In a world often divided, Search for Common Ground stands for the power of bringing diverse people together to find solutions. By meeting this moment with Search, you join a powerful global peace movement that believes in the profound impact of courageous multilateralism—that all voices should be heard and respected in shaping a better, more connected world and that a collaborative vision is essential for lasting peace.

Search for Common Ground takes a dynamic approach by building solutions that are based on the needs of communities. We engage with leaders and elected officials to advance dialogue and collaboration. We are community leaders. We are youth activists. We are women. We are Peacebuilders. We have been doing this work for over 40 years, we have developed ourunderstanding of what peace looks like, being able to quantify our impact and design moreeffective programming. Peace moves at the speed of trust, so we invest for the long haul. When we’re no longer needed, we leave, leaving behind people and institutions with the ability to manage future conflicts.

Position Summary

The Cross-Regional Programs team at Search for Common Ground (Search) is seeking a full-time intern from September 2024 to February 2025 to provide programmatic and administrative support to the Women’s Inclusion in New Security (WINS), a global project focused on women, peace and security (WPS), implemented across eight countries (Cameroon, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia, Central Asia, Guatemala, Lebanon and Yemen) - and including a global Rapid Response Fund (RRF) mechanism. The project provides specific funding and technical assistance to local women-led groups to grow and sustain local capacities for peacebuilding.

We are seeking a dedicated and dynamic intern to provide significant programmatic and administrative support specifically to country implementation, alongside other critical tasks pertaining to the project. As an intern, you will be integrally involved, working closely with country teams and the global WINS team to ensure effective coordination and streamlined management of activities. The key responsibilities of this position are outlined below.

Key Responsibilities

• Active Participation and Review (50%): Participate in monthly check-in meetings and budget meetings with each country office, taking meticulous notes and following up on action points. Providing support to the Program Manager in reviewing work plans and assisting in report reviews and editing. Participate in regular programmatic reflection sessions and cross-learning meetings and workshops.
• Core Administration and Logistics support (20%): Offer extensive logistical and administrative assistance for the daily management of the program. This encompasses a range of support activities including regularly updating project trackers and maintaining proper and well-organized filing of documents on our digital drives and systems.
• Policy and Communication support (15%): Support in the collection, drafting and review of communications products. Support the Program Director and policy team conduct research and develop policy documents, as well as support policy outreach efforts.
• Adaptive Project Involvement (15%): Engage flexibly in a variety of essential tasks as required, showcasing adaptability and commitment to the project’s diverse needs.

Desired qualifications

• A completed a degree in International Relations, Peace and Conflict Studies, Gender Studies, Political Science, or a related field.
• Demonstrated ability to conduct thorough research, especially in areas related to Women, Peace, and Security as well as familiarity with conducting contextual analysis in international settings.
• Demonstrated interest and experience in WPS.
• Capacity for critical analysis and the ability to synthesize complex information into clear, concise summaries.
• Strong organizational skills, including the ability to classify, track, and manage large volumes of information.
• Demonstrated flexibility and adaptability in handling various tasks and adjusting to shifting priorities and needs.
• Keen attention to detail, especially in monitoring and updating crucial data.
• Ability to work effectively in a team, willingness to take initiative, be proactive in participating in meetings and events, and actively engage in all aspects of the project.
• Awareness and sensitivity to different cultures and contexts, especially in international settings.
• Fluency in English, written and spoken, is essential, and proficiency in additional languages relevant to the RRF target countries is beneficial (French, Arabic, Spanish).
• Commitment to 32-38 hours per week

The internship will fall under the Convention d’Immersion Professionnelle (CIP) or Beroepsinlevingsstage, a framework for internships in Belgium for recent graduates. Hence the candidate must have completed their studies and have the legal ability to live and work in Belgium. The internship will be compensated with 1.030 EUR/month (full time). We are expecting this internship to be full-time and for a duration of 6 months, exceptions to this can be discussed during the recruitment process.

Application process

The deadline for applications is August 5th, 2024. Please submit your CV and motivation letter through our online application portal Lever. Indicate clearly in your motivation letter if you are available full time for 6 months, or would like to suggest an alternative arrangement. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis and Search reserves the right to identify a suitable candidate ahead of this deadline.

Only applicants invited for an interview will be contacted.

Please note that we are unfortunately only able to consider applicants that currently hold the right to work in Belgium.

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.

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Only applicants invited for an interview will be contacted. No phone calls, please. Please see our website www.sfcg.org for full details of our work. All Search Employees must adhere to the values: Collaboration- Audacity - Tenacity - Empathy - Results. In accordance with these values, Search enforces compliance with the Code of Conduct and related policies on Anti Workplace Harassment, Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Conflict of Interest, and Anti-fraud. Search is committed to safeguarding the interests, rights, and well-being of children, youth, and vulnerable adults with whom it is in contact and to conducting its programs and operations in a manner that is safe for children, youth, and vulnerable adults. Search for Common Ground does not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations.