Type of Assignment: Full time Internship Programme – COP26 Interns at the Environmental Affairs Department (3 positions available) and Malawi Scotland Partnership Regional Offices (3 positions)
Section: Ministry of Forestry and Natural Resources – Environmental Affairs Department and Malawi Scotland Partnership Regional Offices
Location: Lilongwe only for EAD Positions
Mzuzu, Lilongwe and Blantyre Regional Offices for MaSP positions
Duration: September 2021 – June 2022 (10 months)
Start Date: As soon as Possible
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The Malawi Scotland Partnership (MaSP) is a Malawian-owned and Malawian-led network, which exists to support and develop Malawi’s civil society links with Scotland, thereby enhancing the cooperation between Malawi and Scotland Government on one hand and the global North and South on the other. MaSP also coordinates, represents and supports the many people-to-people and community-to-community links between Malawi and Scotland.
2050 Climate Group (2050CG) is an award winning Scotland based youth-led charity focused on empowering young people to tackle climate change. 2050 Climate Group has been working to empower, equip and enable Scotland’s young leaders to take action on climate change since 2014.
The MaSP in collaboration with 2050 Climate Group have been implementing the Malawi Climate Leaders’ Project since September 2018. The project finished Phase 1 in April 2021 and Phase 2 starts in August 2021. The project aims to equip young Malawians with opportunities to increase their knowledge on climate change challenges and develop the skills necessary to tackle them. It engages and educates young climate leaders: empowering them to be confident, capable leaders who are prepared to take action through influencing policymakers, engaging with their communities and developing initiatives which will create long-lasting change towards a sustainable future for Malawi.
The Malawi Climate Leaders’ Project seeks to recruit isx interns who are interested in enhancing their professional experience through practical work assignments for a placement in the Malawi Ministry of Forestry and Natural Resources’ Environmental Affairs Department (EAD), working with the Malawi Scotland Partnership and the National Youth Network on Climate Change (NYNCC). The interns will primarily act as liaisons between MaSP and the EAD on COP26 as well as delivering climate leaders’ work to the EAD.
OBJECTIVE AND SCOPE OF WORK
The purpose of the internship programme is to provide valuable paid work experience for 6 Climate Leaders, building work experience and enhancing skills as well as capacity in the environmental and/or policy and implementation sector. The position ensures that Malawi’s youth have a pivotal role to play in shaping Malawi’s position on climate change by having placement in the Environmental Affairs Department in the lead up to COP26. The interns will support the department’s preparatory work for COP26 by providing regular updates to the projects surrounding policy, development and planning as well as feed youth position work into the overall country position.
Interns will act as liaisons between the project and the EAD, acting as a critical link for the project and youth in attaining and conveying regular updates as well as build new opportunities and partnerships for youth influence. They will be required to increase visibility of climate leaders’ work to the EAD and will be managed by both the EAD and MaSP with a unique exposure to both government and organizational work.
MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES AND TASKS
- To act as MaSP and EAD liaison and ensure smooth communication flow between the two parties in regard to COP26 and Malawi Climate Leaders’ work
- To represent MaSP in COP26 planning meetings
- To bring awareness of MaSP COP26 work and plans
- To keep an up-to-date meeting log and minutes on all COP26 meetings and update MaSP on all new developments,
- To facilitate 3 regional youth feedback sessions on the draft Malawi Position Paper for COP26
- To provide a draft youth position paper on COP26
- To identify potential opportunities for partnership and collaboration,
- To ensure Climate Leaders are updated on COP26 and that their voices are represented in the government’s position.
- To have an up-to-date database for young leaders to ensure availability of information of their work at all times
- To carry out a comprehensive policy analysis in regard to COP26
- To submit bi-weekly reports of their work
- Any other duties as assigned by supervisors
QUALIFICATION/REQUIREMENT
- Desirable Bachelor’s degree in climate change and natural sciences, IT, Mass Communication and any other related field.
- Strong analytical and good report writing and presentation skills.
- Must be between 18 and 35 years of age
- Those who have previously benefitted from the Malawi Climate Leaders Project internship programme do not qualify;
- Have good organizational, time management and facilitation skills;
- Be conversant in both written and spoken English and Chichewa
- Self-directed and able to work without supervision
- Candidates with knowledge of Microsoft Office and use of social media will have an added advantage.
- Applicants who have undergone the full MaSP Climate Leaders’ Project training and meetings will have an added advantage
- Additional consideration will be given for any past experience in climate change work in regard to youth, COP26 and policy.
REPORTING LINES
The interns will directly report to the MaSP Project Coordinator as well as the Chief Environmental Officer of the EAD. The interns will also update the supervisors on progress of work assignments during regular meetings.
MODE OF APPLICATION
Interested qualifying candidates should submit their current Curriculum Vitae (CV), Cover Letter and copies of degree or evidence of pending graduation from their respective institutions to:
The Chief Executive Officer
Malawi Scotland Partnership
Area 14 plot number 14/008
Scripture Union House (Opposite CCBC)
P.O Box 1589
Lilongwe,
Malawi
Email: ccyl@malawiscotlandpartnership.org
Website: www.malawiscotlandpartnership.org
Closing date for the receipt of applications is close of business of 15August, 2021.
Take note that due to large volumes of applicants, only short-listed candidates will be contacted.