The Enhancing Local Capacities in Socially Inclusive Resilience in Asia (SIRA) Project is a regional initiative implemented by ICLEI South Asia and ICLEI Southeast Asia, in partnership with selected local governments in Bangladesh, Nepal, Indonesia, and the Philippines. The project aims to foster socially inclusive and climate-resilient local development by strengthening institutional capacities and supporting targeted interventions. It is funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) of the UK Government and the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Canada, under the CLimate Adaptation and REsilience (CLARE) programme.

ICLEI’s engagement with local governments in the target countries has highlighted the significant underrepresentation of women and individuals from marginalised communities, particularly in technical roles such as urban planning, engineering, and climate action.

To address this gap, the SIRA project is launching a targeted Internship Programme for women and gender-diverse individuals who are final-year undergraduate students, recent graduates, postgraduate students, and early-career professionals. Through placements in partner government units, the programme aims to strengthen technical capacities in climate resilience and inclusive planning while supporting the transition of emerging professionals from academic training to professional practice.

Please find the full Terms of Reference (ToR) HERE, which includes the internship programme details and application process.

Interested candidates are requested to submit the following documents electronically:

• Curriculum Vitae (maximum 2 pages)
• Statement of Interest
• Proof of enrolment for current students or graduation certificate (for recent graduates)
• Departmental affiliation or no-objection letter (if currently enrolled)

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until the required internship positions are filled, provided that the applicant can complete the minimum required internship period on or before 15 December 2026. Applicants are therefore encouraged to submit their applications at the earliest opportunity.

The SIRA Philippine Internship Programme is open to qualified applicants regardless of gender. Women and gender-diverse individuals are highly encouraged to apply, in line with the programme’s objective of promoting greater gender diversity and representation in technical roles related to climate resilience, planning, engineering, and local governance.