Climate and Resilience Internship

Are you interested in international development, climate change, sustainability and green growth development in Africa? Would you like to work in a vibrant and challenging environment at the largest Danish Embassy in Africa? You will have dedicated colleagues ready to guide and involve you in the various tasks of the Danish Embassy and live in a city known for its vivid mix of African cultures, entrepreneurs, and international agents.

Danish support to climate mitigation, adaptation, and resilience in Kenya

Economic growth in Kenya, which has been steadily increasing in recent years, is highly dependent on natural resources. Sustainability of this growth, therefore, depends to a large extent on efficient use of resources (energy, water, land and other resources) and effective control of negative externalities such as water and air pollution, land degradation, and waste production. Kenya’s future possibilities for fostering sustainable growth and employment and ensuring a clean and healthy environment will be determined by the choices that are made today in relation to the quality of growth.

As outlined in the Strategic Framework ‘Denmark-Kenya Partnership, 2021-2025’, Danish development engagement in Kenya follows three strategic objectives, including: 1) Promoting green, sustainable and inclusive economic growth and decent jobs with an emphasis on youth and 3) Promoting communities’ resilience in Kenya’s arid- and semi-arid lands, which are highly affected by climate change. The Climate and Resilience Team is responsible for several development engagements under these objectives.

Further, climate change is on top of the political agenda globally, including in the new Danish Strategy for Development Cooperation, where climate action is given the highest level of priority. The Danish Embassy in Nairobi has been appointed as a ‘Green Frontline Mission’, which enables the Embassy to play a key role in achieving the Danish Government’s goal to raise global climate action ambitions, including in Kenya through the Embassy’s strategy for Climate Diplomacy. The Embassy is also aiming to lead by example by implementing sustainable solutions and practices internally.

Learning
As an intern, you will be an integrated part of the Climate and Resilience Team. You will be working on general issues related to poverty reduction and livelihood and a wide range of more specific issues related to climate change, climate finance, climate-smart innovation, water-resource management, agri-business and community-driven development.

Together with the programme staff, you will:

• Assist in implementation of development engagements under the Climate and Resilience Team;
• Assist in mainstreaming of climate change across engagements, especially related to reporting on results;
• Support the team’s work within public diplomacy and implementation of strategic communications activities in close collaboration with the Embassy’s communications officer;
• Participate in and coordinate meetings, gatherings and events in relation to development partners, government stakeholders, civil society and multilateral organisations etc.
• Participate in the ‘Greening’-taskforce at the Embassy who is leading the internal organizational changes towards creating create a more sustainable workplace and reducing our carbon footprint;
• Provide administrative support day-to-day and support during visits by delegations/missions from Copenhagen.

Other tasks will come up on an ad-hoc basis.

In addition, the team also covers Denmark’s engagement with the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), which will be an opportunity to learn about multilateral cooperation.

As an intern, you will be acquainted with the practical workings of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This include learning about working as a representative for the Danish Government, management of development programmes, engaging in public diplomacy and climate diplomacy, and getting familiar with the financial and administrative systems used by the Ministry.

Qualifications

• A Bachelor degree and admission at master level at a Danish University in a relevant field for this position.
• Genuine interest in sustainability and growth, climate change and development cooperation.
• Working experience from relevant institutions or private businesses is not a requirement but is considered an asset.
• Responsible, independent and mature in your approach to an internship that unfolds in an international, intensive and demanding environment.
• Ability to work independently, demonstrate initiative and value working in a team.
• Quick to learn, ready to adapt and good multi-tasking skills are highly valued qualities.
• Good English and Danish language skills.
• Danish citizenship or fulfilling the following requirements: The applicant has lived in Denmark for a longer period of time (at least 3-4 years), is admitted at a Danish University or Business School and at the time of applying has residence in Denmark.

Practicalities

The Embassy provides a monthly supplement of DKK 5000 of which approximately half will be spent on rent for the apartment shared by the Embassy’s four interns. Due to regulation regarding SU and compensation, you will have two options regarding receiving the supplement:

1. Choose not to receive SU and get the monthly supplement of DKK 5000 per month.
2. Receive SU and hand in documentation of concrete expenses (including flight tickets, vaccines, insurance, etc.) up to DKK 5000 per month.

Due to Nairobi being a city with high security risks, there are certain limitations to the movements of the interns. For more information on the security situation in Nairobi, please see the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs' recommendations on travelling in Kenya. Regular security briefings will be provided by the Embassy.

For any questions, please reach out to Tobias Platen - [email protected]