Internship Supporting Climate Resilience Initiative

UNU-CRIS currently seeks applications for a research internship position within the UNU Climate Resilience Initiative. The position is set within a work package on multi-level governance in relation to cross-border management of floods risks in Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands at the regional scale and on the institutional analysis for flood risk governance at the nation scale for Belgium. The position will last between 3 and 6 months.

This role will ideally be fulfilled onsite at our premises in Bruges on a full-time basis, however there is a possibility that it is partly undertaken remotely and/or via flexible working arrangements.

 

Responsibilities

As a research intern, you will be part of a dedicated team of international researchers from UNU-CRIS, UNU-MERIT and UNU-EHS. You will be assigned tasks that contribute to:

  • Data collection and analysis of the responses to the 2021 floods at various levels of governance systems in Belgium (response strategy, anticipation/forecast measures, information sharing mechanisms);
  • Evaluation of the level of competence, connection, collaboration, and exchange in the context of flood risk governance from supranational to local levels;
  • Synthesis of the challenges and opportunities for regional integration and cross-border collaboration between Belgian, Dutch and German actors in building effective disaster management;
  • Examination of the feasibility for vertical and horizontal integration for climate (flood) resilience based on multi-level governance frameworks;
  • Preparation and coordination of events by the UNU Climate Resilience Initiative.

 

Selection criteria

Applicants should:

  • be enrolled in, or have recently completed within two years, a graduate (second university degree or equivalent) or postgraduate degree programme (master’s or doctoral level).
  • have a strong academic record and a demonstrated interest in research in the field of climate resilience, multi-level governance and/or comparative regionalism.
  • possess relevant qualitative or quantitative data collection and analytical skills.
  • good knowledge of the Belgian institutional context
  • have good time management and organisational capacities and be able to deal autonomously with different tasks at the same time.
  • be a proactive team-player.
  • be committed to the mission of the UN and to UNU’s mandate.
  • given the nature of the tasks required and the geographical focus, a working proficiency in Dutch and/or French is highly desirable

 

Financial provisions

UNU-CRIS provides a monthly stipend to cover living expenses. The amount is adjusted every month according to UNDP scales (approximately 900 Euro per month for internships undertaken in Belgium). In case of remote work, the remuneration rate will be adjusted to the home country of the successful applicant.

 

Application procedure

If you are interested in participating in this programme you should complete and submit the application form on or before 15 May 2022. Please indicate a preferred starting date in your application.

Applicants are required to submit the following documents:

  • CV;
  • Letter of Motivation;
  • Two Letters of Recommendation.

Incomplete applications will not be considered.

 

Questions about the internship programme shall be directed to Andrew Dunn.

 

Selected applicants will be informed by email of the final decision within a week of the closing deadline. The selected applicants must confirm their decision to take up an offer one week after being contacted. The Research Internship Programme is competitive and unfortunately only a small percentage of applicants can be accepted. UNU-CRIS is committed to promoting and achieving gender parity and geographical diversity in its workforce.

 

You can read about previous experiences from the programme here.