Baza natječaja

The UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre, in collaboration with the Foreign & Commonwealth Office of the British Government, is pleased to offer four UNEP-WCMC Chevening Scholarships in Biodiversity, beginning in October 2007.

The scheme aims to help young professionals prepare for a role in national and regional policy development and decision-making to resolve biodiversity-related challenges. Over a period of one year, and with support from the Centre's staff, they will:

• Review and analyse available information on the status of biodiversity and its conservation and sustainable use, focusing on particular species, ecosystems or conservation approaches
• Develop reports, tools and/or other outputs relevant to the identified area of work with specific recommendations for their implementation and use by policymakers and practitioners

Successful candidates work alongside UNEP-WCMC staff, helping to enhance the Centre’s knowledge base on biodiversity and its conservation, and supporting preparation of information products and services to decision makers ranging from UNEP to the private sector, and from governments to the international environmental agreements.

Subject areas

In order to maximise opportunities for building experience, candidates are particularly sought to work on three key areas of the Centre’s activities:

• Management of the World Database on Protected Areas, including: review of information on particular countries and regions; analysis and assessment of particlar protected area related issues; gap analysis; impacts on local peoples; and protected area management effectiveness.
• Delivery of indicators for assessing progress in achieving the 2010 global biodiversity target, including: helping to develop and test global and regional indicators; reviewing links between indicators and assessing their relevance to policy; and clarifying links between global indicators and national datasets.
• Provision of information services related to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, including: analysis of information for particular taxa and/or regions

In addition candidates are free to propose other areas of work, as long as these areas of work fall within the Centre’s areas of interest and builds on the candidate’s own interests and experience. A review of the Centre’s website ( www.unep-wcmc.org ) and annuals reports will help candidates to identify what areas of work might be relevant.

Eligibility

Applications will be considered from candidates from any country other than those in the European Union (except for the 2004 Accession States), North America and Canada. Priority will be given to candidates from developing countries and countries with economies in transition.

Candidates must

• Be fluent in English (IELTS band 6.5 or above)
• Be between 25 and 35 years of age
• Hold a good first degree and preferably also a postgraduate degree in a biological or environmental science
• Be a resident of an eligible country at the time of applying for the award

Funding

Each scholarship is currently worth £9,139 per annum, including all allowances. In addition, one economy class airfare to and from the UK will be paid.

UK Government’s British Chevening Scholarships Programme, UNEP, UNEP-WCMC and private sector sponsors support the scholarship.

How to apply

Download an application form by clicking here. Forms can also be obtained by contacting:

The Chevening Administrator
UNEP-WCMC
219 Huntingdon Road
Cambridge CB3 0DL, United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0) 1223 277314
Fax: + 44 (0) 1223 277136
Email: chevadmin@unep-wcmc.org  

Completed application forms should be returned to the UNEP-WCMC by post or email, together with:

• Your up-to-date CV, including publication list
• A covering letter explaining why you wish to spend a year at the Centre

Closing date for applications – 21st April 2007

Shortlisted candidates will be contacted by end of May 2007