Geographic and Waste Information Systems Intern

Job Description

Geographic and Waste Information Systems Intern

Please note that the deadline is based on Korean Standard Time Zone (KST, UTC+9)

INTRODUCTION TO GGGI

The Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) is a treaty-based international, inter-governmental organization dedicated to supporting and promoting strong, inclusive and sustainable economic growth in developing countries and emerging economies. To learn more please visit about GGGI web page.

• Location: Costa Rica
• Contract Type: Internship
• Grade: Internship
• Salary scale: Internship
• End date of appointment: 6 months
• Modality: Remote, with the possibility of attending meetings and site visits in person

The Global Green Growth Institute internship program provides a unique learning opportunity for students and recent graduates from diverse academic backgrounds. The program is designed for talented and motivated individuals skilled in areas relevant to GGGI’s operations. The program allows selected candidates to gain insight into the work of the Institute and provides assistance and training in various professional fields in a multicultural environment. We encourage qualified women and men, in particular, nationals of developing countries, with diverse professional, academic, and cultural backgrounds to apply.

CURRENT OPPORTUNITY

We are looking for a talented individual to carry out an internship with the GGGI team in Costa Rica, to provide operational support to the GGGI Senior Associate based in Costa Rica on the implementation of the Circular Economy Project through waste valorization solutions in Costa Rica.

The assignment will include the following but not limited to:

• Integrate the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) as a tool for the planning and optimization of differentiated municipal organic waste collection routes.
• Support the spatial analysis of relevant information for waste collection systems (road networks, generation zones, and collection points).
• Collaborate in the creation and updating of maps and GIS layers necessary for the integration of GIS into the organic waste collection proposal.
• Support the analysis of differentiated collection route scenarios, aimed at an indicative target of recovering at least 100 tons of municipal organic waste.
• Support the generation of basic operational indicators associated with the analyzed routes (distances, times, frequencies, and fleet requirements).
• Support the preparation of indicative operational cost estimates related to collection route scenarios.
• Provide general technical assistance to the ongoing circular economy project activities.
• Attend technical and coordination meetings, supporting participant registration and note-taking.
• Support basic follow-up on agreements, activities, and deliverables of the project work plan.
• Support administrative and logistical tasks related to project implementation, as required.
• Submit progress reports and achievements of the internship.

Note: This internship has the primary objective of achieving the integration of GIS into the planning and optimization of collection routes. At the same time, it is expected to contribute to the professional skill development of the intern, in a support role where both the project and the intern benefit mutually.

ELIGIBILITY

Applicants to the GGGI internship program must at the time of application meet the following requirements:

• Be enrolled in a Bachelor’s (final year), master’s or PhD program prior to internship assignment, or a recent graduate within the last 12 months.
• Be engaged or recently engaged in academic study in a field directly related to Institute’s/project work.
• Possess a command of English.

QUALIFICATION

• Environmental engineering, biosystems engineering, civil or industrial engineering, or related, with knowledge of geography, urban planning, or other disciplines related to waste management, route optimization, GIS applications, circular economy, or data analysis.
• Must have access to a personal computer capable of running GIS software and with access to internet.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and familiar with collaboration tools (e.g., Microsoft Teams, Zoom).

SELECTION PROCESS

• Applications submitted after the deadline will not be considered.
• GGGI evaluates applications based on eligibility requirements, relevance of academic study and work experience (if any), level of interest and motivation to contribute to development work and supporting documents.
• Applicants must submit a motivation/cover letter explaining their interest in the internship. (In Spanish and English)
• Applicants must provide up to two letters of recommendation from professors or academic supervisors. (In Spanish)
• Applicants may optionally include a list of relevant elective courses completed as part of their studies, along with certificates for these courses.
• Due to the high volume of applications, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

• Duration: The internship program is for at least three months and up to six months. Once selected, interns must begin their internship either prior to or within 12 months of graduation.

DEADLINE Feb 12, 2026