Through the collaborative efforts of the United Nations, multilateral organizations, and sustainable development partners from universities, civil society, academia and the private sector, UN SDG:Learn provides a unique gateway that empowers individuals and organizations through an informed decision when selecting among a wealth of SDG-related learning products and services that are currently available.

FREE courses on Water and Sanitation 💧

1. Introduction to Environmental Flows in Hydropower Projects – World Bank https://lnkd.in/dC5HX-R

2. System of Environmental-Economic Accounting (SEEA): In-depth Training on Water Accounting – UNSD https://lnkd.in/gW33rD88

3. Change in water-use efficiency over time – FAO https://lnkd.in/eQKKy99

4. Level of water stress – FAO https://lnkd.in/etVyZUc

5. Governance for Transboundary Freshwater Security – SDG Academy https://lnkd.in/eYqUYz9k

6. Water: Addressing the Global Crisis – SDG Academy https://lnkd.in/dJE6V3RE

7. Introduction to the Global Environment Facility – World Bank https://lnkd.in/eEAFmGq

Why WIDU’s Thematic Call #GreenGhana?

Small businesses with green business models significantly contribute to sustainability goals, improving living standards, and fostering regional and national development. These enterprises can achieve financial success while generating substantial societal benefits. By providing sustainable and affordable solutions, small enterprises can address key drivers of poverty and reduce carbon emissions. The societal and economic impacts of these businesses include:

• Creating local renewable energy jobs
• Reducing health risks, costs, and burdens
• Reducing energy costs
• Improving energy resilience

Who Can Apply?

The Thematic Call #GreenGhana program is open to all green businesses located in Ghana. Eligible businesses must seek to upgrade their existing business models to be more sustainable and innovative.

Eligible Green Sectors

Small enterprises in the following sectors can apply:

• Waste as resource (circular economy)
• New eco-products (non-food consumer products)
• Green agriculture & food concepts
• Eco-packaging (B2B)
• Collaborative consumption
• Green energy productions & services
• Green digital solutions
• Other

Application and Grant Amount

The application process consists of three phases:

1. Registration and Business Description: Entrepreneurs register, describe their business, and outline their investment plans including how they will use the WIDU Grant.
2. Private Investment and Documentation: Entrepreneurs invest their private funds according to their plans and upload receipts to verify these investments.
3. Grant Investment: Entrepreneurs receive and use the WIDU Grant as outlined in their business plan, documenting their investments on the platform. During this process, they receive three free coaching sessions.

Grant Calculation: Entrepreneurs can invest a minimum of 500 euros and a maximum of 2,000 euros. WIDU multiplies this amount by a factor of 2.5 to determine the grant amount.

About Our Partnership

The Thematic Call #GreenGhana is implemented in partnership with the “Support to the Private and Financial Sector (PFS) Programme”. Both the PFS and WIDU.africa projects are managed by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development. PFS is also co-funded by the European Union. Our goal is to promote employment in MSMEs in Ghana.

Learn More or Apply HERE

 You can apply to the Thematic Call #GreenGhana until August 16.

About this position

We are looking for a senior economics researcher who is familiar with the development challenges faced by Latin America and the Caribbean who wants to make a difference in the development of the region. Do your peers recognize you as someone who possesses: (1) strong technical skills; (2) a record of high-quality, original research in peer-reviewed journals; (3) the ability to communicate with a wide range of potential audiences; and (4) an interest in policy issues in the region? Join the Research Department and the team of the Chief Economist!

You will work in our Research Department (RES). This call is open to the fields of Macroeconomics, International Finance, Monetary and Fiscal Policy, and Credit and Banking. We particularly seek an individual who not only possesses a strong publication record and policy engagement but who can mentor junior colleagues in publishing and provide advice on topical macroeconomic developments important for the region.

 What you’ll do:

• Conduct economic research, identifying challenges and issues, applying theoretical and/or empirical economic analysis, developing policy recommendations and generating knowledge in area of expertise that is recognized as standard setting for the industry/region.
• Advise or provide input to resolve highly complex technical problems in business area or field of expertise. 
• Make technical recommendations which have a significant and long-term impact on business performance, area of expertise and/or development effectiveness.
• Lead the development and implementation of new or revised tools, methodologies, processes and/or policies that have an impact on the business, area of expertise and/or development effectiveness. 
• Develop plans for the dissemination of knowledge products and policy recommendations, identifying target audiences and appropriate communication mediums.
• Present research to academic and non-academic audiences and refine research papers considering comments for eventual publication in refereed journals. 
• Provide thought and strategic leadership to a network of practitioners in area of expertise across the IDB or at a regional level. 
• Build networks with international organizations, academic institutions, and professional bodies to disseminate research, exchange relevant information, promote cooperative research initiatives, and expand the influence of the IDB.
• Lead/manage team members in a project management capacity, acting as a technical referent/head in projects of strategic input, high complexity, and ample scope such as the flagship publication known as Development in the Americas, by using internal and external resources and addressing new research issues to encourage policy discussions and enhance the visibility and impact of our work. 
• Lead and/or review and evaluate the academic work of outside researchers (consultants and research institutions hired through the Latin American Research Network or otherwise), ensuring that they meet the highest standards of quality. 
• Conduct the department’s research agenda in the desired direction collaboratively with management and other senior staff.
• Provide advice to IDB management on policy issues related to your research agenda.
• Coach and mentor junior staff and consultants.

What you’ll need

• Citizenship: You are a citizen of one of our 48-member countries.
• Consanguinity: You have no family members (up to fourth degree of consanguinity and second degree of affinity, including spouse) working at the IDB Group.
• Education: Ph.D. in Economics required.
• Experience: You have at least 6 years of relevant professional experience. Preference will be given to individuals who combine a strong academic profile with an interest and experience in policy and who have worked on topics relevant to development in Latin America and the Caribbean.
• Languages: You have a good working knowledge of at least two official Bank languages (English, French, Portuguese, and Spanish).

Members of the selection panel will conduct interviews soon after the call for application is finished. A cover letter, CV, and a recent paper must be submitted along with the application. The deadline for applying is August 12, 2024.

Key skills

• Learn continuously 
• Collaborate and share knowledge
• Focus on clients 
• Communicate and influence 
• Innovate and try new things 

 Type of contract and duration 

• International staff contract, 36 months initially, renewable upon mutual agreement. 

  What we offer:

 The IDB group provides benefits that respond to the different needs and moments of an employee’s life. These benefits include:

• A competitive compensation package, including an annual base salary expressed on a net- of-tax basis
• Leaves and vacations: 24 days of paid time off + 8 personal days + sick leave + gender- neutral parental leave
• Health Insurance: IDB Group provides employees and eligible dependents with a robust medical benefits program which covers medical, dental, vision, preventive care, and prescription drugs. 
• Pension plan: defined benefit pension plan that provides financial security and support employees in planning for their future.
• We offer assistance with relocation and visa applications for you and your family, when it applies.
• Hybrid and flexible work schedules
• Health and wellbeing:  Access to our Health Services Center which provides preventive care and health education for employees.
• Development support: We offer tools to boost your professional profile such as mentoring, 1:1 professional counseling, training and learning opportunities, language classes, mobility options, among others.
• Other perks: Lactation Room, Daycare Center, Gym, Bike Racks, Parking, Spouse Career Program, and others. 

Our culture 

At the IDB Group we work so everyone brings their best and authentic selves to work, willing to try new approaches without fear, and where they are accountable and rewarded for their actions. 

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) are at the center of our organization. We celebrate all dimensions of diversity and encourage women, LGBTQ+ people, persons with disabilities, Afro-descendants, and Indigenous people to apply. 

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job interview process. If you are a qualified candidate with a disability, please e-mail us at diversity@iadb.org  to request reasonable accommodation to complete this application. 

Our Human Resources Team reviews carefully every application.  

About the IDB Group 

The IDB Group, composed of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), IDB Invest, and the IDB Lab offers flexible financing solutions to its member countries to finance economic and social development through lending and grants to public and private entities in Latin America and the Caribbean. 

About IDB 

The Inter-American Development Bank is devoted to improving lives. Established in 1959, the IDB is a leading source of long-term financing for economic, social and institutional development in Latin America and the Caribbean. The IDB also conducts groundbreaking research and provides policy advice, technical assistance and training to public and private sector clients throughout the region. 

Follow us: 

https://www.linkedin.com/company/inter-american-development-bank/ 

https://www.facebook.com/IADB.org 

https://twitter.com/the_IDB 

]]> https://opportunitiesforyouth.org/2024/07/18/call-for-proposals-world-climate-research-programme-wcrp-2024-global-south-fellowship-focus-on-africa/ Thu, 18 Jul 2024 16:13:26 +0000 https://opportunitiesforyouth.org/?p=40306

The World Climate Research Programme (WCRP) announces a research fellowship with a focus on Africa. The fellowship is available through WCRP’s new Global South Fellowship program.

The WFP Innovation Accelerator, with support from the Adaptation Fund, has launched the Climate Adaptation Innovation Accelerator Programme as part of the Adaptation Fund Climate Innovation Accelerator (AFCIA) partnership. This initiative aims to identify, support, and scale high-impact innovations that enhance climate adaptation in vulnerable regions.

The food system, encompassing all actors and value-adding activities involved in natural resource management, production, transformation, distribution, and consumption, is crucial in the climate adaptation space. Each stage of the food value chain faces unique challenges due to the impacts of climate change. The programme addresses every link of this chain by promoting innovative solutions that enhance resilience and adaptability.

We call on innovators, entrepreneurs, and changemakers to bring forward groundbreaking solutions to drive resilience, enhance climate adaptability, and promote sustainable development in affected communities. The programme aims to support high-potential ventures with funding, mentorship, and hands-on support, preparing them for successful scaling. The accelerator programme aims to foster local and global collaborations, increase knowledge and evidence for climate adaptation, and promote successful climate innovations. By strengthening local capacities and fostering partnerships, we strive to enhance climate resilience and contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially SDG 2: ‘Zero Hunger’ and SDG 13: ‘Climate Action.’

Join us in innovating, adapting, and building a more resilient future for communities on the front lines of climate change.

Application Deadline: 4 August 2024, 11:59 pm (CEST)

What We Offer

This partnership between the WFP Innovation Accelerator and the Adaptation Fund through the Climate Adaptation Innovation Accelerator Programme aims to enhance climate adaptation and gender equity, foster inclusive economic opportunities, engage youth, and increase community resilience. By supporting groundbreaking climate innovations, the programme will boost local, regional, and global collaborations, expand the knowledge base for climate adaptation, and deliver sustainable solutions for vulnerable populations, contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals and building a more resilient future for communities worldwide.

What we offer to boost innovations:

• Invitation to participate in a four-day WFP Innovation in-person Bootcamp in Munich.
• Access to WFP’s field operations and the opportunity to engage in comprehensive field testing.
• Expert innovation management assistance from the WFP Innovation Accelerator.
• Extensive visibility across multiple WFP social media channels and other platforms.
• Access to a diverse pool of mentors from various sectors and top-tier organizations.
• Six-month Sprint Programme combining business-oriented training, mentoring, and technical assistance from the WFP Innovation Accelerator.
• More than US$ 1 million in equity-free funding will be available for 8-10 startups admitted to the sprint programme through competitive grants based on the stage of your solution:
  • Up to US$ 120,000 per venture for seed-stage solutions.
  • Up to US$ 200,000 per venture for growth and expansion stage solutions.
• Exposure to national and international funders through an online pitch event at the end of the programme.

What We Are Looking For

For this Innovation Challenge, the WFP Innovation Accelerator is looking for both low- and high-tech solutions specifically tailored to meet distinct climate adaptation challenges in Egypt, Jordan, and Lebanon along the food system value chain. We aim to identify and support exceptional innovations from around the world that hold the potential to address these challenges on a significant scale. Applicants are requested to showcase a high-impact, scalable solution that matches the below call for solutions.

For Egypt, we are looking for:

• Affordable climate information services and early warning solutions that can provide smallholder farmers in remote locations with weather information, both online and offline, to adapt to extreme climate conditions.
• Off-grid and climate-friendly solutions that desalinate groundwater at a low cost for agricultural usage.
• Low-cost, accessible, non-genetically modified organism (GMO) drought-tolerant crop varieties that enhance resilience and productivity in water-scarce regions, as well as crops suitable for saline soil conditions in salt-affected areas.
• Affordable smart irrigation solutions to optimize water usage efficiency for crops, monitor soil moisture, highlight crop needs, or automate water delivery based on real-time data.
• Low-cost organic fertilizers for smallholder farmers or solutions that convert biomass and organic waste into high-quality agricultural inputs.
• Affordable off-grid processing units that extend shelf-life, reduce post-harvest losses, and minimize food loss.
• Solutions that enable vulnerable communities to adopt climate-adaptive livelihoods while creating youth employment and sustainable jobs through eco-friendly practices.

For Jordan, we are looking for:

• Solutions that utilize soil conditioners to enhance water retention and boost agricultural productivity in arid regions.
• Affordable and easy-to-implement technologies for complementary irrigation to enhance water efficiency and agricultural productivity.
• Non-GMO drought-tolerant crop varieties to enhance resilience and productivity in water-scarce regions, as well as crops suitable for saline soil conditions to boost agricultural productivity in salt-affected areas.
• Innovative water management technologies to reduce evaporation and improve water use efficiency, or affordable water harvesting systems to ensure water availability during dry periods.
• Off-grid processing units for horticultural production that extend shelf-life and reduce post-harvest losses and minimize food waste.
• Solutions that convert agricultural and organic waste into affordable agricultural inputs or animal feed.
• Solutions that enable the aggregation of supply from smallholder farmers and establish transparent, fair links to higher markets.

For Lebanon, we are looking for:

• Precision agriculture solutions to monitor soil moisture, temperature, crop health, soil conditions, or pest activity in real-time enabling smallholder farmers to use resources precisely.
• Affordable off-grid irrigation technologies to reduce water usage and enhance agricultural productivity and resilience in remote areas.
• Solutions for pastoralists to manage pests, diseases, and monitor livestock health and behavior in real-time.
• Innovative financing solutions for smallholder farmers and agro-processors necessary for sustainable climate resilience or climate insurance solutions that offer quick and transparent payouts based on weather indexes.
• Eco-friendly solutions to eliminate pests and damaging pathogens to protect crops and enhance soils for plant health improvement while maintaining environmental sustainability.
• Affordable off-grid cold mobile storage solutions to enhance food preservation and reduce post-harvest losses in areas without reliable access to electricity.
• Solutions that convert agricultural and food waste into affordable inputs such as compost, biochar, organic fertilizers, or animal feed.

Eligibility Criteria

• Your organization must be an established legal entity (for-profit, not-for-profit, social business, NGO, INGO).
• Your organization should have a presence or willingness to build a presence in one of the three countries of implementation (Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon). This could take the form of a country office or other permanent presence, subsidiary, long-term operations, or partnerships in the country.
• Your innovation addresses at least one of the above-mentioned priority areas related to pressing challenges faced in the climate adaptation space of the country of implementation.
• Your innovation must be at least in the seed stage. Solutions that are still at the idea, research, or early pre-seed stage are not eligible.
• Your innovation should have a clear pathway to scale, adequate resources, and a proposed plan to implement during the six-month Sprint Programme with the available funding.
• Applicants are expected to have strong intentions to collaborate with relevant humanitarian stakeholders, build relationships with the country offices, and connect with the innovation ecosystems.
• Interventions classified as Category A based on the environmental and social sustainability framework indicating a high risk of irreversible adverse impacts will not be accepted. For further details on risk categories, kindly refer to WFP’s environmental and social sustainability framework, specifically paragraph 23 on page 8.

Following the above-mentioned requirements, your application will be evaluated according to the following criteria:

• Level of innovation/innovativeness: The solution is novel, innovative, and has a strong climate adaptation aspect regarding the mentioned themes.
• Relevance to the context: The solution addresses at least one of the above-mentioned priority areas, is suitable to at least one of the three country contexts, and provides concrete solutions to end-users or the ecosystem.
• Business model and scalability of the solution: The solution showcases a clear business model and a robust sustainable revenue model relative to its maturity stage.
• Team expertise and capabilities: Proven competence, technical coherence, commitment, motivation, entrepreneurial mindset, and a diverse and inclusive team.
• Climate adaptation: The solution effectively enhances resilience to climate impacts, promotes sustainable practices, and improves resource efficiency.
• Level of impact: Evidence of tangible historical and projected impact towards solving a defined challenge related to climate adaptation.
• Environmental and social sustainability: The solution adheres to the environmental and social principles of the Adaptation Fund.

Application Process

• To submit your application, please fill out the Application Form by 4 August 2024, 11:59 pm (CEST). Please note that only English submissions will be accepted.
• We will review and select 8 to 10 successful applications in September, inviting those selected to our bootcamp in November. Please note that acceptance into the bootcamp does not guarantee you will receive funding. The bootcamp teams will go through an additional assessment phase, and only successful candidates will be awarded equity-free funding.
• For more information, please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions.

About the WFP Innovation Accelerator

The WFP Innovation Accelerator was established in 2015 by the United Nations (UN) World Food Programme with the support of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the Federal Foreign Office (GFFO), and the Bavarian State Ministry of Food, Agriculture, Forestry, and Tourism (StMELF). Its goal is to source new ideas, sprint pilot projects, and scale high-impact innovations by connecting them with WFP’s global network and field operations in over 120 countries and territories. From its base in Munich, Germany, the WFP Innovation Accelerator runs programmes addressing a wide range of social impact and sustainability issues, including climate change, primary healthcare, gender equality, and emergency response. In 2023, the WFP Innovation Accelerator ran 14 programmes, and its portfolio, comprising over 70 innovations and 66 alumni innovation initiatives, reached 60.7 million individuals across 70 countries and territories. Since its launch, innovations supported by the WFP Innovation Accelerator have secured over USD 295 million in grant funding.

Learn more about us at innovation.wfp.org.

Register here: https://lnkd.in/dHmhV3bv

Topics up for Negotiation:

Polio: Strategies to eradicate one of the world’s most enduring infectious diseases.
Tuberculosis (TB): Innovative approaches to combat TB and address drug resistance.
Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR): Global policies to tackle the rising threat of AMR.
Mental Health: Transforming mental health for all.
Climate Change: Addressing the health impacts of climate change.
Global Health and Peace Initiative: Promoting health as a bridge to peace and stability.

Our dedicated technical focal points for each topic are eager to engage with all youth delegates, providing a unique opportunity to learn from experts, connect with like-minded peers, and develop solutions to pressing global health issues.

Why attend?

Educational enrichment: Gain insights into the complexities of global health policies and negotiations.
Networking: Build connections with future leaders and professionals in the field of public health.
Hands-on experience: Participate in realistic simulations that mirror the actual processes of the WHA.
Fun and engagement: embrace a multicultural experience, enjoy social events, and learn from one another.

This event promises not only to be an educational milestone but also a memorable experience, immersing you in the world of global health governance at WHO headquarters in Geneva. Get ready to learn, connect, and make a difference! See you in Geneva!

Work Location

Hybrid arrangement in New York, United States, with potential for some remote work.

Expected Duration

3-6 months, starting on 15 September 2024 or sooner.

Duties and Responsibilities

The internship is unpaid and full-time (35 hours per week) for three to six months. The intern will support the organisational culture through the “Building Our Pillar” programme, focusing on inclusion, innovation, and effectiveness. Key responsibilities include:

• Implementing activities related to staff engagement, including the MyCareer initiative, Gender Parity Action Plan, and Disability Inclusion Action Plan.
• Collecting, analyzing, and visualizing quantitative and qualitative information.
• Updating online information related to staff engagement activities.
• Assisting with the preparation of weekly newsletters and other communications.
• Supporting change management initiatives.
• Coordinating and assisting with specific events.
• Performing other ad hoc duties as required.

Qualifications/Special Skills

Applicants must meet one of the following requirements:

• Be enrolled in, or have completed, a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher).
• Be enrolled in, or have completed, the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum bachelor’s degree or equivalent).

Candidates should have a background in communications, management, data, human resources, or related subjects. Good knowledge of standard software applications (MS Word, MS PowerPoint, MS Teams) is required, and the ability to design surveys and polls is desirable.

Languages

Fluency in spoken and written English is required. Knowledge of an additional official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish) is an advantage.

Additional Information

The United Nations Secretariat aims for 50/50 gender balance and geographical diversity in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. Applicants who have previously served six months as an intern in the UN Common System or who are closely related to an active staff member cannot be engaged as an intern.

Application Requirements

A complete online application is required, including:

• Motivational Statement detailing the degree you are pursuing, graduation date, why you are the best candidate for this internship, and your interest in the UN Internship Programme.
• Personal History Profile including past work experiences, IT skills, and three references.

Intern-Specific Text

Interns are not financially remunerated by the United Nations. Travel, visa, accommodation, and living expenses are the responsibility of interns or their sponsoring institutions. Interns may need to obtain the appropriate visa and work/employment authorization.

No Fee

The United Nations does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview, processing, or training) and does not concern itself with information on applicants’ bank accounts.

Apply Now

Deadline: August 8, 2024