GEF Ecosystem Restoration Integrated Program Artificial Intelligence Intern
This Bekenstein intern at Conservation International will support the Ecosystem Restoration Integrated Program with tasks related to qualitative data analysis, geospatial analysis and AI. The intern´s work will contribute to identifying countries trends and themes on ecosystem restoration and climate change mitigation and promoting innovation within CI´s monitoring and evaluation systems.
The Ecosystem Restoration Integrated Program is a six-year initiative funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and led by Conservation International (CI). The program’s mission is to restore ecosystems, combat environmental degradation, and support communities livelihoods. Aligned with the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, the program aims to restore a diversity of ecosystems from mangroves to wetlands, peatlands, forests, grasslands and savannas across 20 countries: Angola, Brazil, Cambodia, Chad, Congo DR, Cote d’Ivoire, Haiti, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Mexico, Mozambique, Nepal, Peru, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam.
Main responsibilities:
Qualitative analysis and AI:
- Assist in the collection and analysis of qualitative data related to ecosystem restoration, sustainable financing and enabling conditions such as policy and planning for scaling ecosystem restoration and mitigation of climate change.
- Utilize ATLAS.ti to code and automate textual data analysis to generate summaries and quickly grasp insights from large country documents.
- Apply AI techniques in ATLAS.ti for pattern recognition and topic modeling to categorize topics and help understand main themes and interventions countries are working on.
Geospatial analysis and AI:
- Automate tasks like data classification, feature extraction, and spatial pattern analysis. For example, analyze satellite imagery to classify land use (e.g., urban, forest, water), making it easier to track changes over time in the areas that the countries will restore.
Crosscutting:
- Collaborate with team members to develop presentations and visualizations of results and provide ideas for potential knowledge exchanges with countries based on the insights gathered.
- Participate in team meetings and contribute to brainstorming sessions for new ideas and methodologies.
- Other duties as assigned
Qualifications
- Knowledge of environmental and climate change issues including understanding of technical terms is required.
- Basic understanding of qualitative research methods and experience with qualitative analysis is preferred.
- Familiarity with AI and machine learning concepts, particularly in the context of data analysis is required.
- Experience with geospatial data and GIS software (e.g., ArcGIS, QGIS) is required.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English. Knowledge of other languages such as French, Portuguese or Spanish is a plus.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
- Attention to detail
- Open-minded
Timeline
Tentative schedule (time spent in activities may change depending on skills and CI´s needs):
Week 1: Introduction to team and program
Week 2: Collection of qualitative data to analyze
Week 3,4,5,6: Utilize ATLAS.ti to code and automate data analysis including applying AI techniques.
Week 7: Presentation of results to the team on qualitative analysis
Week 6: Submission of code and methodology for qualitative analysis and collaboration with the team on ideas for knowledge exchanges and technical assistance to countries based on findings
Week 7: Collection of geospatial data to analyze
Week 8,9,10: Automation of tasks to analyze geospatial data
Week 11: Presentation of results to the team on geospatial analysis
Week 12: Submission of automation scripts and methodology for spatial analysis and wrap-up.
Background
Since 1987, Conservation International has worked to spotlight and secure the critical benefits that nature provides to humanity. Combining fieldwork with innovations in science, policy and finance, we’ve helped protect more than 6 million square kilometers (2.3 million square miles) of land and sea across more than 70 countries.
Conservation International’s approach to conservation puts human well-being on equal footing with environmental goals. We respect human rights, ensure our programs are designed with gender equality in mind and create opportunities for local communities to earn a living while also helping nature.
Our work is focused on four pillars:
- Innovations in Science - Conservation International is behind some of the most extraordinary, cutting-edge conservation science taking place today. Our research is cited more than leading universities.
- Innovations in Finance - From our launch of the world’s first debt-for-conservation swap in 1987, Conservation International is changing the equation to make nature more valuable alive than destroyed.
- Partnering with Communities - Respecting the rights of Indigenous people and local communities was one of our founding principles, and it guides our work to this day.
- Working with Governments - Our science and expertise are helping governments take action to protect nature and the benefits it provides to people.
More information found here
