Intern, Disaster Risk Management

The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB/the Bank) is seeking to recruit an Intern, Disaster Risk Management. The successful candidate will be based at CDB’s headquarters in St. Michael, Barbados.

THE DIVISION

The Environmental Sustainability Division (ESD) provides advice and technical support services as well as develops, operationalises and provides technical oversight of the policies and strategies for environmental management, disaster risk management (DRM) and climate change (CC) resilience and is responsible for monitoring the Bank’s environmental performance requirements and to mainstream these areas across the operations of the Bank. ESD also designs, appraises and supervises discrete technical assistance programmes and projects in these areas. The Division provides technical coordination of specialized initiatives and funds in environmental sustainability and develops knowledge products to support the integration of CC and DRM within the operations of the Bank and the projects undertaken by the borrowing member countries (BMCs). The work of the Division is critical to achieving the Bank’s strategic objective of increasing environmental resilience in the BMCs. These countries are primarily small islands, developing and coastal states that are highly exposed and vulnerable to climate and disaster risks and impacts.

ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES 

The intern will work with ESD and will focus on supporting the Division to deliver on its DRM and climate resilience objectives.  

Key Responsibilities:

The objective of the internship is to support CDB’s work in DRM and climate change resilience while providing the intern with valuable experience.

Support for Project Preparation, Implementation and Management

•    Help develop project workplans and budgets for those being considered on the Caribbean Action for Resilience (CARE) Programme. 

•    Assist in preparing project implementation schedule using Microsoft Project.

Research and Data Collection on DRM and climate resilience 

•    Compile and summarise data and information on disaster impacts (2015-2025) in the Caribbean using relevant databases and websites (e.g., EM-DAT - The international disaster database; United Nations DesInventar Open Source Initiative - Official Website)

•    Conduct literature review on biodiversity from relevant websites (e.g. Convention on Biodiversity | United Nations,  UNEP - UN Environment Programme; Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency; World Bank Open Data | Data; Home | United Nations Development Programme) and documents to identify relevant indicators on biodiversity, climate and disaster resilience that can be used by CDB to report on its interventions in these areas.

Other ESD tasks as required: The intern may be requested to provide other support to the ESD on an as-needed basis.

REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

The Intern will report directly to the Operations Officer (Environmental Sustainability).

EDUCATION AND COMPETENCIES

•    Currently pursuing a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree programme in a field that is directly relevant to the work of the ESD, including (but not limited to) disaster risk management, environmental management, natural resources management, project management or public policy/administration, or graduated in the last 12 months;

•    Be knowledgeable about climate and disaster risks and impacts in the Caribbean and initiatives to build the region resilience to natural hazard events;

•    Be knowledgeable about project proposal preparation and project management;

•    Be familiar with the work of key institutions intervening in the DRM and climate resilience landscape in the Caribbean; and

•    Have strong oral and written communication skills.

LOCATION, DURATION AND TIMING

This assignment will be carried out at CDB’s Headquarters in Barbados over a 3-month period, commencing in July 2025 and ending in September 2025.

You must be a national of one of CDB's member countries. 

The deadline for submission of applications is April 22, 2025 at 11:59 pm AST.

The Caribbean Development Bank is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity. We encourage all qualified candidates to apply regardless of their racial, ethnic, religious, cultural background, gender, sexual orientation, or disabilities. Women are strongly encouraged to apply. 

The Bank provides reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities who participate in the job application or interview process. Please contact us to request such accommodation.