MENA Internship Summer 2016

The Organization

Search for Common Ground (SFCG) is an international non-profit organization that promotes peaceful resolution of conflict. With headquarters in Washington, DC and a European office in Brussels, Belgium, SFCG’s mission is to transform how individuals, organizations, and governments deal with conflict - away from adversarial approaches and toward cooperative solutions. SFCG seeks to help conflicting parties understand their differences and act on their commonalities. With a total of approximately 600 staff worldwide, SFCG implements projects in 35 countries, including in Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and the United States.  The organization is an exciting and rewarding place to work, with a dedicated and enthusiastic staff who love their work.  You will be joining a highly motivated staff with a good team spirit and there will be opportunities to grow in the role.

Summary of Position

Search for Common Ground seeks a professional, motivated, and creative program design and support intern to join the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) regional team. Based in Washington, DC, the intern will provide support to SFCG’s MENA regional programming and its six country offices: Morocco, Tunisia, Yemen, Lebanon, Jordan, and Jerusalem. Duties of this internship will contribute to the design of programs, proposal, developing monitoring and evaluation frameworks for sustainable peace and conflict transformation, and will give interns an opportunity to practice high-level, professional skills.

Interns must be available to work 24-40 hours per week. This internship is unpaid. We are looking for an intern to begin May 2015. Interns must commit to at least 3 month. Preference will be given to applicants who can commit to 6 months, pending a midterm review.

Responsibilities:

• Assisting with grant proposals for country and regional programs, including but not limited to drafting context framing, developing theories of change, articulating program activities, drafting logframes, and developing M&E plans and indicators.
• Researching contextual information to enhance program design.
• Editing reports from country offices for language and fluidity.
• Assisting with donor reports and other communications.
• Maintaining the MENA team’s communications strategy, including compiling updates from country offices, revamping website content, and creating visibility pieces for social media.
• Collaborating with other departments to share MENA expertise.
• Provide front desk back-up support through greeting visitors, answering calls and receiving packages during the receptionist’s lunch hour.
• Planning travel and meeting logistics
• Performing other supportive and administrative duties as needed.
• Perform French and/or Arabic translations if possible.

As job descriptions cannot be exhaustive, the position-holder may be required to undertake other duties that are broadly in line with the above key responsibilities.

Required Qualifications:

• BA or MA (completed or in progress) in international relations, conflict resolution, Middle East studies, international development, or a related field.
• Excellent writing, editing, and communication skills in English.
• Practical experience with program design, monitoring, and evaluation.
• Computer proficiency.
• Interest in peacebuilding and conflict transformation.
  • Familiarity with the MENA region.
  • Ability to maintain professionalism, creativity, and enthusiasm while working in a fast-paced, multi-cultural environment with minimal supervision.
  • Self-starter, able to work independently, and willing to take on tasks small and large.
  • Prior international or cross-cultural experience.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Ability to write and translate in French and/or Arabic preferred.

Salary:

            This position is unpaid.

To Apply:

Please send a (1) resume, (2) cover letter, and (3) writing sample (400-600 words: NO MORE) through our application system at: https://sfcg.bamboohr.com/jobs/view.php?id=461. This should be combined into 1 document and all uploaded into the “resume” space in the online system. Please follow this instruction. In the cover letter, besides highlighting your qualifications, please include the dates you will be available, the number of hours per week you are able to commit, and your goals for the internship. Submission deadline is March 7, 2016.