Sample cover letter for Internship position at IUCN

IUCN-Headquarters

Rue XXXXX 28
XXXXXXX
Switzerland

XXXXXX

XXXX

XXXX Vaud, Switzerland.

June 13^th 2016

XXXXXXX@gmail.com

skypename: XXXXXX

+41 79 XXXXXXXX

I first became aware of IUCN’s work while monitoring the state of coral reefs for the Honduran XXXXXXX Marine Monument, Honduras. It was exactly one month after Hurricane Mitch had hit the country, leaving behind its wake a human, infrastructural and natural disaster. If it wasn’t for IUCN’s support, it would have been extremely difficult for our team of environmental engineering students from the XXXXXXX University of Honduras to assess the impact Hurricane Mitch had on the marine monument.

Thereafter, between 1998 and 2002, I volunteered for the XXXXXXX Fund every break I got. Later on I would become the fund’s XXXXXXXX director were I continued gaining experience with IUCN funded projects. After a diving accident, I left the station and shortly after began my Masters in Science studies in XXXXXX Environment in XXXXXXXX University, The Netherlands, where I geared my studies towards policy, programs and projects and rural anthropology.

In regards to this position, I have over ten years of experience managing development and environmental projects. Nine of those years in Honduras. As a research assistant to Professor XXXXXX (NOAA/Cambridge University U.K.), I assisted with in-depth research pertaining the actual state of the Gulf of Fonseca. This study aimed at elucidating the effects that conflicts that arose between 1973 and 2005 had over the control of the Gulf of Fonseca’s natural resources, land tenure, mangrove system and on the people that depend on fishing as a source of income and sustenance. Most recently, as part of the Honduran Ministry of XXXXXXXX (now Ministry of XXXXXXXXX), I designed and managed a capacity building program geared towards providing training and technical assistance for the regional development council, members of civil society, guilds and the public education system. The training themes ranged from transparency and social audit of the regional budget to territorial development and environmental management of the Gulf of Fonseca watershed. On both opportunities, I had the chance to work with and build rapport with many of the region’s most important stakeholders (Public, academia, Civil Society and Private Sector).

I would also like to list relevant skills I have acquired and strengthened during my personal and professional career:

• 1) Management and coordination of multidisciplinary teams that have successfully achieved pre-determined goals within established horizons of time.
• 2) Field experience in all municipalities of the Region 13: Gulf of Fonseca. This region amasses 45 municipalities which make up the Gulf of Fonseca watershed. These include Aramecina, Caridad, Goascoran (Bahía de Chismuyo).
• 3) Proven capacity of building and nurturing sincere relations with a wide range of stakeholders
• 4) Solid experience in strategic planning, monitoring and evaluation and budgeting.
• 5) Experience working with high profile political and external cooperation representatives.
• 6) Experience in general administration and human resource management.
• 7) I’m fluent in Spanish and English at native level and have a B2 level in French (intermediate).
• 8) Management of gender based microfinance projects.
• 9) Profound understanding of the environmental and socio-economic context of the Gulf of Fonseca and of the Central American region.
• 10) Represented the  Ministry of XXXXXXX on the REDD+ stakeholders table of dialogue.

I hope I haven’t surpassed the conventional cover letter writing niceties. This opportunity really inspires me to make absolutely sure that you understand how well I fit with the profile and in some measure, relay the intangible characteristics that written communication often flattens out. I rest at your disposition. Feel free to get in touch with me if you need any additional information or to set an interview. I live near XXXXXX and would love to meet you in person.

Yours truly,

XXXXXXXX