Ethiopia - Communications and Learning Intern

**NOTE: THIS IS AN INTERNATIONAL INTERNSHIP. ONLY APPLICANTS FROM OUTSIDE ETHIOPIA WILL BE CONSIDERED.

INTERNSHIP TITLE:** Communications and Learning Intern

INTERN WORKSITE LOCATION: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

DATES OF INTERNSHIP:  May - August 2023

HOURS PER WEEK: 40 hours per week

INTERNS SUPERVISOR & CONTACT INFORMATION: RIPA CLA and M&E Team Lead

FUNDING AVAILABLE FOR THE INTERNSHIP:  $2,600 USD per month

Mercy Corps responsibilities

For the duration of this internship assignment the intern will receive:

• Additional COVID-19 related Travel costs (including required COVID-19 testing and mandatory quarantine costs at both beginning and end of assignment)
• ISOS Emergency Med-Evac coverage
• Training and supervisory support
• Access to Mercy Corps online tools
• All other tools, materials and communication requirements for this project

Intern responsibilities

Intern will remain responsible for all costs associated with:

• International flights associated with the internship
• Accommodation in Addis Ababa
• Proof of medical insurance coverage (including COVID-19 treatment in country)
• Laptop for working remotely
• All other costs associated with the internship

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within.

Mercy Corps in partnership with CARE and other local organizations is implementing a 5 year Feed the Future USAID funded program call the Resilience in Pastoral Areas Activity (RIPA) with the goal to improve the resilience capacities of households, markets and governance institutions across the Somali, Afar and Oromia regions, collectively contributing to enhanced food security and inclusive economic growth for over 129,129 households.  Mercy Corps, in partnership with CARE, is implementing an integrated program to address underlying causes of vulnerability to shocks and stresses through;

1. Improved disaster risk management (DRM) systems and capacity
2. Diversified and sustainable economic opportunities for people transition out of pastoralism (TOPs) particularly youth and women
3. Intensified and sustained pastoral and agro-pastoral production and marketing
4. Improved and sustained nutrition and hygiene practices
5. Crisis modifier in anticipation and responses to crises

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

The intern will:

• Gain an understanding of long-term resilience programming in the lowlands of Ethiopia, including how the context is being impacted by climate change and how interventions are designed to build resilience capacities of households, markets and governance institutions.
• Develop knowledge and practical skills in how to implement a Communications Strategy for a large complex USAID-funded activity.
• Develop data analytic and writing skills for sector-focused studies and market analysis.
• Gain experience of field-level interventions and interactions with households and private sector business partners.
• Understand and contribute to communications and learning related to how conflict-sensitivity and peacebuilding is layered onto multi-year resilience programming.

By the end of the internship, the intern will have developed the following knowledge and experience:

The intern will have had a unique opportunity to examine the impact of a multi‐year resilience program across multiple sectors, develop practical strategies in a fast‐paced, entrepreneurial environment, and get involved in meaningful field‐level implementation, as well as impact analysis. It will also provide the intern with an opportunity to experience the professional demands in relation to knowledge and skills taught at the University.

DELIVERABLES:

Learning

1. Conduct data/information gathering, where necessary, data analytics from existing data and write-ups of the current studies being designed across intervention-focused areas of inquiry. This will consist of desk and field research. In addition, it will involve some quantitative impact measures as well as more qualitative comparisons (using FGDs, In-depth interviews with different actors).
2. Participate in a less than or half day debrief sessions to share field experiences about the intervention area under study and entire data collection

Communications

1. Provide support in rolling out of RIPA’s resilience focused communication strategy including integration of the communication plan into work plans of each component, identification of communication products, drafting program success stories, contributing to newsletter contents, drafting blogs, and social media stories.
2. Support in capturing and editing of photos and videos of key program events, program participant stories, and other RIPA milestones.
3. Support in the development of digital archiving of audiovisual materials and other communication products for easy access and retrieval in the MEL/CLA system.

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE:

• University degree in progress or recently completed (within 1 year) in relevant discipline, such as international development, economics, public policy, gender studies or related field.
• Strong written and verbal communicator
• Experience in data analysis and research
• Experience in Communications
• Recognizes the cultural norms and differences in the context of the research areas
• Enthusiasm, creativity, and a tremendous amount of flexibility
• Willingness to work under minimal direction in difficult and inconvenient circumstances
• One letter of recommendation from a university / higher institution on the candidate’s personal integrity and sense of responsibility is required

LIVING CONDITIONS:

Mercy Corps interns represent the agency both during and outside of work hours and are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and Mercy Corps policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.

Mercy Corps Diversity Statement

Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives.

We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained global impact.

We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.

Safeguarding & Ethics

Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC and have signed on to theInteragency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere toMercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct e-learning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.

As part of our commitment to keeping our community safe and providing a safe working environment, Mercy Corps has a COVID-19 vaccine requirement for international interns based in Mercy Corps country offices. Interns must be fully vaccinated as per CDC/WHO requirement, and a booster shot is strongly encouraged. Outside of this, an intern must have an approved exception__based on medical restrictions, sincerely held religious beliefs, or other applicable reasons pursuant to federal, state, or local law may be entitled to an accommodation.

Interns must agree to follow Mercy Corps COVID-19 Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) in country.

Mercy Corps Headquarters: 45 SW Ankeny Street, Portland, Oregon 97204

Mercy Corps:https://www.mercycorps.org/

In your statement, you are encouraged to discuss any relevant experience, and demonstrate your interest. Your application will be reviewed by the Mercy Corps team and shortlisted candidates will be contacted directly for interviews.