Internships with Marine Conservation Cambodia

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Marine Conservation Cambodia (MCC) welcomes and supports undergraduate students in their effort to gain professional development experience through internships under the guidance of our Project Coordinators.

Marine Research & Marine Biodiversity Conservation

Our Team has been conducting Seahorse, Benthic and Reef Surveys for over 2 years, led by fully qualified scientists in Biology, Marine Biology, Applied Ecology and Fisheries Science. We are currently working in close collaboration with the Cambodian Fisheries Administration for the creation of the first Cambodian Marine Protected Area (MPA). At the beginning of 2011 our continued efforts over the past two years in Conservation and Research were officially recognized with the signing of a collaboration agreement between the Fisheries Administration Conservation Department and MCC on Conservation and Research. We are at the forefront of Marine Research and Conservation in Cambodia: the work our current interns are doing is changing the tide of destruction around Cambodia's marine environment and assisting local communities in livelihood improvement and management of their own environment.

We welcome interns from a wide range of backgrounds, from Marine Biology and Conservation to Underwater Videography & Photography, GIS (Geographic Information System) to Marine Ecology. An experience in SCUBA diving would be a plus but is not necessary, as you will be able to get your qualification on-site with our experienced SCUBA instructors along with all the training you need to conduct a wide range of underwater surveys.

Integrated Coastal Management (ICM)

ICM is an interdisciplinary, intersectoral and holistic approach to issues and solutions related to coastal zone development. ICM promotes a sustainable development of coastal areas and involved a wide range of activities such as community-based resource management, pollution and erosion risk assessment, management and control, fisheries and aquaculture monitoring, tourism development & resource-use conflict resolution, etc.

ICM ensures that the process of establishing legal and institutional framework related to development and management plans for coastal zones is fully integrated with environmental and social goals, and are developed in consultation and cooperation with all relevant stakeholders, combining “bottom-up” and “top-down” process.

About ICM in Eastern Asia:

“Coastal resource management initiatives continue to evolve as improvements in approaches and capacities are driven primarily by bilateral initiatives. Although some countries have developed and adopted ICM policy and legislation, there is limited capacity to scale up and manage national ICM programs.

Several countries in the region recognize the need for interagency coordination. The lack of national policy direction renders interagency coordination limited to ad-hoc arrangements. ICM efforts face resistance from line agencies for fear of losing resources and authority. There is seldom an agency or a ministry with a clear mandate in interagency coordination with respect to coastal and ocean governance. Progress in ICM program implementation across the region is slow, resulting in the continuing degradation and destruction of coastal and marine resources.” (PEMSEA 2011)

Sihanoukville is one of the favorite tourist spots in Cambodia and has been identified by the Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC) as one as one of the strategic development areas in the country in order to improve the national economy. Sihanoukville has been selected by PEMSEA (Partnership in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia) as ICM Demonstration Site. Marine Conservation Cambodia is collaborating closely with Sihanoukville ICM Programme.

Our ICM Project welcomes a wide range of students who will learn to demonstrate a great deal of ability to work in an interdisciplinary team, combining both field and office work. A great diversity of backgrounds is needed in order to cover all fields related to ICM. Previous knowledge in Sustainable Development is required. Report writing skills are highly recommended.

ICM and Marine Biodiversity Conservation share the same ultimate end goal – that of healthy, sustained ecosystems- and utilize similar tools such as the creation of MPAs. However, the fields do have differing priorities and focuses that distinguish them.

Marine Conservation Cambodia aims to:

Promote an effective collaboration and cooperation between both ICM and Conservation approaches: how and what can ICM learn from Biodiversity Conservation? How and what can ICM contribute to Biodiversity Conservation?

In order to:

Protect and conserve coastal and marine ecosystems and help the communities that rely on marine resources achieve livelihood improvement through sustainable development.

Interns applying for our ICM Programme will work in full cooperation with our Marine Research & Marine Biodiversity Conservation Department and will be able to experience many different aspects of Coastal Management, Marine Research and Conservation.

APPLICATION & QUALIFICATIONS

Interns shall demonstrate a great capacity to understand and adapt to local context and integrate into Khmer culture, which is the basis of our work. English fluency is needed, an ability to work in a team environment as well as an ability to work on own initiative are also required.

Our close collaboration with different Government Departments (FiA, MOT, Sihanoukville ICM Programme), local Universities (RUPP), (RUA) and International Organizations (RFLP/FAO) will give you the opportunity to see your work being efficiently used at a local and national level.

Interns will be based between our office in Sihanoukville and the island of Koh Rong Samloem, with frequent return trips to both locations.

Please make sure that you provide us with the following information in your application: