Website The Nature Conservancy
The Nature Conservancy
Internship Opportunity – Conservation Social Science Intern
Organization
The Nature Conservancy
Position Title
Conservation Social Science Intern
About the Opportunity
The Nature Conservancy is seeking a Conservation Social Science Intern to support the Africa Science Director in strengthening the use of social science evidence across conservation programmes in Africa.
The internship provides hands-on experience in how social science informs conservation strategy, programme design, and decision-making within a large international NGO working across multiple African landscapes.
What You Will Gain
The internship offers exposure to:
- Applied conservation social science in a global NGO setting
- The science–policy–practice interface
- Research synthesis and evidence-based conservation
- Science communication and knowledge management
- Conservation challenges across African socio-ecological systems
- Collaboration with interdisciplinary teams (ecology, climate science, economics, and human dimensions)
Key Responsibilities
1. Conservation Social Science & Evidence Support
- Conduct structured literature reviews (systematic, rapid, or narrative) on topics such as:
- Community-based conservation
- Human–wildlife coexistence and conflict
- Governance, land tenure, and land-use change
- Social impacts, equity, and livelihoods
- Behaviour change and conservation effectiveness
- Review peer-reviewed and grey literature, especially from African and Global South contexts
- Prepare:
- Annotated bibliographies
- Evidence tables
- Synthesis briefs
- Translate technical research into clear summaries for non-technical audiences
- Support development of:
- Theories of change
- Concept notes and donor proposals
- Technical reports and learning materials
- Assist with reference management and citation checks
- Track emerging research trends and evidence gaps in African conservation
2. Administrative & Coordination Support
- Support meeting preparation and follow-up (agendas, notes, action tracking)
- Maintain shared document repositories and knowledge systems
- Assist coordination across teams and follow up on deliverables
- Support workshops, meetings, and learning events (virtual and in-person)
- Maintain task lists, schedules, and priority trackers
- Draft, format, and proofread reports, presentations, and internal communications
- Consolidate inputs for reporting purposes
What You’ll Bring
Minimum Qualifications
- Undergraduate or graduate training (completed or ongoing) in:
- Social Science
- Conservation Science
- Environmental Studies
- Geography
- Economics
- Anthropology
- Development Studies or related fields
- Strong interest in conservation, sustainability, or human–environment systems
- Good research, reading, writing, and synthesis skills
- Strong organization and attention to detail
- Ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint or equivalent)
- Must be at least 18 years old
- Must be enrolled in a recognized institution
- Internship must align with academic programme requirements
- Compliance with organizational code of conduct and policies
- Willingness to travel and work in remote areas
Additional Requirements
Applicants must provide:
- Proof of university/college registration
- Application letter
- Curriculum Vitae (CV) with 3 references
Desired Skills
- Familiarity with conservation or development work in Africa
- Experience conducting literature reviews or academic research
- Ability to work with academic and grey literature
- Strong communication and teamwork skills
- Independent, proactive, and detail-oriented working style
- Curiosity and willingness to learn in a fast-paced environment
Additional Requirement Note
This role may require compliance with a vehicle safety policy, including a driving record review if driving is part of assigned duties.
How to Apply
Applicants should submit:
- Application letter
- CV (including 3 references)
- Proof of registration at a recognized institution
(Refer to official The Nature Conservancy application channels for submission details.)
To apply for this job please visit nature.wd108.myworkdayjobs.com.