Internship – GIS & Open Data

Background

UNESCO’s Regional Office for Eastern Africa supports its Member States in advancing knowledge-sharing and capacity development in water sciences, with a strong emphasis on spatial data, environmental monitoring, and open access to information. Within the context of collaboration with IGAD and its Member States, the office seeks to enhance GIS and open data capacities for improved decision-making and inclusive governance.

UNESCO Regional Office for Eastern Africa is recruiting. Internship: Geographic Information System (GIS) and Open Data Support

📍 Nairobi, Kenya
Duration: 2 months (1 September 2025 – 31 October 2025)
Time Commitment: Full-time (35–40 hours/week)
Modality: Hybrid (70% in-office, 30% remote)
Supervisor: Head of Natural Science Sector

The internship aims to support ongoing efforts in developing modular GIS training resources, assessing spatial data management capacities in IGAD Member States, and fostering open data practices aligned with the goals of good governance, transparency, and regional collaboration.

Tasks and Responsibilities

Under the supervision of the Head of Natural Science Sector and in collaboration with the IHP-WINS team, the intern will:

• Conduct literature reviews on:
  • GIS capacity building for government institutions.
  • Education and training methodologies in geospatial data management.
  • The vision and impact of open data for development in Africa.
• Assist in the development of modular GIS training materials, including:
  • Concepts of data quality, metadata, geodata modeling, and spatial databases.
  • Practical examples using tools such as PostgreSQL/PostGIS and Enterprise Architect.
• Support the design and implementation of a survey on spatial data governance in IGAD Member States, including the preparation of questionnaires and preliminary analysis.
• Compile an overview of current datasets maintained at the national level in selected countries, including assessment of technical capacity and data practices.
• Draft recommendations on how open data practices can be enhanced and applied in local and regional contexts.
• Participate in internal meetings and provide written inputs for reporting and presentations.

Expected Deliverables

• Annotated bibliography on GIS training and open data in Africa.
• Survey tool and summary report on current spatial data capacities.
• Prototype GIS training modules (slides, exercises, templates).
• Internship summary report including recommendations for scaling the training prototype.

Qualifications and Skills

• Enrolled in or recently completed a Master’s programme in GIS, Geomatics, Data Science, Geography, Environmental Science, or a related field.
• Familiarity with spatial data formats, database design, and open data standards.
• Experience with GIS and database tools such as QGIS, PostgreSQL/PostGIS, or Enterprise Architect is an asset.
• Strong analytical and writing skills in English.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a multicultural environment.

Supervision and Working Conditions

The intern will work under the daily supervision of the Head of the Natural Science Sector at UNESCO ROEA. The position is based in Nairobi with occasional remote working. Regular check-ins, mentorship, and feedback will be provided throughout the internship period.