The Environmental Initiatives Intern (EII), under the supervision of the Program Director (PD), will provide strategic support to a network of local partner organizations. The basic responsibilities of the position generally include developing and supporting environmental trainings, supporting partner organization grant preparation, providing direct consultation and support for a wide range of environmental project and capacity building activities in support of Foundation for Community Development and Empowerment (FCDE) partner organizations.
The EII position is structured so that the intern provides support focused on environmental initiatives and issues surrounding our team’s Community Driven Development work. This work focuses on providing a high level of intensive support to a group of professional development workers and less on the cultural, language and community immersion components associated with many “voluntourism” internships. This internship is intended to mirror the expectations and responsibilities of an entry level development position. The position works under the supervision of the Program Director with oversight by the International Program Director.
Major Duties and Responsibilities (work in each area will depend on FCDE's partner organization needs during internship)
A. Environmental and Related Program Development (approx. 50% of the time)
B. General Partner Capacity Building & Training (approx. 10% of the time)
C. Administrative Support (no more than 25% of the time)
D. Program, Monitoring and Evaluation (approximately 10% of the time)
E. Other Duties and Activities (not to exceed 5% of the time)
Expected Outcomes:
Supervision and Guidance
The EII functions under the direct supervision of the FCDE Program Director and in coordination and cooperation with the Program Team. EII is expected to carry out most job functions independently with guidance and training provided by the program staff.
Desired Qualifications
The EII position is structured so that the intern provides support focused on environmental initiatives and issues surrounding our team’s Community Driven Development work. This work focuses on providing a high level of intensive support to a group of professional development workers and less on the cultural, language and community immersion components associated with many “voluntourism” internships. This internship is intended to mirror the expectations and responsibilities of an entry level development position. The position works under the supervision of the Program Director with oversight by the International Program Director.
Major Duties and Responsibilities (work in each area will depend on FCDE's partner organization needs during internship)
A. Environmental and Related Program Development (approx. 50% of the time)
- Carry out a broad survey of FCDE’s partner organizations to identify common environmental interests.
- Analyze and prepare a report on the environmental survey that provides possible approaches and methods for addressing specific opportunities. Work directly with FCDE program staff to address specific issues raised in the survey results.
- Support communication around partner’s environmental programs and initiatives. This will include maintaining records, providing written reports and developing regular communication with some of our partner organizations.
- Support environmental education and organizational capacity building activities that includes ongoing trainings, consulting (one-on-one or small group), as well as site visits to support the development and ongoing success of our partner organizations’ programmatic activities. Done both in conjunction with FCDE Site Team and independently (level of independent work depends on length of internship, subject to approval from the Program Director).
- Review and provide feedback on environmental training and workshop materials and together with the Site Team update program materials as needed.
B. General Partner Capacity Building & Training (approx. 10% of the time)
- Assist in obtaining baseline organizational assessments and the maintenance of documenting partner organization’s capacity development.
- Help develop and deliver materials and trainings meant to build partner’s skills and capacity so that they can carry out their programmatic activities successfully, strengthen the efficacy of their programs, and enhance organizational development.
- Support the implementation of work plans for each partner organization.
- Provide networking and resource sharing opportunities to support collaboration among partners.
- Provide a written set of recommendations and/or next steps for subsequent interns to give continuity to projects or overall program development.
C. Administrative Support (no more than 25% of the time)
- Assist with and maintain program written records and files, and perform routine clerical tasks.
- Assist in the collection and analysis of data on partner organization performance, and in the preparation of reports on program development and/or grant activities.
- Assist in preparation of a wide range of program documentation, including: Partner Organization Profiles, Weekly Reports, Quarterly Program Evaluations and Reports; Grant Project Evaluation and Follow Up Reports, etc.
D. Program, Monitoring and Evaluation (approximately 10% of the time)
- Support the identification and collection of data to be used in monitoring and evaluation reporting.
- Help monitor partner organization program and grant progress in order to best provide guidance/ capacity building tools as needed to facilitate successful performance and adherence to the FCDE approach.
E. Other Duties and Activities (not to exceed 5% of the time)
- Perform other related duties as assigned by the Program Director, Director of International Programs that support the work and organizational objectives of FCDE.
- Provide relevant insight and ideas to the staff on how technology and communications systems can be best integrated within the organization.
Expected Outcomes:
- Intern will provide substantive input to the development and production of training materials to be used in carrying out capacity building work with FCDE partner organizations
- Intern will provide direct or indirect technical training to FCDE partner organizations
- Intern will provide specific recommendation of environmental projects that are most appropriate for replication and expansion
- Intern will provide an end of internship report detailing possible key points of monitoring appropriate for environmental projects
- Intern will support the FCDE staff’s community driven development work through administrative support activities
Supervision and Guidance
The EII functions under the direct supervision of the FCDE Program Director and in coordination and cooperation with the Program Team. EII is expected to carry out most job functions independently with guidance and training provided by the program staff.
Desired Qualifications
- Education: Pursuing or achieved a university degree in International Development, Environmental sciences, International/Regional Studies or related field.
- Prior Experience: one year work or comparable volunteer experience within a related field.
- Language Proficiency: Spoken and written fluency in English.
- Knowledge: Solid working knowledge of community development and the host-country’s culture/history/current events; demonstrated ability to maintain working level contacts with NGO officials and host families; and demonstrated experience and skills in supporting of training or educational events.
- Skills and Abilities: Ability to represent FCDE effectively with partner organizations, local officials, and International Sponsors (Donors, Academic Sponsors). Organizational and administrative skills. Excellent computer skills in word-processing and database management. Motivation and commitment to work effectively as part of an inter-cultural team. Excellent interpersonal skills. Demonstrated ability to exercise good judgment under normal as well as complex and often stressful conditions.
