USAID Ecosystems/Protibesh Activity
Internship Program “Friends of Ecosystems”
Job Description

 

The USAID Ecosystems/Protibesh Activity (Protibesh) focuses on three result areas including i) Strengthening environmental governance and management; ii) Mitigating biodiversity threats and iii) Advancing market-based incentives that promote sustainable natural resources management under the Development Objective “Strengthened Resilience to Natural Hazards”. The Activity goal of Protibesh is to improve ecosystem conservation in and around targeted key biodiversity areas of Bangladesh such as haor and forest areas in the northeast and the Sundarbans in the southwest.  

Internship Program 

Bangladeshi youth bring great potential to contribute to the conservation the country’s biodiversity. To harness this potential, Protibesh features a paid internship program to encourage young minds to get insights into the conservation and development sector and foster creativity, inclusivity, and innovation. 

The internship program is integrated into Protibesh’s overall implementation and approach. Selected interns with the necessary skill set will be given the opportunity to grow professionally in the field of biodiversity conservation, conservation financing, and social engagement and conservation networking.  

One of the unique features of Protibesh is the ‘Friends of Ecosystem’ approach. The “Friends of Ecosystems” are Bangladeshi citizen across the globe who care for their country and the biodiversity it hosts. To help build the ‘Friends of Ecosystem’ movement, interns will engage with the Bangladeshi diaspora around the globe and communicate with them how they can support conservation activities in Bangladesh, become advocates for the various ecosystems that the country hosts, and support conservation activities that communities can implement.

Primary responsibilities of the position:

Under the supervision of the Communications and Advocacy Manager and working closely with relevant technical staff, and other team members, including regional and site teams, the interns will: 
Specific tasks include but are not limited to:

  • Assist in augmenting the ‘Friends of Ecosystems’ activity of Protibesh. The intern is expected to connect and raise interest among Bangladeshi diasporas around the world, who want to support the conservation movement in Bangladesh.
  • Assist the Protibesh team to raise awareness among citizens, specifically among youths on conservation issues.
  • Assist regional teams to organize meetings/events/activities engaging youth from various educational institutions, youth groups and individuals (champions).
  • Assist in developing success stories, audio-visuals, blog, social media posts, to promote Protibesh issues for local and global audiences.
  • Document lessons learned and offered suggestions on how to make the Protibesh Intern Team and program more effective.

Qualifications

  • Good communication skills and ability to start conversations.
  • Good command of spoken and written English.
  • Good understanding of or willingness to learn about natural resources of Bangladesh.
  • Passionate about conservation of biodiversity and sustainable development of Bangladesh.
  • Be inquisitive, interested in learning and growing.
  • Be interested in engaging with people from all walks of life.

Location of Assignment
The work location is based in Dhaka with frequent field visits to Khulna and Sylhet project sites.

Timeframe and Level of Effort
The assignment will be for three months, beginning on November 01, 2023 and will be filled on a rolling basis. Successful participants may be offered an extension for another three months. 

Application Instructions:
Please send an email with your CV and “Intern’’ in the subject line to  protibesh-hr@chemonics.com no later than close of business on October 14, 2023. Only finalists will be contacted.

About Chemonics:

Founded in 1975, Chemonics is an international development consulting firm. In more than 70 countries around the globe, our network of 5,000 specialists shares a simple belief: that the challenges we face today are best solved through the right partnerships – sharing knowledge, expertise, and experience to deliver results. As part of our culture and values, Chemonics is proud to be named a “Best Place to Work” in the Human Rights campaign Foundation’s 2021 Corporate Equality Index. Where Chemonics works, development works. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter or visit us at www.chemonics.com.