Slum Dwellers International Summer Fellow Application
The Cornell Mui Ho Center for Cities invites applications for a competitive summer internship opportunity with Slum Dwellers International-Kenya (SDI-K) in Nairobi, Kenya. The internship is part of the Center’s Just and Equal Cities Initiative and strategic partnership with Slum Dwellers International. The internship requires a 10 week, 30 to 35 hour/week commitment working with SDI in Nairobi from the end of May 2024 through the middle of August 2024. Applicants must have an interest in working with urban poor communities in informal settlements and be willing to support the vision and mission of SDI-K.
SDI-K works together with a federation of slum dwellers called Muungano wa Wanavijiji (www.muungano.net) on the following agenda:
- Safe and secure housing, and upgrading of informal settlements
- Transparent land tenure systems
- Access to core urban infrastructure and services
- Reliable and affordable systems of solid waste management
This agenda is achieved through co-production processes with the local communities to generate data- driven evidence for settlement planning and advocating for settlement upgrading with the local government. Interns will support work already underway, like community mobilizing around the Mathare Special Planning Area Research Collective (MSPARC).
MSPARC supports the development of the Mathare Adaptation and River Ecosystem Plan to strengthen locally-led climate change adaptation. The plan emphasizes nature-based solutions for the Mathare 4B settlement and the Kiamaiko ward. Prospective work includes defining thematic areas based on a vulnerability assessment and community engagement processes, as well as data validation and analysis. In addition, solid waste management has emerged as a priority area for planning and action. SDI hopes to engage with the county and other stakeholders by providing technical support in the areas of data analysis and community engagement to develop action-oriented results.
Both undergraduate and graduate students from all AAP departments and academic programs are eligible to apply for an internship. Each intern will receive a maximum of $7000 from Cornell University to compensate their time, as well as pay for all travel and accommodation expenses. Students are required to register their trip in the Cornell International Travel Registry System prior to their departure. Upon returning to Cornell, interns are required to submit a blog post and photos documenting their work, and to assist the Cornell Mui Ho Center for Cities staff to support the continuation of the Center’s Just and Equal Cities Initiative and the partnership with SDI. This assistance may include public presentations, helping host visitors in Ithaca, and other forms of communication and outreach.
To apply, please send your curriculum vitae (or resume) and a cover letter that explains how your interests, education, experience, and/or future professional aspirations match the position to centerforcities@cornell.edu. The application deadline is Monday, April 8, 2024. Kimani Joseph, the Executive Director of SDI-Kenya and Muungano wa Wanavijiji, will be available on Cornell’s Ithaca campus to meet and provide more information about the internship between April 8 to 30, 2024.