Internship opportunity

Published on: 26/09/2024

IRC is an international think tank and change agent. We work with governments, NGOs, entrepreneurs, and people around the world using a ‘systems approach’ to deliver long-term solutions to the global crisis in water, sanitation and hygiene services. Our mission is to drive change that leads to everyone in the world having access to good and sustainable water, sanitation and hygiene services. IRC has recently launched One For All, an alliance with Water For People and Water for Good to accelerate progress to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 6.

With over 50 years of experience, IRC runs large-scale programmes and smaller projects in Africa and Asia. It is supported by a team of over 124 people in our flexible work force across the world, and has offices in Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Ghana, India, Mali, Niger, and Uganda, as well as in the Netherlands.

Political commitment to water, sanitation and hygiene services is key to our mission. To support our European Union (EU) and Netherlands influencing team, we are looking for an intern that will analyse and provide recommendations on various aspects of water-related policies, international relations, and opportunities for IRC NL/EU. It includes mapping and analysing water policies at the EU and international levels, assessing funding sources for civil society water projects, examining protocols related to water and health, exploring the intersection between water and climate agendas, and investigating the involvement of national development banks in water-related initiatives.

To support our mission, IRC in The Netherlands is offering an

Internship for European Union (EU) and Netherlands Influencing

The internship is an opportunity to learn more about development cooperation, build a network in the European and Dutch water sector, and gain experience in a range of advocacy practices.  

Scope

• Desk-based research.
• Focus on water-related international relations and policy.
• Conduct scoping studies and case studies from research to writing blogs and organising influencing events.

Your profile and main responsibilities                          

• Conduct a comprehensive analysis of water policies at the EU and international levels.
• Map out funding sources for civil society water projects and provide recommendations on opportunities for collaboration.
• Review protocols on water and health by organisations such as UNECE/WHO Europe.
• Explore the role of water in the climate agenda and its implications.
• Investigate the involvement of national development banks in water-related projects and identify potential opportunities.
• Analyse EU commission policy priorities related to drinking water and sanitation in both the EU and neighbouring states.
• Conduct case studies on how the water policies of wealthier countries influence poorer member states (e.g., Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia) and candidate member states (e.g., Serbia).
• Assess the extent to which EU policies strengthen sustainable water policies both within the EU and in neighbouring and external countries.
• Support the team with ongoing Netherlands influencing engagements: monitoring political agenda, writing news items, and supporting upcoming events (such as the WASH Debates).

Essential requirements

• Well-organised, self-motivated, and reliable.
• Relevant undergraduate or postgraduate degree with a strong interest in the fields of politics and governance and/or development cooperation and preferably the water, sanitation and hygiene or health sector.
• Good research skills and ability to rapidly read, assess and summarise documents.
• Writing skills and basic computer skills are required.
• Good knowledge of English is required (knowledge of Dutch is a plus).
• Knowledge of the Dutch political environment is a plus.
• Demonstrated volunteering or other experience related to development cooperation, or political engagement is a plus (such as political youth parties or debating).

Details of the position

• 3 to 4 months internship, preferably starting 15th November 2024.
• Full-time internship (40 hours per week).
• The internship will be assessed after the first month to determine if it is a good mutual fit for the Intern and IRC (go/no-go).
• Hybrid working is possible, but the intern is required to work (at least) two days per week from our office in The Hague. Therefore, an NL residency and/or a valid working permit is required.
• Stipend for the internship is € 425, - (gross) per month based on a 40-hour working week.
• IRC will provide an NS business card, for commuting to the IRC office.

Candidates are kindly requested to respond with a short motivation letter explaining their interest in the position. In addition, please share a concise curriculum vitae before 10^th October 2024, attn. Marion Giese at recruitment@ircwash.org.

Interviews will be scheduled on 28^th and 29^th October 2024, so please ensure your availability on these dates. 

For additional information please visit our website at www.ircwash.org or contact our office on +31-(0)70 304 40 00.