Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team

Background

The Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team (HOT) has been working in the field for two years in both Haiti and Indonesia, and has begun to deploy in Senegal in 2012 and will do it in four other African countries through the EUROSHA program starting in late 2012.
Over the course of these deployments we may have funds to allow us to host internships in some of these locations. This is an opportunity for committed HOT volunteers to be more in touch with the local OSM communities of these developing countries.
The needs to send trained staff on field deployments will likely increase over the next months and years. HOT would like to offer field training among the HOT volunteers.

For all these reasons, HOT would like to create a roster of applicants for field internships.

Profile

HOT is seeking volunteers to apply for future internships to work on HOT field projects and receive training in the on-the-ground work started in the countries where HOT deploys. The duration of the assignment is at least four weeks. Interns will be working under the supervision of the HOT coordinator to assist in the field activities that can encompass:

Practicalities

Workplace and lodging may be in a fixed location, or may involve touring. Note that lodging may be in shared rooms and comfort may be basic. HOT will cover transportation and insurance costs overall up to a limit of 2,000 USD. A document providing general information on practicalities regarding the country of deployment (addresses, important phone numbers, security rules, etc.) will be provided before departure.

Eligibility criteria

• Active involvement OpenStreetMap and HOT activities
• Commitment to join future HOT work in the field
• Education and/or work experience in the fields of GIS or programming
• Experience in the field of Development or Disaster Response
• Experience in data collection programs
• Experience in training and capacity building
• Thorough usage of GPS, editors of the OSM project (JOSM and Potlatch), GIS desktop applications (primarily Quantum GIS) and familiarity with PostGIS (as defined in the HOT self-training program for deployment)
• Knowledge of the humanitarian system (as defined in the HOT self-training program for deployment)
• Certificates of the free UNDSS online courses BSITF (Basic Security In The Field) and ASITF (Advanced Security In The Field)
• Interpersonal skills, effective team member, capacity to work under pressure and in a multi-cultural environment
• Proficient in English and one of the languages used in the country of deployment (if English is not one of them)

Please send your CV, a cover letter, and a writing sample that illustrates your report writing capability to apply@hotosm.org. Anyone can apply anytime, once a year.

Every application will be evaluated and the applicants will receive comments and, if needed, advices regarding the skills or experiences to be improved.

Questions specific to this position can be directed to apply@hotosm.org.