CONTEXT
Start date: February to April 2025
Duration: 4 to 6 months (can be continued as a thesis)
Place of work: Sophia Antipolis, France
Internship allowance: 4.35 euros per hour plus contribution to meal and transport costs
PRESENTATION OF SEMIDE
The Euro-Mediterranean Information System on know-how in the Water sector (SEMIDE) is an initiative of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership. SEMIDE is an instrument for cooperation between the EU member states and the countries of the Mediterranean neighbourhood, bringing together the ministries responsible for water resources in the region. Operational since the end of 1999, the Technical Unit of SEMIDE (UT-SEMIDE) is supported by the Environment Ministries of Spain, France, Malta and Italy and is based in Sophia Antipolis (France), on the premises of the International Office for Water. UT-SEMIDE is a non-profit European Economic Interest Grouping funded by contributions from its members and the implementation of EU-Med projects. The multicultural team of UT-SEMIDE is composed of 6 permanent staff members supporting the network operations and the implementation of its projects. Our organisation aims to:
- Facilitate access to existing information on expertise in the water sector.
- Develop the pooling of other useful information.
- Develop joint tools and promote the necessary cooperation programmes.
JOB DESCRIPTION
UT-SEMIDE is involved in various European projects on adaptation to climate change, Nature-based solutions (NBS), agriculture, urban agriculture, circular economy as well as water management and governance.
Internship context:
As part of the European projects FutureLakes (innovative solutions for the preservation and restoration of European lakes) and CARDIMED (demonstration of SFN for adaptation to climate change in Mediterranean regions), UT-SEMIDE is involved in the mapping and analysis of green financing mechanisms. Our work covers also the analysis and evaluation of sustainable economic models for restoring lakes and strengthening the blue circular economy.
As part of the internship, the candidate will conduct the following activities:
1/ FutureLakes and CARDIMED
- Carry out a detailed mapping of green financing mechanisms and instruments related to the implementation of Nature-based Solutions (NBS), Nature-based Economy (NBE), blue circular economy, etc. The candidate will consider not only public, but also private, third-party instruments as well as blended finance developed as part of public/private partnerships.
- Analyse the collected data by source, type, geographical dimension, type of beneficiaries, etc.
2/ FutureLakes
- Carrying out a cost-benefit analysis of NBS, BBS and solutions based on the circular blue economy designed to protect and restore six large European lakes (Lake Vesijärvi, FI; Lake Karla, GR; Lake Ijssel, NL; Loch Leven, UK, Vansjø, NO ; Kartuzy, PL). In addition to the revenues generated by the economic sectors (agriculture, fishing, tourism, etc.), FutureLakes is interested in the environmental services (carbon sequestration, biodiversity, water quality, etc.) and social services (e.g. job creation) generated by the restored ecosystems.
- Analyse the economic models of nature-based lake restoration by estimating the CAPEX, OPEX and revenue streams (including quantification of ecosystem services).
- Carrying out surveys and interviews with local stakeholders (SMEs, industries, investors, farmers, etc.) in the FutureLakes demonstration basins in Greece, Norway and Poland in order to assess the impact of lake restoration practices on their economic models, in particular the income generated by the restored and protected ecosystems.
- Identify and study the adaptive circular business models associated with the demonstration sites and apply a SWOT analysis to identify catalysts as well as socio-economic, legal and technical barriers and make recommendations for overcoming them.
- Process and analyse the data collected in a report that can be presented to the FutureLakes project partners.
QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
Training: Bachelor's degree, Master's degree or equivalent with a major in agriculture, environment, natural resource management or environmental economics.
Technical skills:
- Use of IT tools, Pack Office (Word, Excel, Powerpoint), e-mail, surveys, graphics software
- Good written and oral communication skills in English
Soft skills:
- Interest in the environmental sector
- Working independently, rigour
- Working in multicultural teams
- Interest in research (possibility of pursuing a CIFRE or university thesis on new economic models integrating the multi-benefits of Nature-based Solutions)
APPLICATION
Applications (CV + covering letter) must be sent to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. before 7 February 2025.
