This internship is to participate in the strategic and content development of approaches to the use of humanitarian innovation, such as AI (Small Language Models within NLP), as well as developing the online library www.humanitarianlibrary.org, initially funded by USAID, in addition to unrelated practical project collaborations.
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 or part time internships. The reason for this is that we work in teams and it otherwise becomes difficult to arrange meetings across availability and time zones.
We are looking for passionate and motivated, well-organised, results-oriented professionals with a strong interest in the humanitarian sector. Ideally, candidates will have some experience of website management.
The role requires working across multiple platforms, so the ability to plan and prioritise the most urgent tasks is essential. The role requires excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, in English. Fluency in French, Spanish, Arabic or other languages is an added value.
The team will be involved in the development of innovative approaches to engage local populations, as well as knowledge management. The Humanitarian Library, where users can upload and share guidelines on an open source platform real-time basis, is under review, considering how its functionalities can be optimised and developed. Currently, resources are organised around collections and channels on different themes aiming to support daily operational activities in each sector, with humanitarian agencies.
The Humanitarian Library had 80,000 discrete users last year. Recently-developed APIs of major normative peer reviewed platforms, such as ReliefWeb, imply the opportunity to connect major libraries for easier field use. These platforms welcome such an approach, as it will enable them also to have greater access to local knowledge, and enable them to share into new local communities of practices.
This opportunity offers a chance for people with innovation, IT and communications or graphic design backgrounds to be involved in concept development and knowledge management. The team will support the Shelter Centre’s communications activities by researching, collating, compiling and developing information and contributing to the development of key messages, communications and roll-out plans.
Context
Shelter Centre, www.sheltercentre.org, is a small international humanitarian NGO registered in Switzerland which 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, seeking experience and opportunities to inform their decisions in identifying directions. Our people are the foundation to our work and we offer weekly bilateral personal development opportunities. Giving the opportunity of professional growth, former volunteers have gone on to work with donors, UN agencies, the Red Cross Movement, NGOs and CSOs.
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
- concept development of innovative new local engagement approaches, involving website platforms
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
- 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
- reviewing 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
- 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 of varied cultural and professional backgrounds
- fluent spoken and written English (minimum Level C1 proficiency)
- general computer literacy, including in Microsoft Office and Google Drive
Desired education, interests, skills and experience
- university degree involving structured research, ideally in innovation, software development, communication or graphic design (not mandatory).
- knowledge of innovation, databases and handling quantitative data
- 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
- understanding of humanitarian crises
What do interns get?
Interns are the foundation to Shelter Centre’s work and weekly personal development opportunities are offered in exchange. The interns are further supported by their manager through a personal weekly mentoring session including the review of curricula vitae, cover letters, job opportunities, references and writing personal reports. The team also benefits 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 or part-time volunteers, to work remotely a total of 35 or 20 hours per week respectively taking into consideration different time zones. Flexibility is a key consideration, bearing in mind that the Shelter Centre team is based and operates across multiple time zones to support our stakeholders and constituents from the 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 availability sought is a minimum of three months. Please note that applicants willing to undertake a full-time internship will be prioritised.
The positions are virtual, meaning interns will work from home. Shelter Centre will only consider applications from individuals who hold or are likely to obtain a valid permit which 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 bear their own insurance, accommodation and living costs. Travel is not required.
How to apply
Applicants are encouraged to submit a CV and motivation letter as soon as possible, as recruitment will be undertaken on a rolling basis.
To apply, please send your CV and a cover letter which responds to the ToR above to recruitment@sheltercentre.org
Closing date: 31st Aug 2024 (22h00, Geneva time, CEST, GMT+1)
FYI: applicants to be considered for possible interview will be contacted with further practical questions. Interviews will be undertaken on a rolling basis, due to key activities ongoing.