Peace & Governance Intern

INTERN WORKSITE LOCATION: Remote

DATES OF INTERNSHIP:  February 2023 - May 2023

HOURS PER WEEK: 20 hours per week (part-time)

INTERNS SUPERVISOR & CONTACT INFORMATION:  Interim Director, Peace and Conflict and Director of Peace & Conflict

FUNDING AVAILABLE FOR THE INTERNSHIP: $1300/month

Mercy Corps responsibilities

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

• 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:

• Laptop for working remotely

• Accommodation, travel and living expenses

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.

As a global humanitarian, development, and peacebuilding organization, Mercy Corps is committed to reducing and preventing violence, as well as strengthening the pillars of long-term peace. Our peace and conflict programming works holistically across societal, community, and individual levels to reduce and prevent violent conflict and advance sustainable peace.

We advance gender equity and equality in peace and security programming by ensuring that our analysis, strategic frameworks, and approaches are not only gender sensitive and responsive, but also transformative. We intentionally elevate the role and responsibility of all genders in peacebuilding, challenging and dismantling harmful gender norms related to violent expressions of conflict.

Our Peace & Conflict team is seeking an intern to support our work on Gender, Peace and Security (GPS). The intern will be part of the Peace & Conflict team and play a crucial role in reviewing Mercy Corps’ current programming and learning around GPS, and compile best practices and develop guidance to strengthen our efforts in this area.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

Fully integrated into the Peace & Governance TSU (Technical Support Unit), the intern will:

• Develop understanding and contribute to Mercy Corps’ understanding of aspects of peace and governance programming
• Gain experience in Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E), qualitative skills, research, knowledge management, and critical thinking to develop practical resources

DELIVERABLES:

• Document Mercy Corps’ approach to Early Warning/Early Response (EWER)

• Review and compilation of relevant program document

• Interviews with key program team members involved in EWER programs

• Support development of short report on existing approaches to M&E in the digital peacebuilding space, possibly including an indicator table to support teams seeking to implement digital peacebuilding projects

• Literature review of other organizations looking at similar projects

• Review and findings based on existing Mercy Corps Digital Peacebuilding reports

• Interviews with key MEL personnel around Mercy Corps Digital Peacebuilding projects

• Updated P&G (Peace and Governance) team knowledge management tools, including Governance and Partnerships and Peace and Conflict program portfolios and proposal development tracking

• Finalized key Governance and Partnership thought leadership and approach documents, in consultation with other teams across Mercy Corps

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE:

• University degree in progress or recently completed (within 1 year) in relevant discipline, Masters student preferred
• Experience conducting literature review and research
• Experience developing interview or research questions for key informants
• Interest in peace and governance, including social media and conflict
• Self-starter and proactive

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 the Interagency 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 to Mercy 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 US interns based in Mercy Corps US HQ offices. Interns must be fully vaccinated per CDC requirement or have an approved exception, either (1) sincerely held religious convictions, or (2) a disability that prevents them from receiving a COVID-19 vaccination and comply with regular testing, within 10 business days of starting.  Failure to comply may impact your internship.

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.