Intern - Ocean Events and Workshop Coordination _COR, Nairobi
Vacancy #: 7450 Unit: ESARO - Coastal and Ocean Programme Organisation: International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Location: Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office, Nairobi, Kenya Reporting to: Regional Regenerative Blue Economy Manager Work percentage: 100% Grade: - Expected start date: 01 January 2026 Type of contract: Fixed-term (up to 6 months) Closing date: 03 December 2025
BACKGROUND
THIS IS A LOCAL POSITION
Background
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office (ESARO) works across 24 countries to conserve biodiversity and support sustainable development. Its programmes range from protecting key ecosystems to influencing regional policies and building partnerships for nature-positive growth.
Within ESARO, the Coastal and Ocean Resilience (COR) Programme leads efforts on marine and coastal conservation, blue economy development, ecosystem restoration, and climate adaptation. It works with governments, communities, and partners to strengthen governance, safeguard marine biodiversity, and build the resilience of coastal livelihoods.
A central element of this work is the Great Blue Wall, the flagship initiative which seeks to address the climate-biodiversity-economic transformation agendas by supporting the conservation and restoration of critical blue ecosystems such as mangroves, seagrasses, and coral reefs, while empowering coastal communities and advancing a regenerative blue economy and effective ocean governance. The initiative operates under IUCN’s Blue Resilience Framework, which integrates four complementary pillars: Blue Planet (governance and protection), Blue Nature (ecosystem restoration), Blue People (inclusive blue economies and policy), and Blue Partnerships (collaboration and innovation).
As part of the Great Blue Wall Initiative, a key focus is on building partnerships and delivering impactful engagements that connect governments, communities, and regional partners as well as practitioners around shared ocean priorities across and within sectors.
Job Description
ROLE DESCRIPTION:
The Intern, Ocean Events and Workshop Coordination will provide logistical, administrative, and communications support for the planning and delivery of seascape-level, regional and national events under the Coastal and Ocean Resilience portfolio. Working closely with staff in the COR Programme, the intern will support in the organization of workshops, training, and dialogues under the Great Blue Wall Initiative. This role offers a valuable opportunity to gain first-hand experience in event coordination, stakeholder engagement, and project implementation in the ocean/environmental space within a regional context.
Role Description
The Intern, Ocean Events and Workshop Coordination will provide logistical, administrative, and communications support for the planning and delivery of seascape-level, regional and national events under the Coastal and Ocean Resilience portfolio. Working closely with staff in the COR Programme, the intern will support in the organization of workshops, training, and dialogues under the Great Blue Wall Initiative. This role offers a valuable opportunity to gain first-hand experience in event coordination, stakeholder engagement, and project implementation in the ocean/environmental space within a regional context.
Major Responsibilities
IMPLEMENTATION AND PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT;
Support preparation and delivery of meetings, workshops, and field-based events, including one regional harmonisation workshop;
Assist in managing participant lists, invitations, travel arrangements, and venue logistics;
Support procurement follow-up, including quotation requests, supplier coordination, and tracking of event-related expenditures;
Contribute to maintaining a shared calendar of events and ensure documentation and filing of all event materials.
COORDINATION AND EXTERNAL ENGAGEMENT;
Liaise with participants, speakers, and partners to confirm logistics and event details.
Support preparation of concept notes, agendas, and briefing materials for events.
Assist in compiling partner contact lists and stakeholder databases.
Support coordination between event partners and service providers to ensure smooth execution.
EVENTS AND KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE;
Provide logistical support during events (registration, coordination, logistics) where possible and during online meetings.
Take notes, compile attendance lists, and prepare short meeting summaries.
Assist in collecting feedback and lessons learned to inform future event planning.
Support development of post-event reports and visibility materials.
COMMUNICATION, OUTREACH AND RESOURCE MOBILISATION;
Work with the Communications Officer to ensure appropriate branding and visibility during events.
Support preparation of short articles, photos, and social media posts capturing event highlights.
Assist with managing event photo archives and content documentation for newsletters or donor updates.
OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES;
Perform other duties as may be assigned from time to time.
Requirements
Education;
Bachelor’s degree in Event Management, Environmental Studies, Communications, International Relations, or a related discipline.
Demonstrated interest in environmental and/or marine conservation, sustainable development, or environmental diplomacy.
Strong computer literacy, particularly in MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and online meeting platforms (Teams, Zoom).
Work Experience;
Some prior experience (professional, internship, or volunteer) in event coordination, communications, or administrative support.
Familiarity with logistics planning, vendor coordination, or travel arrangements is desirable.
Exposure to international or development organisations will be an advantage.
Strong organisational and problem-solving skills, with a keen attention to detail.
Ability to manage multiple tasks efficiently and maintain professionalism under time pressure.
Education;
Candidates must be currently enrolled in or have recently completed at least one year of a university degree (undergraduate or graduate) in a field relevant to the assignment.
Applicants must be pursuing studies that are directly related to the internship’s duties as outlined in the Terms of Reference.
Computer literacy in relation to office applications (word processing, spreadsheets, PowerPoint) use of internet and online communication tools;
LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS;
Excellent written and spoken English is essential, particularly for professional correspondence, coordination, and event documentation.
Working knowledge of French and/or Portuguese (spoken or written) is a strong advantage, especially for communicating with regional partners and participants.
CORE COMPETENCIES;
Transparency: Able to build trust and contribute to informed and responsible decision making by carrying out the work of IUCN in a transparent manner; provides clear guidance to ensure that objectives and desired measurable results are understood by members of the team.
Inclusiveness: Understands and accepts cultural diversity, and provide a tolerant, positive and supportive working environment that fosters respect for diversity, demonstrates ability to work in a multicultural, multi ethnic environment and to maintain effective working relations with people of different nationalities and cultural backgrounds.
Professionalism: Promotes the organisation’s interests, objectives and values in a diligent and professional manner.
Accountability: Takes responsibility of individual and collective actions, promotes the IUCN One Programme approach.
FUNCTIONAL COMPETENCIES;
Demonstrates
Strong organisational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to support multiple event logistics and documentation tasks with supervision.
Strong communication and diplomacy skills, and the ability to work in multicultural and multidisciplinary environments.
Comfortable liaising with partners, vendors, and service providers, under guidance, to ensure smooth event preparation and delivery.
Commitment to continuous learning, professional growth, and a proactive attitude.
Strong coordination, planning, and time-management abilities.
Capacity to handle complex logistics and competing priorities efficiently and calmly.
Good stakeholder and participant engagement skills, including tact and responsiveness in communication.
A service-oriented approach and commitment to teamwork.
Willingness to occasionally support flexible hours during pre-agreed major events or workshops.
Flexibility and adaptability to dynamic operational contexts.
APPLICATIONS
Applicants are requested to apply online through the HR Management System, by opening the vacancy announcement and pressing the "Apply" button.
Applicants will be asked to create an account and submit their profile information. Applications will not be accepted after the closing date. The vacancy closes at midnight, Swiss time (GMT+1 / GMT+2 during Daylight Saving Time, DST). Please note that only selected applicants will be personally contacted for interviews.
Other job opportunities are published in the IUCN website: https://www.iucn.org/involved/jobs/
About IUCN
IUCN is a membership Union uniquely composed of both government and civil society organisations. It provides public, private and non-governmental organisations with the knowledge and tools that enable human progress, economic development and nature conservation to take place together.
Created in 1948, IUCN is now the world’s largest and most diverse environmental network, harnessing the knowledge, resources and reach of more than 1,400 Member organisations and around 16,000 experts. It is a leading provider of conservation data, assessments and analysis. Its broad membership enables IUCN to fill the role of incubator and trusted repository of best practices, tools and international standards.
IUCN provides a neutral space in which diverse stakeholders including governments, NGOs, scientists, businesses, local communities, indigenous peoples organisations and others can work together to forge and implement solutions to environmental challenges and achieve sustainable development.
Working with many partners and supporters, IUCN implements a large and diverse portfolio of conservation projects worldwide. Combining the latest science with the traditional knowledge of local communities, these projects work to reverse habitat loss, restore ecosystems and improve people’s well-being.
www.iucn.org
https://twitter.com/IUCN
BACKGROUND
THIS IS A LOCAL POSITION
Background
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office (ESARO) works across 24 countries to conserve biodiversity and support sustainable development. Its programmes range from protecting key ecosystems to influencing regional policies and building partnerships for nature-positive growth.
Within ESARO, the Coastal and Ocean Resilience (COR) Programme leads efforts on marine and coastal conservation, blue economy development, ecosystem restoration, and climate adaptation. It works with governments, communities, and partners to strengthen governance, safeguard marine biodiversity, and build the resilience of coastal livelihoods.
A central element of this work is the Great Blue Wall, the flagship initiative which seeks to address the climate-biodiversity-economic transformation agendas by supporting the conservation and restoration of critical blue ecosystems such as mangroves, seagrasses, and coral reefs, while empowering coastal communities and advancing a regenerative blue economy and effective ocean governance. The initiative operates under IUCN’s Blue Resilience Framework, which integrates four complementary pillars: Blue Planet (governance and protection), Blue Nature (ecosystem restoration), Blue People (inclusive blue economies and policy), and Blue Partnerships (collaboration and innovation).
As part of the Great Blue Wall Initiative, a key focus is on building partnerships and delivering impactful engagements that connect governments, communities, and regional partners as well as practitioners around shared ocean priorities across and within sectors.
Job Description
ROLE DESCRIPTION:
The Intern, Ocean Events and Workshop Coordination will provide logistical, administrative, and communications support for the planning and delivery of seascape-level, regional and national events under the Coastal and Ocean Resilience portfolio. Working closely with staff in the COR Programme, the intern will support in the organization of workshops, training, and dialogues under the Great Blue Wall Initiative. This role offers a valuable opportunity to gain first-hand experience in event coordination, stakeholder engagement, and project implementation in the ocean/environmental space within a regional context.
Role Description
The Intern, Ocean Events and Workshop Coordination will provide logistical, administrative, and communications support for the planning and delivery of seascape-level, regional and national events under the Coastal and Ocean Resilience portfolio. Working closely with staff in the COR Programme, the intern will support in the organization of workshops, training, and dialogues under the Great Blue Wall Initiative. This role offers a valuable opportunity to gain first-hand experience in event coordination, stakeholder engagement, and project implementation in the ocean/environmental space within a regional context.
Major Responsibilities
IMPLEMENTATION AND PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT;
Support preparation and delivery of meetings, workshops, and field-based events, including one regional harmonisation workshop;
Assist in managing participant lists, invitations, travel arrangements, and venue logistics;
Support procurement follow-up, including quotation requests, supplier coordination, and tracking of event-related expenditures;
Contribute to maintaining a shared calendar of events and ensure documentation and filing of all event materials.
COORDINATION AND EXTERNAL ENGAGEMENT;
Liaise with participants, speakers, and partners to confirm logistics and event details.
Support preparation of concept notes, agendas, and briefing materials for events.
Assist in compiling partner contact lists and stakeholder databases.
Support coordination between event partners and service providers to ensure smooth execution.
EVENTS AND KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE;
Provide logistical support during events (registration, coordination, logistics) where possible and during online meetings.
Take notes, compile attendance lists, and prepare short meeting summaries.
Assist in collecting feedback and lessons learned to inform future event planning.
Support development of post-event reports and visibility materials.
COMMUNICATION, OUTREACH AND RESOURCE MOBILISATION;
Work with the Communications Officer to ensure appropriate branding and visibility during events.
Support preparation of short articles, photos, and social media posts capturing event highlights.
Assist with managing event photo archives and content documentation for newsletters or donor updates.
OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES;
Perform other duties as may be assigned from time to time.
Requirements
- POSITION REQUIREMENTS:
Education;
Bachelor’s degree in Event Management, Environmental Studies, Communications, International Relations, or a related discipline.
Demonstrated interest in environmental and/or marine conservation, sustainable development, or environmental diplomacy.
Strong computer literacy, particularly in MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and online meeting platforms (Teams, Zoom).
Work Experience;
Some prior experience (professional, internship, or volunteer) in event coordination, communications, or administrative support.
Familiarity with logistics planning, vendor coordination, or travel arrangements is desirable.
Exposure to international or development organisations will be an advantage.
Strong organisational and problem-solving skills, with a keen attention to detail.
Ability to manage multiple tasks efficiently and maintain professionalism under time pressure.
Education;
Candidates must be currently enrolled in or have recently completed at least one year of a university degree (undergraduate or graduate) in a field relevant to the assignment.
Applicants must be pursuing studies that are directly related to the internship’s duties as outlined in the Terms of Reference.
Computer literacy in relation to office applications (word processing, spreadsheets, PowerPoint) use of internet and online communication tools;
LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS;
Excellent written and spoken English is essential, particularly for professional correspondence, coordination, and event documentation.
Working knowledge of French and/or Portuguese (spoken or written) is a strong advantage, especially for communicating with regional partners and participants.
CORE COMPETENCIES;
Transparency: Able to build trust and contribute to informed and responsible decision making by carrying out the work of IUCN in a transparent manner; provides clear guidance to ensure that objectives and desired measurable results are understood by members of the team.
Inclusiveness: Understands and accepts cultural diversity, and provide a tolerant, positive and supportive working environment that fosters respect for diversity, demonstrates ability to work in a multicultural, multi ethnic environment and to maintain effective working relations with people of different nationalities and cultural backgrounds.
Professionalism: Promotes the organisation’s interests, objectives and values in a diligent and professional manner.
Accountability: Takes responsibility of individual and collective actions, promotes the IUCN One Programme approach.
FUNCTIONAL COMPETENCIES;
Demonstrates
Strong organisational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to support multiple event logistics and documentation tasks with supervision.
Strong communication and diplomacy skills, and the ability to work in multicultural and multidisciplinary environments.
Comfortable liaising with partners, vendors, and service providers, under guidance, to ensure smooth event preparation and delivery.
Commitment to continuous learning, professional growth, and a proactive attitude.
Strong coordination, planning, and time-management abilities.
Capacity to handle complex logistics and competing priorities efficiently and calmly.
Good stakeholder and participant engagement skills, including tact and responsiveness in communication.
A service-oriented approach and commitment to teamwork.
Willingness to occasionally support flexible hours during pre-agreed major events or workshops.
Flexibility and adaptability to dynamic operational contexts.
APPLICATIONS
Applicants are requested to apply online through the HR Management System, by opening the vacancy announcement and pressing the "Apply" button.
Applicants will be asked to create an account and submit their profile information. Applications will not be accepted after the closing date. The vacancy closes at midnight, Swiss time (GMT+1 / GMT+2 during Daylight Saving Time, DST). Please note that only selected applicants will be personally contacted for interviews.
Other job opportunities are published in the IUCN website: https://www.iucn.org/involved/jobs/
About IUCN
IUCN is a membership Union uniquely composed of both government and civil society organisations. It provides public, private and non-governmental organisations with the knowledge and tools that enable human progress, economic development and nature conservation to take place together.
Created in 1948, IUCN is now the world’s largest and most diverse environmental network, harnessing the knowledge, resources and reach of more than 1,400 Member organisations and around 16,000 experts. It is a leading provider of conservation data, assessments and analysis. Its broad membership enables IUCN to fill the role of incubator and trusted repository of best practices, tools and international standards.
IUCN provides a neutral space in which diverse stakeholders including governments, NGOs, scientists, businesses, local communities, indigenous peoples organisations and others can work together to forge and implement solutions to environmental challenges and achieve sustainable development.
Working with many partners and supporters, IUCN implements a large and diverse portfolio of conservation projects worldwide. Combining the latest science with the traditional knowledge of local communities, these projects work to reverse habitat loss, restore ecosystems and improve people’s well-being.
www.iucn.org
https://twitter.com/IUCN