The New School Graduate Program in International Affairs

Update Oct. 19: The IRC has announced their country assignments for the summer: Jordan and Nairobi (working for IRC Somalia).

IRC Jordan Summer 2008 Intern

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is one of the largest humanitarian agencies in the world, providing relief, rehabilitation and post-conflict reconstruction support to victims of oppression and violent conflict. IRC has worked for over seven decades and today is involved in over 25 conflict zones in the world. We address both the immediate, life saving needs of conflict affected people in an emergency and the reconstruction needs in post conflict societies.

The IRC has begun relief operations in Jordan for thousands of at-risk and underserved Iraqi refugees and the communities hosting them.

Partnering with three international organizations - Care, the Near East Foundation and Quest Scope - the IRC has designed programs to ensure the most vulnerable get needed assistance. Programs include recruiting and training mobile teams that go door to door, providing families with counseling services, household supplies, cash assistance and referrals to medical and social services.

We’re also identifying established community groups and providing training and support to strengthen their ability to aid Iraqi refugees.

Plans are underway to launch critical aid programs for Iraqi families who have fled to Syria and northern Iraq.

The Intern will assist IRC Jordan management with programmatic activities; including but not limited to preparation of monthly and quarterly management reports, analyzing and editing sector proposals, editing IRC advocacy materials for distribution, writing descriptions of IRC activities, and providing general support for the program.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Take notes and produce minutes of office and country-level management meetings.

• Work with the Jordan Program Coordinator to prepare high quality, well-written and timely program reports to donors, IRC NY and others, following established reporting schedules or specific requests.

• Write articles of interest for media publication, to raise the profile of IRC activities in the Middle East.

• Provide updates on the IRC Jordan program for the IRC website, Weekly Update, Refugees First Newsletter and other IRC publications.

• Assist with production IRC Jordan and Middle East program newsletters;

• Assist with preparation of IRC Jordan Annual Report 2007-2008, set up template for 2008-2009 report, and assist with creation of new IRC Jordan and Middle East informational materials, which includes updating country fact sheet, country brochures, web site, and documents of general interest as needed.

• Assist Technical Coordinators with the development of new concept papers and proposals as requested by the Deputy Regional Director/ Regional Director;

• Liaise with UN and IRC implementing partners and meetings as requested by your supervisor.

• Submit monthly plan to the Program Coordinator and work on special projects as requested by the Program Coordinator.

• Travel to the field as requested.

IRC Somalia Summer 2008 Intern

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is one of the largest humanitarian agencies in the world, providing relief, rehabilitation and post-conflict reconstruction support to victims of oppression and violent conflict. IRC has worked for over seven decades and today is involved in over 25 conflict zones in the world. We address both the immediate, life saving needs of conflict affected people in an emergency and the reconstruction needs in post conflict societies.

Following a detailed assessment the IRC is recommencing humanitarian operations in Somalia, with the support of the Horn and East Africa Regional Office and Kenya Program based in Nairobi, Kenya. The IRC is currently establishing a country office in Nairobi, Kenya with the first field office targeted for launch in Galkayo town of the Mudug Region of the Puntland State of Somalia.

The Intern will assist IRC management with programmatic activities of the IRC Somalia Nairobi office; including but not limited to preparation of monthly and/ or quarterly management reports, developing and editing sector proposals, editing IRC advocacy and media materials for distribution, writing descriptions of IRC activities for internal and external updates, and provide general support for program staff. The applicant must be able to work independently, have strong writing skills, show initiative as well as demonstrate patience, and be a good listener and communicator. Travel to Galkayo and future IRC field office locations in Somalia is possible, dependent on security clearance, and at the discretion of the IRC Somalia Country Director.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Represent the IRC in Nairobi-based Somalia coordination meetings (including sector working groups) and other fora as required, producing meeting minutes for the country team.

• Assist in the production of high quality, well written and timely program reports to donors, IRC NY and others, following established reporting schedules or specific requests. Reports to be prepared jointly with, and under the supervision of the Field Coordinator.

• Assist the Field Coordinator and Program Manager with the development of new concept papers and proposals as requested.

• Write articles of interest for media publication, to raise the profile of IRC activities, including updates on the Somalia program for the IRC website, the IRC Weekly Update, Refugees First Newsletter and other IRC publications.

• Create new IRC Somalia informational materials, which include producing: a country fact sheet, country brochures, and general interest documents as needed.

• Take notes and produce minutes of office management team meetings.

• Submit monthly plan to the Field Coordinator and work on special projects as requested by the Field Coordinator and /or Country Director.

Besides the above two positions, there will also be a second IRC component for qualified students. Working with the IRC Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) director, students will train in the Spring semester on a project involving local staff and beneficiary trainings on the issue of PSEA, and then implementation of that project over the summer. Last Spring GPIA students did a Practicum project with IRC New York, producing a field office toolkit to implement a PSEA program.

Countries mentioned as possible summer placement sites include Chad, South Sudan, Uganda, Kenya and Ethiopia. Both the IRC PSEA and the Child and Youth Protection and Development programs are three months long, starting June 1 and running through August.

Eligibility for IRC PSEA Program: The Spring portion will be done as the Practicum course, so only second year students are eligible. (Students who are not sure about their eligibility can speak with Faculty Coordinator Mark Johnson.) Basically, to do this IRC PSEA IFP, students have to be both eligible for the Practicum and must commit to nine credits – three credits for the Practicum and six credits for the IFP. Students who only have nine total credits remaining at the beginning of Spring semester could conceivably take the three-credit Practicum as their only Spring course, and finish with the six-credit summer IFP.

Students who are not eligible or interested in the PSEA program can still apply for the IRC’s Jordan and Nairobi (Somalia) program.

New School summer internships with the IRC will be designed to contribute to the needs of specific country programs and to introduce students to the fields of child protection and emergency education within the humanitarian assistance sector. Internships aim to enhance the academic, work, and life experiences of students. Past interns have worked on issues such as refugee education in Guinea, demobilization of child soldiers in Liberia, home-based schooling of girls in Afghanistan, and psychosocial support for youth in Chechnya. Today, many of IRC’s past interns are running programs for IRC in places such as Darfur, Ethiopia, and the Republic of Congo.

Qualified candidates should have previous experience working overseas, familiarity with other cultures and/or developing countries. Ideal candidates should have experience working with children and youth, especially those living in difficult circumstances, through social work, education, psychology, or other appropriate field. Candidates should have excellent communication and interpersonal skills and be able to demonstrate their ability to work in changing environments. Internships will last approximately three months. Students accepted into the IRC program will be required to take PDPM in the Spring as preparation.

IRC Background: Founded in 1933, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) is a world leader in relief, rehabilitation, protection, post-conflict development, resettlement services and advocacy for those uprooted or affected by violent conflict and oppression. At work in 25 countries, the IRC delivers lifesaving aid in emergencies; rebuilds shattered communities; cares for war-traumatized children; rehabilitates health care, water and sanitation systems; reunites separated families; restores lost livelihoods; establishes schools; trains teachers; strengthens the capacity of local organizations; and supports civil society and good-governance initiatives.

An orientation at the New York office will introduce students to IRC’s mission, guiding principles, operations, key partners, and country program logistics. For more information on the organization and its programs, visit the IRC website at: http://theirc.org/

Language: Students applying to the IRC program should be aware that there might be a language requirement depending on the country sites. The Chad site will require French; the Kenya site may require Swahili.

Program Coordinator: Mark Johnson

Information Session: Thursday, Oct. 4, 6pm and 8pm, Conference Room 609. The 6pm session will include IRC staff. The 8pm session is for those who cannot make 6pm.

Program Dates: June – August 2008. This is a three-month IFP.