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 and ICRAF are non-profit science institutions that build and apply evidence to today’s most pressing challenges, including energy insecurity and the climate and biodiversity crises. Over a combined total of 65 years, we have built vast knowledge on forests and trees outside of forests in agricultural landscapes (agroforestry). Using a multidisciplinary approach, we seek to improve lives and to protect and restore ecosystems. Our work focuses on innovative research, partnering for impact, and engaging with stakeholders on policies and practices to benefit people and the planet. Founded in 1993 and 1978, CIFOR and 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.

Overview

The Global Landscapes Forum (GLF) was first launched in 2013 by CIFOR with core partners including UNEP, the World Bank, and the Government of Germany. Meaningful engagement of youth and other typically marginalized stakeholders was a cornerstone of GLF’s operation from the beginning.

Today, the GLF is the world’s largest knowledge-led platform on sustainable land use, dedicated to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and Paris Climate Agreement.

Building on a decade of successful conferencing during which we achieved the mainstreaming of the landscape approach, the GLF has evolved to include five innovation areas each set up to contribute to strengthening and enabling decentralized local action towards ecosystem restoration. These include: 1) Creating a Digital Knowledge Commons (having reached 1 billion people in 185 countries); 2) Pioneering youth leadership (60,000 people in 160 countries); 3) The GLF learning program (Landscape Academy with 18,000 learners); 4) the GLF Investment Case Symposium, sustainable finance, and value chains, and 5) GLFx and GLF Communities of Practice. GLFx is our program to decentralize the Forum to create community led GLF chapters and Communities of Practice that carry out restoration and other activities (including advocacy) on the ground while creating learning hubs at national and subnational levels.

The GLF is supported by its Charter Members: 33 leading sustainable development organizations who invest in and co-create activities on the GLF platform and offer opportunities for intergenerational learning and exchange.

The GLF is a place where a farmer can inform action, pathways, and policies; where international organizations can learn from the private sector and vice versa; and where CEOs, community leaders, communicators and scientists can share, learn, connect, and act together.

From building the investment case for sustainable landscapes, to conserving and restoring peatlands, to supporting restoration in Africa, the GLF has been at the cutting edge in hosting and facilitating all manner of discussions to accelerate positive action for people, for the environment, and for the achievement of global climate and SDGs.

The Youth in Landscapes Initiative (YIL) is a partnership for young landscape leaders currently coordinated by the Young Professionals for Agricultural Development (YPARD), the International Forestry Students Association (IFSA), the Global Youth Biodiversity Network (GYBN) and the Youth4Nature (Y4N). YIL exists to unite and empower youth (aged 18–35 years) from diverse backgrounds worldwide to have a voice, learn and affect positive change in their landscapes and livelihoods. YIL accomplishes this by focusing on leadership training, capacity building, community building, mentorship, and fostering intergenerational dialogue.

Duties and responsibilities

The primary objective of the Youth in Landscapes (YIL) Network intern is to facilitate the growth of the network through community building and promotion, and to ensure that programs serve the broader youth community through working with the GLF Youth team.

• Support the regular coordination between the Youth in Landscapes Steering Committee and the GLF Youth team;
• Assist in ensuring the YIL organizations’ programs, including the Steering Committee organizations and other regional organizations, and the GLF Youth Program are building upon and enhancing each other;
• Assist in creating and delivering youth programs both at GLF events and partner events, as well as long-term youth programs by coordinating with the broader GLF team;
• Assist in mainstreaming youth initiatives and programs across GLF activities;
• Support with the development of learning and capacity-building programs for youth;
• Assist in knowledge management and regularly update activities and information of YIL partners’ organizations – IFSA, YPARD, Youth4Nature, GYBN and others;
• Assist in the coordination of YIL Project Teams across the three main regions of work for GLF (Latin America & the Caribbean, Africa, Asia-Pacific);
• Support the Youth Communications in maintaining and facilitating engagement and network building on social media, as well as crafting communications material and regularly promoting new opportunities.
• Assist with outreach efforts to associate partners and youth organizations across the three main regions of work for the GLF (Latin America & the Caribbean, Africa, Asia-Pacific);
• Undertake other key tasks and administration related to young people and the GLF as they arise.

Education, knowledge and experience

• Currently enrolled in or recently graduated from an MSc program in environmental sciences, sustainable development, environmental communications, environmental education, political science, or a similar field. Alternatively, graduated from a BSc program with 1 year of experience (voluntary or otherwise) in the field of youth engagement or mobilization, communications, partnerships or similar fields;
• An excellent command of the English language is required. Other languages (especially Spanish, French, and Portuguese) will be considered a strong asset.
• Robust organizational and communication skills.
• Experience with creating original material and content for social media and running social media campaigns is an asset;
• Experience with online engagement, youth organizations, capacity development or event management an asset.
• Experience with WordPress, Canva and Trello is an asset;
• Experienced in and/or comfortable with remote work is an asset.
• Must be between the ages of 18 and 35.
• Previous engagement with the Youth in Landscapes Network will be considered an asset

Terms and conditions

• This is a full-time internship position.
• This is a paid position.
• The period of internship is expected to be from March 2024 – November 2024 (9 months).
• Work location: home-based, preferably in CET time zone or similar, but all time zones are welcome.
• We encourage youth, young women, and youth from rural, Indigenous, and local communities to apply for this position.

Application process

The application deadline is 31 Jan 2024
We will acknowledge all applications, but will contact only short-listed candidates.