Humanitarian Knowledge Management Voluntary Remote Internships

This internship provides an opportunity to participate in the strategic and content development of localised country pages on an innovative online library, www.humanitarianlibrary.org, initially funded by USAID, as well as other practical project collaborations with organisations such as Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF).

Young professionals with a range of skills wishing to contribute remotely to humanitarian activities are sought to join a dynamic and diverse global team for full-time internships. Part-time applicants are also welcome to apply.

We are looking for passionate, motivated, well-organised and results-oriented professionals with a strong interest in the humanitarian sector. Ideally, candidates will have some experience in website management although this is not mandatory.

The role requires working across multiple platforms, therefore, the ability to plan and prioritise the most urgent tasks is essential. Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, in English is a must. Fluency in French, Spanish, Arabic or other languages is preferred.

The team will be involved in knowledge management, the main task will be to upload guidelines on our open-source platform where humanitarian aid knowledge is shared on a real-time basis to support aid activities around the world.

This opportunity not only offers a chance for people with a communications or graphic design background to be involved in knowledge management within a non-governmental organisation but also gives the team complete control over the development of the organisation’s communications strategy. The team will also support the project’s communications activities.

Context

Shelter Centre, www.sheltercentre.org, is a small international humanitarian NGO registered in Switzerland that does not implement operations alone but instead collaborates with agencies in direct support of their operations, as well as building capacity in the sector. Shelter Centre is dedicated to supporting collaboration, consensus and capacity throughout the global technical humanitarian community of practice. We serve the global technical community of practice through regular global practitioners’ events and resources.

These voluntary positions are for those committed to a future career in humanitarian action whilst also seeking experience and opportunities to inform their decisions in identifying directions. Our interns are the foundation of our work and have shaped Shelter Centre into an innovative and dynamic organisation. Former volunteers have gone on to work for major donors, UN agencies and other renowned humanitarian organisations such as the Red Cross Movement.

Additionally, volunteers are expected to contribute to a series of ongoing projects, including but not limited to knowledge management, through the Humanitarian Library, an innovative inter-agency inter-sector knowledge management platform developed with funding from USAID by supporting the team’s efforts to surface and share practical guidelines, evidence, and learning from our activities and other organisations activities.

Main Responsibilities and Tasks

Informed by preliminary feedback, the intern will participate in the development of the various projects mentioned. This may involve activities including, but not limited to:

• Understanding the contexts and audiences of the guidance, as Shelter Centre always recognises affected populations as the primary responders

• Production of publications and marketing materials as well as creating social media assets

• Assisting with social media daily management

• Database management

• Website: assisting with continuous improvement of our website

• Translation and proofreading

• Video production, editing and publishing

• Secondary internship activities

• Attending various meetings and workshops with government, international organisations, and NGOs

• Statistical data analysis using MS Excel

• Review of existing drafts and implementing revisions

• Desktop publishing, including graphic design and layout, as well as developing diagrams illustrating decision making and technical guidance

Applicants should also be flexible and motivated to work on other projects and activities, which may range from supporting operational technical work to collaborations with agencies.

Required education, skills and experience

• University degree involving structured research, ideally in Communication or Graphic Design

• Commitment to humanitarian action

• Self-starters with strong self-motivation and self-discipline, with practical experience in working independently

• Excellent research and writing skills, including methodologies and analysis

• Strong organisational skills and demonstrated experience in project management, multi-tasking, prioritising and working accurately to set deadlines

• Proven ability to work effectively and harmoniously in a team of colleagues with varied cultural and professional backgrounds

• Fluent spoken and written English (minimum Level C1 proficiency)

• General computer literacy, including in Microsoft Office and Google Drive, however with interest in information communication technologies

Desired education, skills and experience

• Experience in desktop publishing, such as in using Adobe products such as Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Canva

• Experience in communication and social media platforms, such as MailChimp, eventbrite, Facebook, Linked-In, Twitter, Instagram

• Fluency in French, Spanish, Arabic or other languages is an added value

• Basic understanding of humanitarianism as a field

What do interns get?

This internship is voluntary. Interns are supported by their manager through a personal weekly mentoring session including the review of curriculum vitaes, cover letters, job opportunities, references and writing personal reports. Interns also benefit from regular personal development events involving external speakers, conferences, celebrations and other activities organised by and at the request of the interns.

Conditions

We are seeking full-time volunteers, to work remotely a total of 35 hours per week taking into consideration different time zones. Part-time applicants are also welcome to apply.

The period sought is a minimum of four months.

Interns must be available online on a daily basis.

Flexibility is a key consideration, bearing in mind that the collegial team is based and operates across multiple time zones to support our stakeholders and constituents from disaster/conflict front lines to the headquarters of donors and agencies. Please ensure that you specify your core time availability and any flexibility in your application.

The positions are virtual which will entail interns working from home. Shelter Centre will only consider applications from individuals who hold or are likely to obtain a valid permit that allows them to reside and undertake internships in their country of work. Shelter Centre has been working online across the globe by developing a collaborative way of working for over a decade.

Successful candidates will need to bear their own insurance costs, accommodation and living costs (if required). Travel is not required.