Position Description

Overview
This document provides an overview of the current ProSPER.Net/Global Compact Cities Programme internship opportunity and outlines the key selection criteria and selection process for internship candidates. Two supported internships are available.
ProSPER.Net
ProSPER.Net is an alliance of leading universities in the Asia-Pacific region that are committed to integrating sustainable development into postgraduate courses and curricula. The network, dubbed ProSPER.Net: Promotion of Sustainability in Postgraduate Education and Research Network, is developing a new generation of leaders who can best tackle global sustainability challenges in the face of rapid environmental degradation. By changing the way higher education institutions teach students about sustainability, ProSPER.Net improves the ways in which future professionals manage sustainability issues across a wide variety of disciplines.
Global Compact Cities Programme
As the urban arm of the United Nations Global Compact – the world’s largest voluntary corporate responsibility initiative – the Global Compact Cities Programme (GCCP) works with cities and regions and partners to progress social equity and justice, environmental sustainability and good governance in the urban environment. This is through the articulation and action on the Ten Principles of the Global Compact in the areas of human rights, labour, the environment and anti-corruption and is within the context of contemporary global challenges. There are currently 100 city participants: see www.citiesprogramme.org
The Cities Programme is hosted and supported by RMIT University and aligns with its commitment to act as a global, connected and urban focused university.
ProSPER.Net/GCCP Internship Program
The ProSPER.Net/GCCP internship program is designed for students studying at ProSPER.Net universities.
Interns will be based in a selected city government and assist that city to complete a Global Compact City Scan assessment. An academic from the student’s university with links to a suitable city government will supervise the research, along with a city government mentor. An academic from RMIT University, the host institution for the GCCP, will also assist in supervising the intern’s research through regular Skype meetings.
Each intern undertakes a City Scan assessment over an agreed period of time. Internships are due to commence in September 2015 and generally run over three months, although a longer period may be negotiated.
The internship is a voluntary position. However, ProSPER.Net, GCCP and RMIT University recognise incidental costs and opportunity costs, such as reduced hours of employment, that students undertaking this research typically experience and will make a stipend of $1,800 AUD available for each intern. The stipend will be paid in two installments – (1) $900 AUD at after the first six weeks of the internship; and (2) $900 AUD at the conclusion of the internship.

Global Compact City Scan
The Cities Programme developed the City Scan, a diagnostic and reporting tool, in response to the need for city governments to effectively tackle critical urban issues in a holistic way using a simple process.
The City Scan provides cities with the opportunity to identify their region's challenges, record their progress, priorities and plans and highlight successful initiatives. It is a valuable exercise from which to build a holistic perspective of the environment in which the city government operates and to form a whole of city government view of strategy and action. The results of the City Scan provide a valuable platform from which to plan, set goals, monitor progress and recognise achievement.
The City Scan survey tool focuses on:
 City Development – challenges and actions around areas such as: labour and human rights, intra-generational equity, children’s rights, equal opportunity, universal access to resources and justice and sustainable economic development.
 City Sustainability – challenges and actions around areas such as: environment, inter-generational equity, food security, resilience and climate change.
 City Governance – challenges and actions around areas such as: anti-corruption, leadership, transparency, accountability and participation.
Host Cities
Both participating and non-participating Global Compact Cities Programme Cities are welcome to undertake a City Scan. Cities that are currently undertaking, or have already undertaken, a City Scan are ineligible.
It is essential that host cities are prepared to support interns by nominating a city government mentor to support interns whilst undertaking the City Scan in their host cities.
Internship Experience
The objective of the internship is to enhance interns’ educational experiences through a practical work assignment, which will involve implementing a City Scan of a designated city. This would require that the intern liaises with the key focal point (and other local officials if necessary) in the city to undertake research relevant for the completion of the City Scan. This includes identification of the relative strengths and weaknesses across over 150 issues in the areas of City Development, Sustainability and Governance. Interns will also collect information on any programs and policies relevant to the above issues, as well as on related indicators and targets.
Interns will consult with the city focal point to describe the relationship between the city and the UN Global Compact, as well as with the Cities Programme. Interns will also collate information on how the city influences the local private sector.
An online system has been set up by the Cities Programme to assist with the collecting of this information and at the start of the internship interns will receive advice and support from Cities Programme staff on how to undertake the research, what types of information is required and how to complete the online forms.
Internship Candidates
Internships are open to postgraduate (master or doctoral) students who are currently enrolled in ProSPER.Net member institutions (for a list of current member institutions, see: http://prospernet.ias.unu.edu/index.php/about-prosper-net-page/current-members/). Ideally, interns will have a background in development- and/or urban-related fields such as economics, urban planning, international relations, public or business administration, or environmental studies. Written and spoken proficiency in English is required.

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