Intern with CIESIN at the Earth Institute this Fall

 Côte Sud Initiative, HAITI: GIS Analyst

Department/Center: CIESIN

Project Background:

The Côte Sud Initiative (CSI) is a long-term sustainable development initiative in the South Department of Haiti. The CSI is the proving ground for the theory, technology, and partnerships put into practice in an integrated manner within a specific region. Launched in January 2011, the current focus of the CSI is on mobilization, partnership development and early practical action. The CSI is coordinated by the CSI Partnership, which consists of 11 organizations including the Government of Haiti.

Within the CSI area, the Port-à-Piment watershed is located. After two years of research, consultation and collaborative assessments, the community, government, and academic and international organizations identified the town of Port-à-Piment and its accompanying watershed as a community and environmental zone with complex and severe challenges but also immense local capacity. This vital combination offers the right setting and components to demonstrate how to achieve sustained growth and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

The general focus is on achieving large-scale lasting and measurable improvements in all of the MDGs at the village to household level – preceded and accompanied by extensive research and technical development that will provide lessons learned and examples ready for rapid scale up throughout the region and the country as a whole.

Anticipated intern tasks:

• Processing and aggregation of household level information to match spatial references through spatial joins.
• Assist in the analysis of point-level data using functions in ArcGIS such as density maps and spatial correlations (to name a few).
• Assist with the integration, analysis and interpretation (to a certain extent) of socioeconomic household data with biophysical/ environmental data.
• Assist with the mapping and rapid visualization of information (variables, indicators) in order to define further lines of analysis.
• Assist with the production of final maps and figures to be used in various project publications such as the Integrated Baseline Assessment for the Port-à-Piment watershed and the Côte Sud area, as well as blog entries, communication material to share with community-based organizations, community members, project partners and government agencies.
• Assist with other tasks as needed.

Skills required:

The student should be skillful in both GIS software and Adobe Photoshop. Previous experience in data processing and/ or analysis of information using ArcGIS is required. Previous experience in manipulating and/or managing large data sets is also required. The ideal intern is a detailed oriented person, with creative skills as to solve potential problems. He/she is able to meet deadlines and work under a fast-paced environment.

Skills preferred: The preferred intern will have previous experience working in integrated, multi-sectoral research and/or development related projects. Although fluency in French and/or Creole is not required for the position, the ability to understand some will be an advantage. Previous experience in statistical analysis is preferred, but not required.

Type of student desired:  Undergraduate   or Graduate

Click here to apply.