Researcher Internship - Environment Action Monitoring & Evaluation Diocese of Oxford

Project Summary

This internship is focused on supporting the development of a robust environment and NetZero measurement monitoring and evaluation plan for the Oxford Diocese's Environment Action Programme. An important activity of the programme is establishing a robust monitoring and evaluation system for tracking both NetZero target measurements as well as tracking change in knowledge, attitudes and behaviours about the environment amongst individuals and groups reached by the programme.

The Organisation

The Diocese of Oxford is the administrative area of the Church of England covering the three counties of Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire. The diocese sits between the Cotswolds in the west and London to the east, organized into 626 parishes. There are 815 churches in our Diocese – more than any other diocese in the Church of England. Recently the diocese has started an Environmental Action Programme in response to the climate emergency.

The new Environment Action Programme focuses the whole Oxford Diocese on achieving its environmental commitments and being a voice for climate justice. It follows from the Oxford Diocesan Synod vote in March 2020 that declared a Climate Emergency and committed the Diocese to a 2035 target for net-zero carbon emissions. The programme focuses on being a vital support for change and awareness-raising for clergy, parishes, schools, families and individuals; providing a comprehensive range of theological and practical resources and support.

Details

This internship fits into the organisation as part of the new Environment Action Programme. The programme focuses on being a vital support for change and awareness-raising for clergy, parishes, schools, families and individuals; providing a comprehensive range of theological and practical resources and support. The programme has two main goals; 1) a net zero target goal, which is focused on achieving of the net zero target - for church buildings, clergy housing and church schools; and 2) a collective change goal, which is focused on collective transformation around responding to the climate emergency. To achieve these goals the programme has established a strategy and action plan that includes activities in technical advice, information resourcing, awareness-raising, education and capacity development. The NetZero work is focused on doing research and technical audits, consultations, gathering and sharing of technical knowledge and technical refits with regular periods of measurement of achievements against targets.

Work in promoting and supporting collective change around environment response is focused on ‘meeting people where they are’ in terms of their needs: for example information needs –about the crisis, including both the scientific and the theological context; motivation and inspiration needs – particularly to counter ‘eco despair’, and to help people feel empowered and motivated to change changes that will have an impact no matter how small – whether it is in personal lifestyle or larger collective actions.

Applicant Profile

Applicant should have a passion for environmental response. Skills in qualitative and quantitative research is desirable.