The internship programme is aimed at newly qualified graduates with a Masters, Honours or Bachelor degree in the general field of environmental science, environmental management and/or sustainable development. The aim is to identify suitably qualified graduates who show potential to be trained as environmental managers and place them in an internship and mentoring programme within the relevant departments of the City of Cape Town and provincial government of the Western Cape. Preference is given to identifying candidates from historically disadvantaged backgrounds, although all qualified candidates are considered.

The programme seeks to build capacity and develop skills amongst new graduates in the field of environmental management, sustainable development and nature conservation. The programme provides interns with productive work opportunities and mentorship in the areas of environmental policy and implementation, as well as environmental education and management.  The pilot programme interns were identified and appointed for a 12 month full-time internship programme within the City’s Environmental Management and Nature Conservation Departments, in addition to the Provincial Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning during 2005.  In 2006, 25 interns were recruited and are currently placed throughout the City of Cape Town Environmental Resource Management Department, and the Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, Provincial Government of the Western Cape. The interns are actively engaged in a range of environmental activities, projects and programmes, and work alongside staff in various sections. The internship programme also includes a capacity building and training component as well as a monitoring and evaluation process. The interns attend four training workshops during the year which are designed and implemented by the EEU. Topics covered in the workshops include generic skills such as report writing and professional communication, as well as training in various environmental management tools to equip them as future environmental managers. Interns are mentored by middle to senior members of the relevant departments and maintain contact with the DEAT through a structured monitoring and evaluation process managed by the EEU.