Internship – Policy, Learning, and Advisory Services

  • Contractor
  • Geneva, Switzerland
  • TBD USD / Year
  • Interpeace profile




  • Job applications may no longer being accepted for this opportunity.


Interpeace

Unit : Policy, Learning, and Advisory Services

Duration: 6 months, full time
Stipend: A monthly stipend is offered throughout the internship period
Start date: From June or July 2022

Interpeace is an international organization for peacebuilding. With over 25 years of experience, it has
implemented a broad range of peacebuilding programmes in Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Europe, and
Latin America. Interpeace was officially recognized as an international entity by the Swiss Federal Council
in 2018.

Interpeace tailors its approach to each society and ensures that its work is locally designed and driven.
Through local partners and its own local teams, it jointly develops peacebuilding programmes based on
extensive consultation and research. Interpeace helps establish processes of change that promote
sustainable peace, social cohesion, and resilience. The organization’s work is designed to connect and
promote understanding between local communities, civil society, governments, and the international
community. Interpeace also assists the international community – especially the United Nations – to play
a more effective role in peacebuilding, based on Interpeace’s expertise in field-based work at grassroots
level. Interpeace achieves this primarily by contributing innovative thought leadership and fresh insights
to contemporary peacebuilding policy. It also assists the international community through ‘peace
responsiveness’ work, in which Interpeace provides advice and practical support to other international
organizations (especially those in the security, development, and humanitarian aid sectors), enabling
them to adapt their work systemically to simultaneously address conflict dynamics and strengthen peace
dynamics. Interpeace is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, and has offices around the world.

Background
Interpeace has two facets to its mandate, (1) To strengthen the capacities of societies to manage conflict
in non-violent, non-coercive ways by assisting national actors in their efforts to develop social and political
cohesion. (2) To assist the international community (in particular the United Nations) to play a more
effective role in supporting peacebuilding efforts around the world. The Policy, Learning and Advisory
Services (PLA) team leads Interpeace’s work on the second facet to work with other actors to capacitate
and improve their ability to engage in peacebuilding approaches.
Working in the Office of the Director of Policy, Learning and Advisory Services, the intern would assist in
oversight and coordination over ongoing Interpeace projects. For information on current projects, please
visit Interpeace’s website. The intern would support the Office’s work through policy research, proposal
writing, and outreach activities.
Tasks may also include assistance in administrative tasks.

Scope of the internship :

Working as a member of the PLA Team, the peacebuilding intern will provide front office substantive and
logistical support to the team’s work stream, gain exposure to a wide variety of peacebuilding issues, and
acquire an understanding of the functioning of an international peacebuilding organisation.
A supervisor will guide and mentor the intern during their time at Interpeace. This includes:
• Discussing and setting the development objectives for the internship period
• Providing the resources and support required to meet the requirements and development
objectives of the internship
• Issuing a peacebuilding internship certificate providing feedback on the intern’s performance
Specific duties include but are not limited to:
• Conducting research, compiling background material and drafting information synthesis, analysis
and inputs on topics related to Interpeace’s work
• Tracking and disseminating trends in the field
• Keeping abreast of policy developments relating to the UN
• Taking meeting minutes
• Supporting the development of project proposals and concept notes
• Helping to organize meetings, events, workshops, and trips as well as taking notes and
coordinating follow-up
• Supporting outreach events and communication in coordination with the Communications unit
• Assisting the Policy, Learning and Advisory Services Team more generally
Skills that the peacebuilding intern will develop and knowledge they will acquire:
• A general understanding of Interpeace’s work and strategic objectives defined in the Interpeace
5-year strategy
• Broad familiarity with international affairs/political science practical research, global affairs,
conflict resolution, development, stabilization, and other related subjects.
• Researching peace, humanitarian, development, and stabilization topics to inform project and
learning activities
• Drafting written communication (briefs, letters, e-mails, etc.)
• Drafting input for documents for donors (elements of proposals, reports, etc.)
• Planning and coordination of meetings and events

Requirements:
• Preferably enrolled in a master’s program or equivalent. Undergraduate students or recent
bachelor’s graduates with relevant experience may also be considered.
• Ideally, prior internship experience with the UN or a regional body, a foreign country mission, or
working in fragile or conflict affected country context.
• Fluency in English (oral and written) required; working knowledge of French desirable
• Prior exposure or a strong desire to learn about peacebuilding while making a worthwhile
contribution of time and effort to Interpeace’s mandate
• Effective and timely communication skills
• Self-starter able to work independently and assume responsibility for own workload.
• Discretion and professionalism

• Being well-organized, paying attention to detail, and being adept at working in a fast-paced
dynamic work environment
• Well-rounded critical and analytical thinker
Interpeace Competencies
• Collaboration
• Communication
• Drive for results
• Adaptability and Continuous Learning
• Respect for Diversity
Other terms of employment
• Interpeace values diversity among its staff. We welcome applications from people of all genders,
those with disabilities, and those with experience of conflict and violence. We also highly
encourage candidates from the Global South to apply.

How to apply

Qualified candidates are asked to email the following documents by 28 March 2022 to
[email protected] and must include the subject line “PLA internship”:

  • CV of no more than 2 pages
  • A 1-page cover letter explaining their motivation and qualifications for this position
  • A list of three professional or academic references (at least 1 professional reference), including
    titles and up-to-date contact information
    Please note that due to the high volume of applications, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
    Interviews (online) for this position will take place in April 2022.

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