General
Description of assignment title
Grant Proposal Support for Water-Energy-Food-Health Nexus
Assignment country
Switzerland
Expected start date
Invalid Date
Sustainable Development Goal
11. Sustainable cities and communities
For how many hours per week will the volunteer be required?
11 – 15
Host entity
The Global Centre for Risk and Innovation (GCRI)
Type
Online
Duration
12 weeks
Number of assignments
30
Details
Mission and objectives
Mission To create a unique nexus where civil society meets and engages the academy, industry, and government to collectively mitigate risks and make smarter decisions toward more resilient, democratic, and prosperous communities. As a centre of excellence, GCRI excels in research, innovation, and capacity building across enterprise risk and innovation management, addressing the societal impacts of technological disruptions and financial evolution. Uniting experts from economics, finance, policy, and technology, we are committed to building interdisciplinary tools, capacities, and communities for risk mitigation, resilience building, and sustainable development Objectives GCRI’s objectives include: 1. Global Knowledge Exchange: Creating a platform for interdisciplinary discussion and research on risk and resilience, fostering global collaboration among industry leaders, academics, policymakers, and practitioners 2. Standardization and Metrology: Developing and promoting standards and measurement practices to enhance the reliability and interoperability of risk management strategies. 3. Systems Innovation: Building tools, capacities and communities for the development and application of risk management technologies, standards, and innovation ecosystems. 4. Scholarly and Industry Publications: Publishing standards, reports, and scholarly articles to contribute to academic and practical discourse in risk management. 5. Liaison with Global Entities: Engaging with civil society and maintaining technical interactions with international entities to promote a unified approach to risk management challenges. 6. Advanced Study: Investigating fundamental and applied domains related to risk management, including natural and human-induced risks, and developing advanced tools for risk intelligence and emergency management
Context
Nexus Reports is an open science initiative that delivers high-quality, open-access research on the interconnected challenges within the Water-Energy-Food-Health (WEFH) Nexus. This role invites researchers to join a pioneering editorial team to shape, refine and prepare academic content for publication, utilizing open science platforms such as Zenodo to ensure global reach and impact. As a decentralized publication platform, Nexus Reports leverages open science platforms to foster transparent, accessible, and high-impact dissemination of critical research. Researchers will gain valuable experience working with global teams, enhancing skills in open-access publishing, research transparency, and international knowledge sharing. The published works, aimed at policymakers, researchers, and practitioners, will provide country-level assessments and actionable insights on risk management, impact assessment, sustainable resource use, disaster resilience, and public health.
Task type
Legal Support
Task description
Team 1: Research & Proposal Drafting (15 volunteers) Focus: Identify relevant funding opportunities and draft key sections of grant proposals. Weekly Deliverable: Submission: Each team member will identify a grant opportunity and enter 250 words in Microsoft form. Purpose: This deliverable will help us build a robust pool of proposal content and ensure we consistently identify and evaluate new funding opportunities. Team 2: Editing & Quality Assurance (15 volunteers) Focus: Review and refine proposal drafts to meet key requirements. Weekly Deliverable: Submission: Each team member will submit one weekly proposal review through Microsft forms, summarizing key considerations. Purpose: This ensures our proposals are polished, compliant with funder guidelines, and of publishable quality.
Assignment requirements
Required experience
Research Action & Methodology – Ability to perform methodologically sound research using appropriate quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methods. Data Analysis and Interpretation – Proficiency in handling and analyzing large datasets, with expertise in tools such as R or Python and familiarity with GitHub/GitLab for version control. Subject-Matter Expertise – In-depth understanding of Water-Energy-Food-Health Nexus issues, including global frameworks like the SDGs, Sendai Framework, IPBES Assessments, and Earth systems science. Publication & Open Science – Experience publishing research through platforms like Zenodo and using open-access standards, with the ability to archive and share research via GitHub and GitLab. Project Management & Collaboration – Proficiency in managing timelines and deliverables using Microsoft Teams, Slack, or GitHub/GitLab, and coordinating effectively within research teams. Critical Thinking & Problem-Solving – Strong analytical abilities to identify research gaps, evaluate findings, and develop interdisciplinary solutions. Effective Communication – Skill in presenting research visually and verbally to varied audiences, using Canva for visual content creation and clear communication across Teams or Slack. Academic Writing & Editing – Proficient in preparing, editing, and refining academic documents for publication, adhering to citation standards, and ensuring clarity in research papers and briefs. Ethics & Responsible Research – Knowledge of research ethics, data governance, and adherence to Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) principles. Learning Agility & Adaptability – Readiness to adopt new research tools and platforms, continuously improving technical skills to adapt to emerging decentralized science and digital collaboration methods.
Languages
English, Level: Working knowledge, Required
Other information
Inclusivity statement
United Nations Volunteers is an equal opportunity programme that welcomes applications from qualified professionals. We are committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, care protected characteristics. As part of their adherence to the values of UNV, all UN Volunteers commit themselves to combat any form of discrimination, and to promoting respect for human rights and individual dignity, without distinction of a person’s race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.
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