Internship with Mekong River Commission

The MRC Internship scheme offers a small group of outstanding university students and graduates from the Mekong region having specialised during their studies in water resource management and related fields the opportunity to acquire working experience in an international river basin organisation. The scheme has been developed to increase the opportunity for the exchange of knowledge and skills, between sectors and cultures within the mandate of the MRC.

Objective

Through this scheme, interns will be exposed to the MRC's vision and mission, and technical practices in different areas of the Mekong river basin development. Interns specialise in the areas of basin development planning, environment, flood management and mitigation, climate change, navigation, GIS mapping and modeling, information and knowledge management, fisheries, agriculture, irrigation and forestry, donor coordination, capacity building and other activities related to sustainable human development. Interns acquire practical experience in various aspects of project management in an international working environment.

This scheme aims to provide work experience opportunities for riparian students or recent graduates1 within the fields relevant to the work of MRC and operation of the MRC Secretariat. It is also to promote understanding of MRC approaches to Integrated River Basin Management and the MRC model for regional cooperation. Interns will work at MRC Secretariat, project offices, MRC project office and/or the offices of the national counterparts based on an agreed terms of reference (TOR). The interns (and their sponsoring institution, if relevant) must accept the TOR prior to commencement of their assignment. At the end of the assignment the interns will prepare a final report on his/her internship and make a presentation to MRC Secretariat staff.

Registration and Procedures

1. Registration: submit a cover letter and CV by email to mrcs@mrcmekong.org. The Human Resources Development Section (HRS) will acknowledge receipt.
2. HRS will contact you by e-mail when an internship post is available; at this stage some additional documents will be required from the candidate.
3. Send your documents to the HRS.

Duration and Time Commitment

Assignments may vary in length, according to availability and academic requirements as well as the need of the MRC programme. The duration for an internship is between 3 to 6 months. The interns are not eligible to apply for, or be appointed to, any post within the MRC during the period of the internship or for the six months immediately following the expiration date thereafter.

Eligible Candidates

• University students in their final year or newly graduates in fields relevant to MRC programmes.
• Excellent written and spoken English.
• Excellent computer skills (Microsoft Office applications).
• Excellent interactive and interpersonal skills and the ability to work in a multicultural environment.
• 28 years or younger.
• Be a national citizen of one of the MRC countries (Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand, and Viet Nam) or of a dialogue partner (China and Myanmar)2

Financial and Administrative Aspects

For interns who do not have a sponsoring organisation, accommodation and travel costs will be borne by MRC3. MRC's contribution includes the costs for standard accommodation and a lump sum allowance for local transportation. Interns are responsible for arranging their own accommodation and travel to the place of assignment.

If work-related travel within the country is requested by a programme during the internship period, DSA and travel costs shall be paid by the MRC.

Communication

Email - Interns may be assigned an MRC email address for the period of their assignment. No access to the MRC share drive is permitted unless specific permission is granted by the Chief of the Finance and Admin Section (FAS).

Telephone - Use of MRC phone for local calls relevant to the intern's assignment is permitted. Costs incurred in using the phone and/or fax for private purposes must be borne by the intern.

Resources

• If selected MRC will provide assistance to the Intern in getting a visa for the work assignment. No assistance can be provided for spouses, family members, partners or friends.
• The MRC Secretariat will provide the intern with desk space and basic office equipment and supplies.
• Access to any other resources or services normally provided to MRC staff may be granted upon the approval of the intern’s supervisor, director, Chief of FAS or CEO as required.

Supervision

The host programme at the MRC will assign a staff member to supervise and monitor the day-to-day work and performance of the interns during the period of an internship. 

MRC Work Programme / Areas of Assignment

The intern should indicate in his/her cover letter in which MRC work area he/she is interested:

• Basin Development Plan Programme (BDP)
• Environment Programme (EP)
• Climate Change and Adaptation Initiative (CCAI)
• Flood Management and Mitigation Programme (FMMP) – Based in Cambodia
• Fisheries Programme (FP) - based in Cambodia
• Navigation Programme (NAP) - Based in Cambodia
• Information, Knowledge Management Programme (IKMP) - Based in Cambodia
• GIS Mapping and Modeling - based in Cambodia
• Agriculture and Irrigation Programme (AIP) - based in Cambodia
• International Coordination and Communication Section (ICCS)
• Integrated Capacity Building Programme (ICBP)

Documents Required Prior to the Start of the Internship

At first stage of the application:

1. A cover letter
2. Curriculum Vitae

After receiving confirmation from HRS that a post is available

1. Copy of passport
2. Letter of reference from university/Institute
3. Proof of Medical coverage
4. MRC Internship Agreement

Medical Coverage

The MRC accepts no responsibility whatsoever for costs or hardships arising from illness or accidents incurred during the internship. Interns must carry adequate medical and life insurance. Proof of medical coverage must be provided before the internship commences.

Footnotes 

1. i.e. citizens of one of the Mekong countries
2. In exceptional cases MRC programmes can define scopes of work for internships for which other nationalities can apply. These opportunities will then be advertised separately by HRS on MRC’s website. No financial support can be granted by MRC in these cases.
3. The intern must seek prior approval from HRS prior to incurring any costs. Costs will be reimbursed upon presentation of original receipt. Reimbursement for accommodation costs is limited to US$ 250 per month.

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