Intern Economic Justice Campaign

Friends of the Earth campaigns for sustainable and just societies and for the protection of the environment. It unites 33 national organisations with thousands of local groups and is part of the world’s largest grassroots environmental network, Friends of the Earth International. Please see www.foeeurope.org for more information.

This is an excellent opportunity to join one of the leading green NGOs in Brussels and to be part of a vibrant network of national member organisations.

The economic justice team at Friends of the Earth Europe works in several areas: corporate accountability, trade, extractive industries, landgrabbing, transparency and lobby regulation. 

Reporting to the economic justice coordinator, you will be assisting mostly with our corporate accountability and gas campaigns.

Main topics of the Economic Justice campaign:

• Promote a fossil free energy system, and expose the negative impacts of large European companies and financial institutions on local communities, their environment and on climate, specifically in relation to the energy sector, extractive industries and landgrabbing.
• Expose and challenge lack of transparency, corporate capture and harmful proposals of EU trade policy;
• Expose deceptive cases of corporate influence in the European Union and advocate for more transparent lobbying and stricter ethics regulation;
• Address the increasing power of multinationals at the national and international level, specifically around their lobby activities in Brussels;
• Support local communities in dealing with multinationals;
• Support a UN treaty on binding rules for corporations in relation to human rights.
• Expose cases of greenwash and scandals related to conflicts of interest.

Goals and Responsibilities of the position include:

• Monitor EU policy developments relevant to the campaigns;
• Organise internal and external events (speaker tours, debates, workshops etc.)
• (depending on your background) Conduct research on the relevant aspects of the campaign;
• Organize and distribute relevant information to member groups and the wider NGO network;
• Produce materials for the Friends of the Earth Europe website and social media;
• Attend Brussels-based and if possible international events on the topic;
• Support the daily work of the campaign.

 Applicants should demonstrate the following attributes:

• Commitment to the values, vision and mission of Friends of the Earth Europe;
• Strong interest in environmental justice issues, ideally through an experience as social/environmental activist or within an NGO;
• High level of English (written and oral);
• Strong organisational and time management skills;
• Ability to work independently and take the initiative on projects;
• Good research and analytical skills;
• Flexibility and ability to face unexpected situations;
• High level of IT literacy (Microsoft Office/Excel – Photoshop is a plus).

The following attributes are also desirable (but not essential):

• Knowledge and/or experience of the European institutions;
• An interest for corporate accountability and/or impacts associated with fossil fuels;
• Knowledge of an EU language other than English.

The intern will be based in our office in Brussels, for 6 months (full-time, 5 days a week). The working language at FoEE is English.

FoEE offers a highly motivating working environment in an international NGO and office located in an environmentally friendly NGO building.

FoE Europe adheres to Belgian law that prohibits discrimination on basis of age, sexual orientation, marital status, birth, fortune, religious, philosophical or political beliefs, language, present or future state of health, disability, physical or genetic characteristics, sex, pregnancy, childbirth, maternity, change of sex, nationality, alleged race, skin colour, ancestry, national, ethnic or social origin. FoE Europe strives to make our office as diverse as possible.

Starting date: September 2nd 2017 (depending on availability)

Remuneration: Remuneration: 852 € / month NET, meal vouchers and transport allowance + 10 holiday days. Conditions are according to Belgian legislation including the legal ability to live and work in Belgium. 

Do you feel you meet our criteria, and feel inspired by the objectives and challenges of the position?

Then please send an email with an attached CV and a concise letter explaining your background and your motivation to:

ejintern@foeeurope.org  by June 28th 5 pm.

Only candidates selected for interview will be contacted. Thank you for your understanding.

Interviews will be conducted in English in Brussels or via skype (most probably during week beginning 15th July 2019). If you have not been contacted by June 15th please consider that you have not been shortlisted.

Friends of the Earth Europe welcomes candidates regardless of their age, sexual orientation, marital status, birth, religious, philosophical or political beliefs, language, present or future state of health, disability, physical or genetic characteristics, sex, pregnancy, childbirth, maternity, change of sex, nationality, race, skin colour, ancestry, national, ethnic or social origin. FoE Europe strives to make our office as diverse as possible.