Title: Intern – Groundwater and Ecosystem Services
Work percentage: 100%
Duty station: IUCN Headquarters, Gland, Switzerland
Reporting to: Head – Water Programme
Availability: Immediate
This position is ideally suited to a young postgraduate or professional, who seeks to gain further experience at the international level. The internship will initially be for six months with the possibility of extension to 12 months.
For additional information concerning conditions, please refer to the attached Guidelines covering the Internship Programme at IUCN Headquarters

BACKGROUND
The IUCN Water Programme aims to influence, encourage and assist societies throughout the world to conserve the integrity and diversity of nature and ensure that any use of water resources is equitable and ecologically sustainable. The goal of the Water Programme is healthy river basins that provide sustainable ecosystem services to livelihoods and societies. The Water Programme has identified four objectives that guide its work:
Practice: An ecosystem-livelihoods approach to integrated water resources management (IWRM) is demonstrated;
Instruments: Instruments to support the mainstreaming of an ecosystem-livelihoods approach to IWRM are developed and applied;
Policy: Guidance on water-related policies is provided at national, regional and international levels;
Programme Delivery: The delivery of a high quality Water Programme is ensured.
The activities of the IUCN Water Programme are carried out primarily in the regions and countries under the administrative control of IUCN's Regional and Country Offices. Other activities are carried out by a number of global thematic programmes located in the IUCN Headquarters and elsewhere. An advisory group of international specialists, the Water Programme Advisory Group, provides guidance to the activities of the Union on water management.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES
The Intern – Groundwater and Ecosystem Services is responsible for collecting background information on the groundwater situation around the world. He/she prepares briefings on groundwater and ecosystem services related issues for the Water Programme unit at Headquarters. In close collaboration with Water Programme colleagues around the world, he/she supports regional programmes in aspects of groundwater research and management.
Delivery of Products and Services
Co-develop a conceptual framework for linking groundwater and ecosystem services within river basins.
Prepare an overview of existing worldwide and regional initiatives on outreach and capacity building around sustainable groundwater management (e.g. World Bank, IAHS, etc).
Liaise with existing networks on groundwater research and management and the IUCN Commission on Ecosystem Management and the Commission on Environmental Law on groundwater related issues.
Prepare inputs into existing EU research programmes (NEWATER, VIEWS) and the GEF-IW Learn programme on groundwater – ecosystem services issues.
In close collaboration with IUCN economists around the world, prepare a strategy paper on groundwater economics and management incentives to guide IUCN future work.
Prepare inputs into international conferences and symposiums including the IAP groundwater symposium and the 4th World Water Forum.
Contribute to the management of the programme through participating actively in programme monitoring, staff meeting, working groups and other team activities.

SELECTION CRITERIA
A degree and/or postgraduate qualifications in conservation related studies, preferably in a water-related discipline.
A good understanding of groundwater hydrology and a minimum of 18 months of professional working experience.
Ability to interact with a variety of institutions and individuals, within and outside IUCN, as a service-oriented team-player of the Water Programme.
Excellent written and oral communications skills.
Commitment to the values and approaches of IUCN and to working in an equal opportunity working environment.
The successful candidate must be fluent in English (both written and oral) and have at least one other IUCN language (Spanish or French).

APPPLICATIONS
Applicants are asked to submit their CV and a supporting letter of motivation in English. The letter must specifically address the selection criteria in the order presented above. Applicants should further provide the names/contact details of three referees, including one recent employer.
Applications should be submitted, preferably by email, before 31 August 2005 to:
Human Resources Officer
Human Resources Management Group
The World Conservation Union (IUCN)
28 rue Mauverney, 1196 Gland, Switzerland
Fax. ++41 22 999 0339
Email: jobapplications@iucn.org
www.iucn.org

Groundwater Intern - Water Programme July 2005
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