Flood Risk and Forecast Analysis Intern (West Africa)

About the role

The Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre is recruiting three interns to support flood preparedness and anticipatory action in West Africa, in partnership with the French Red Cross and the national Red Cross societies of Guinea, Togo, and Benin. Each intern contributes to developing Flood Early Action Protocols (EAPs) that define forecast-based triggers for pre-disaster cash and aid distributions. The internships run for four months, full-time. A small stipend is provided. Application deadline: 26 June 2026 at 22:00 GMT.

Positions are available in:

• Conakry, Guinea (home-based, with regular meetings at the Guinean Red Cross)
• Lome, Togo (remote from Lome, with regular engagement with the Togolese Red Cross)
• Cotonou, Benin (based with national humanitarian stakeholders and technical experts)

Responsibilities

• Conduct flood risk assessments using historical flood data, satellite imagery, and national meteorological service outputs.
• Analyse forecasts from global models (GloFAS, ERA5-Land, CHIRPS) and help calibrate thresholds for EAP trigger decisions.
• Coordinate with national disaster risk management agencies, hydrological services, and Red Cross staff.
• Produce technical reports and data visualizations for stakeholder presentations and workshops.
• Support the design and testing of the Early Action Protocol document for the assigned country.

Requirements

• Currently enrolled in a Master’s or PhD programme in hydrology, climate science, disaster risk reduction, geography, environmental science, or a related field. Enrolment must continue throughout the internship period.
• Strong data analysis skills, including proficiency in Python or R for working with gridded meteorological datasets or time-series data.
• Working French is required for all three positions, as engagement with national partners and government agencies is conducted in French.
• Willingness and ability to be based in Conakry, Lome, or Cotonou for the full four-month duration.

Nice to have

• Prior experience processing outputs from ERA5, CHIRPS, GloFAS, or similar global climate or hydrological datasets.
• Familiarity with forecast-based financing, anticipatory action frameworks, or humanitarian cash transfer programs.
• Previous fieldwork, internship, or volunteer experience in West or Central Africa.
• Knowledge of West African climate seasonality, particularly the monsoon belt affecting Guinea, Togo, and Benin.

How to apply

Email a CV and a cover letter in English to internships@climatecentre.org. In the subject line, use exactly one of the following: “Intern flood EAP - Guinea,” “Intern flood EAP - Togo,” or “Intern flood EAP - Benin,” depending on your preferred country. Deadline: 26 June 2026 at 22:00 GMT. Indicate in your letter whether you would consider an alternative country posting if your first choice is filled.