Deadline: 13 May 2022

The Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) and World Agroforestry (ICRAF) envision a more equitable world where trees in all landscapes, from drylands to the humid tropics, enhance the environment and well being for all.

CIFOR-ICRAF is looking for an Intern to update the International Database on REDD+ Projects and Programs - Linking Economics, Carbon and Communities (ID-RECCO) (Ref. No. 2150) Climate Change, Energy and Low Carbon Development (CCE) Team.

I. Overview

Deforestation and forest degradation produce 70% of tropical land‐use emissions and account for 10–11% of net global greenhouse gas emissions. The Paris Climate Agreement has emphasized the role of forests in climate change mitigation and adaptation, and endorses REDD+, among others, in the context of national mitigation efforts, including Nationally Determined Contributions. REDD+ stands for Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation, plus conservation, sustainable management, and enhancement of forest carbon stocks. When the REDD+ concept emerged a decade ago, it was considered an innovative approach to forest conservation. Its aim was to create a system where tropical countries would receive financial incentives for their performance in protecting, restoring and managing forest resources in a sustainable way. REDD+ was conceptualized as a potential triple win: mitigating  climate change, conserving forests (including biodiversity), and enhancing the livelihoods of forest‐dependent people. Since its inception, REDD+ has evolved remarkably, and been piloted through over 300 subnational initiatives across the tropics.

Since 2009, the GCS REDD+ research project has examined how REDD+ has been designed and implemented vis‐à‐vis the so‐called 3E+ criteria (carbon effectiveness, cost efficiency, equity among stakeholders)  –  as  well  as  various  co‐benefits  including  poverty  reduction,  tenure  and  rights clarification, and biodiversity protection. CIFOR assessed a broad set of social and environmental indicators at 22 sub‐national REDD+ sites in six countries. 

Part of this research is to document the evolution of REDD+ projects globally. Since 2018, CIFOR manages the International Database on REDD+ Projects and Programs ‐ Linking Economics, Carbon and Communities (ID‐RECCO). This is the largest open‐source database on REDD+ projects globally, designed to provide rich, in‐depth information of REDD+ projects to the public. This database is updated every two years, the last being in 2020. This assignment is part of the 2022 update.

II. Duties and responsibilities

The objective of the assignment is to contribute to an update of the ID-RECCO database in 2022, to reflect the recent development of REDD+ and forest carbon projects and programs since the last update in 2020.

The intern is expected to perform the following tasks:

• Participate in 3 days obligatory training at the beginning of the internship
• Identify new REDD+ projects or programs that were established since the last 2020 update or were established before but were not yet included. This is done through online searches in forest carbon or REDD+ project registries.
• Retrieve documentation of new REDD+ projects (e.g., project design documents, monitoring reports, carbon transaction records) and enter them as variables in the ID-RECCO database. Each information source must be well-documented to enable others to retrieve the origins of data documented in ID-RECCO. Data entry must be accurate (i.e., accurately reflecting the information found in the original source), and complete (i.e., provides all the information required for each variable in the ID-RECCO database, and any missing data needs to be justified).
• Update documentation of REDD+ projects that already exist in the ID-RECCO database (e.g., new certification standards, expired certification, new carbon credit transactions) and fill in information for new variables that are added in the current update on carbon accounting methods.
• Archive project documentation in a shared MS Team folder (provided by CIFOR)

III. Eligibility

• Currently enrolled in, or recently obtained a Master’s degree in tropical forestry, environmental science, geography, economics, sociology, anthropology or a related field
• Experience and willingness to identify, read and distill a large amount of project documentation
• Experience in conducting web-based research
• Has basic knowledge of REDD+ or forest carbon projects and on-the-ground implementation, and related concepts (e.g., leakage, additionality, MRV)
• Background and skills in the management and analysis of qualitative data (e.g., coding interview data or literature into excel form)
• Excellent interpersonal and organizational skills, with the ability to effectively work with other team members in different time zones, mainly Europe (GMT +1 or 2) and Southeast Asia (GMT +7).
• Be able to full participate in online weekly meetings that will take place 1500-1700 GMT+7
• Excellent English language skills; Familiarity with French, Spanish or Portuguese will be an advantage
• Has reliable access to internet, personal computer, and updated software (Microsoft Access, Excel, Word; Web Browser) to conduct the required tasks and participate in online meetings

IV. Terms and Conditions

• This is a full-time internship opportunity
• The internship will be for the duration of 5 months, starting June 2022.
• The internship stipend is USD 500/month
• Work location: Home-based.
• CIFOR’s employment conditions follow local labor laws and regulations. CIFOR will employ suitable candidates regardless of nationality, provided that they comply with the local requirements for working at the location chosen for their home base, and that these terms and conditions are not against local labor laws and regulations.

V. How to Apply?

• Please send your CV to [email protected]  
• Please use subject heading: IDRECCO 2022 Internship
• In the CV, please include all the information necessary related to the requirements of this post.
• Short‐listed candidates will be contacted and interviewed between 16 and 28 May 2022.

VI. About CIFOR‐ICR

CIFOR‐ICRAF are non‐profit, scientific institutions that conduct research on the most pressing challenges of forest and landscape management around the world. Using a global, multidisciplinary approach, they aim to improve human well‐being, protect the environment, and increase equity. Their work focuses on innovative research, developing partners’ capacity, and actively engaging in dialogue with all stakeholders to inform policies and practices that affect forests and people. Founded in 1993 and 1978 respectively, CIFOR‐ICRAF are members of CGIAR, a global research partnership for a food secure future dedicated to reducing poverty, enhancing food and nutrition security, and improving natural resources.

To learn more about CIFOR‐ICRAF, please visit their websites at: CIFOR Website  and  ICRAF Website