an up-to-date list of events on nature-based solutions and on relevant sectoral issues;
• Produce communications materials such as newsletters, web-stories, articles, brochures, factsheets etc. related to nature-based solutions;
• Organise outreach and training events, both virtual and in-person (if circumstances allow), including speaker liaison, logistics, onsite support and reporting;
• Contribute to organisation of partner meetings, including logistics, minutes and document administration;
• Assist in preparing speeches and PowerPoint presentations on a variety of topics related to IUCN’s mission;
• Attend relevant webinars, meetings and conferences and reporting on the outcomes;
• Provide a range of administrative support functions on a day-to-day basis (e.g. processing of invoices, contracts and financial reports).
REQUIREMENTS
  • Studying towards a relevant Bachelor’s or Master’s degree with a focus on environmental science, natural resource management, sustainable urban development, or any other discipline that is relevant to nature conservation or sustainable development;

• Applicants must have student status and be enrolled at a university for the entire duration of the internship;

• Affinity with the vision and mission of IUCN and a strong interest in and understanding of European environmental policies and sustainable urban development;

• Excellent level of written and spoken English (native speaker or equivalent), other languages are an asset;

• Good organizational, administrative and reporting skills; strong writing skills; and IT literate in MS Office

• Ability to work independently and on multiple tasks simultaneously;

• Ability to meet tight deadlines without compromising the quality of outputs;

• Highly motivated to learn and develop new skills, keen to bring in own ideas;

• A team player with a strong interest to work in an international environment;

• EU national or holder of Belgian work permit.
APPLICATIONS

Applicants are requested to apply online through the HR Management System, by opening the vacancy announcement and pressing the "Apply" button.

Applicants will be asked to create an account and submit their profile information. Applications will not be accepted after the closing date. The vacancy closes at midnight, Swiss time (GMT+1 / GMT+2 during Daylight Saving Time, DST). Please note that only selected applicants will be personally contacted for interviews.

Other job opportunities are published in the IUCN website: https://www.iucn.org/involved/jobs/


About IUCN

IUCN is a membership Union uniquely composed of both government and civil society organisations. It provides public, private and non-governmental organisations with the knowledge and tools that enable human progress, economic development and nature conservation to take place together.

Created in 1948, IUCN is now the world’s largest and most diverse environmental network, harnessing the knowledge, resources and reach of more than 1,400 Member organisations and around 16,000 experts. It is a leading provider of conservation data, assessments and analysis. Its broad membership enables IUCN to fill the role of incubator and trusted repository of best practices, tools and international standards.

IUCN provides a neutral space in which diverse stakeholders including governments, NGOs, scientists, businesses, local communities, indigenous peoples organisations and others can work together to forge and implement solutions to environmental challenges and achieve sustainable development.

Working with many partners and supporters, IUCN implements a large and diverse portfolio of conservation projects worldwide. Combining the latest science with the traditional knowledge of local communities, these projects work to reverse habitat loss, restore ecosystems and improve people’s well-being.

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