Internship: Seed Sector Analysis

Do you want to fight for equality? Tackling inequality at its roots, together with colleagues, our partner organizations and activists in more than 90 countries? To change the systems behind it, once and for all!

Oxfam Novib stands behind the people who stand up for equality. Together, we fight for a world where everyone has equal opportunities, regardless of gender, ethnicity or skin color. A world where everyone feels safe; where income gaps are shrinking instead of growing, where climate change is tackled in a firmer and more honest way.

Equality is the common thread in our work and projects, both internally and externally. We recognize that our team of colleagues can become even more diverse, and that only with a diverse team can we gain a broad perspective on the world. Therefore, we want to encourage everyone who hesitates to apply, no matter the reason. Our aim is to create an environment where everyone not only feels welcome, but where diversity is embraced and celebrated. Let's strive together to build a team that offers a rich variety of perspectives, enabling us to achieve an inclusive and inspiring work environment.

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Description of the GREEN Climate Resilience Unit:  

The climate and biodiversity crises are rapidly affecting rural communities that depend on rain-fed agriculture; they are undermining local (and global) food and seed systems. Some 500 million smallholder farmers and indigenous communities feed 90 percent of the population in the developing world. When their crops fail, millions go hungry. They are on the frontline of climate change, living in some of the most vulnerable landscapes and relying on natural resources for their livelihoods. Their views and voices are often marginalized by corporate interest and large-scale agriculture models.

We will support them to voice their demands, esp.  youth, and women, to shape solid, well-resourced locally led adaptation plans addressing their needs, ensure their rights and ensure sufficient access to and transparent spending of climate finance.

We will keep governments, the private and financial sector accountable for their impact on climate change and planetary boundaries. We will support local solutions to conserving and using agro-biodiversity to adapt the food & production systems of rural communities and indigenous people; rehabilitate land and natural resources to a new climate and within ecological boundaries. We dream of landscapes being governed by climate resilient and empowered communities. Our programs and partners support them to thrive, find local solutions, promote agro-ecology, and locally led adaptation, achieve food security, manage diverse natural resources sustainably and adapt to climate change.

Description of the “seeds4resilience (S4R)” program:

The long term objective of the seeds program is that rural women and their communities have increased climate resilience, food, nutrition and income security and, with their allies and movements, have the power to transform the systems of inequality and rights abuses that are causing hunger and climate and ecological breakdown.

The Seeds program supports smallholder farmers – especially women, and youth – to have the capacity to access, develop and use plant genetic resources - in conjunction with agro-ecological practices and land rights - to improve their food and nutrition security in the context of climate change. The seeds program fosters women’s leadership, support rural communities and their allies to voice their demands and influence government and private sector decisionmakers.  The seeds program is implemented in countries in Africa, Latin America and Asia and has activities at global level.

The intern will support the S4R team at the start of the third phase of the seeds program started in 2024,  consisting of a number of seeds systems-related projects, based on the SD=HS foundations. The main role of the intern is to analyze and map main actors and power structures in the seeds sector and identify financial flows in seeds development programs and seed aid programs. Work will be done in collaboration with the related GREEN climate resilience unit and other units, and build on information and contacts with country offices and partner organizations.

Key tasks

• Support the S4R team in documenting and presenting the main actors in the seeds sector (private sector, regulatory frameworks, research, investors), their (financial) interest and their ability to influence decision makers;
• Support the S4R team in desk research to gather and analyze research on financial flows related to seeds development and seed aid programs;
• Interview relevant stakeholders and researchers;
• Compile and present the information on the seeds sector and financial flows in a comprehensive but limited way;
• Develop preparatory notes and positioning papers in support of meetings, for instance thematic meetings on specific issues (such as influencing the private sector, alliance building, etc.);
• Assist with gathering and formatting relevant communications material for our website and other purposes;
• Support in preparing meetings (offline and online);
• Participate in internal, and where relevant external, meetings on seeds.

Who are we looking for?

• Currently a Masters’ degree student in a relevant study related to the political economy of agriculture.
• Experience with analyzing and presenting qualitative and quantitative data.
• Have excellent written & spoken English skills. Spanish and French would be an asset
• Strong cultural sensitivity and gender awareness; excellent communication skills.
• A good understanding of organizational communication processes.
• Highly motivated, result-oriented and are a team player.
• Willing to learn and share your knowledge with others.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants to the internships at Oxfam Novib must meet the following requirements:

• Be an active student of 18 years of age minimum;
• Be enrolled at a Dutch educational institution (first level university degree, higher schools (HBO) or other), with the internship being a requirement in the curriculum;
• Have the legal right to live and work in The Netherlands or be prepared to obtain the right to follow an internship as part of their study in the Dutch educational institution. A three-partite internship agreement (between Oxfam Novib, the educational institution and the student) will be signed to that effect.
• Have less than 3 years of relevant full-time work experience.
• Not having been in employment with Oxfam Novib previously.

Our offer
An intern in Oxfam Novib is offered an internship contract for the duration of the internship and a monthly allowance based on €450,- per month on a basis of a 36-hour work week, pro-rata in case of less hours.

The intern is expected to have a student OV card; however, if not applicable, a reimbursement of commuting costs will be offered.

Oxfam Novib works on hybrid basis – partly from office, partly from home.

During the internship, the intern is supervised, overarching by the manager and daily/weekly by a designated colleague/buddy. The period of this internship takes place between August/September 2024 until Januari/February 2025 (approximately a period of 5 months).

Working at Oxfam Novib

All our work is guided by our core values: Empowerment, Accountability, Inclusiveness, Courage, Solidarity and Equality.

At Oxfam Novib, we work according to the Feminist Principles - Oxfam Policy & Practice.

Oxfam Novib is based on the power of difference. That is why we aim to attract a diverse mix of talented people who share our standards, values, and principles, and who are committed to prevent and eliminate any type of misconduct.

We have an active policy against sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, any form of abuse of power or lack of integrity and financial misconduct. This subject will be covered in our application and selection process.

Additional information

Do you believe that this is the internship you are looking for? Then we would love to receive your application! Please note that only applications received before the closing date of 5 May 2024 and submitted via our application portal will be taken into consideration.

If you have questions regarding the position, please contact Eco Matser, Project lead Seeds, eco.matser@oxfamnovib.nl