Policy Intern

IFOAM Organics Europe is looking for a Policy volunteer (fully funded) to join the team in Brussels for 11 months. The volunteer would ideally start from September 2021 until July 2022, providing we receive the European Solidarity Corps (ESC) grant – we will know this before the end of July and we will inform the selected candidates.

About IFOAM Organics Europe

The EU Group of the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM Organics Europe) is a non-profit organisation based in Brussels that represents more than 200 member organisations from all EU-27, EFTA and candidate countries (in total 34 different countries). We fight for the adoption of ecologically, socially and economically sound farming systems in Europe and the world. IFOAM Organics Europe itself is embedded in the IFOAM Organics International movement with 800 affiliates in more than 100 countries.

About the European Solidarity Corps

Volunteering as part of the European Solidarity Corps (ESC) provides young people with the unique chance to express their personal commitment through a full-time volunteering activity in a foreign country for up to one year. Young volunteers can develop new skills and improve their personal, educational and professional development. More information about ESC is available on the European Solidarity Corps website.

Please note that financial support is provided to the volunteer to cover their costs of living.

• You will receive an allowance of €515 per month,
• You will be granted accommodation in shared apartments,
• You will be granted a public transport pass,
• You will also be reimbursed for your travel expenses from/to your home countries and will have a full insurance.

You will be trained and get the chance to learn more about the organic movement while working as part of our Policy team.

PROFILE

To be eligible, you only need :

• to be between 18 and 30 years old
• to be legally residing in a European country other than Belgium
• never to have been an ESC volunteer before.

RESPONSIBILITIES

The policy team is working on many different policy topics related to organic farming such as the Common Agricultural Policy, GMOs, seeds, pesticides, food policies, biodiversity and climate change. The work may include advocacy meetings, working with the different IFOAM Organics Europe interest groups, the development of position papers, and contributing to EU research projects. The ESC volunteer would be involved in the following:

Advocacy for developments within agricultural, food and/or environmental legislation

• Researching, identifying and analysing relevant legislative developments in the environmental and agricultural policy fields;
• Coordinating the gathering of inputs from members for public consultations and position papers, and drafting IFOAM Organics Europe’s position on relevant topics;
• Assisting the policy unit in coordinating internal structures such as the IFOAM Organics Europe Interest Groups, Expert groups and Task Forces.

Support in coordinating and implementing IFOAM Organics Europe projects

• Following and monitoring the EU legislative developments related to GMOs, seeds, inputs.
• Assisting in organizing project workshops and roundtables with external experts;
• Producing minutes and reports with the projects results after meetings, workshops, etc. to communicate project outcomes to the project funders.

Networking with policy makers, external partners and IFOAM Organics Europe members

• Organising, preparing for, attending, taking minutes and follow up on meetings/phone conferences, external and internal events and others as requested;
• Supporting internal coordination of meetings and organising the participation of IFOAM Organics Europe members to the DG AGRI CDGs (Civil-society Dialogue Group of DG AGRI) and managing the dedicated mailbox

TO APPLY

To learn more about the positions available and volunteering conditions, please read the Guide for ESC candidates at IFOAM Organics Europe.

If you want to be our next Policy volunteer, please fill in the Online Application Form by Sunday 13 June 2021 – 11.59 pm.