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Protection Program Livelihoods Intern (Fall 2010)

BACKGROUND: The Women's Refugee Commission advocates vigorously for laws, policies and programs to improve the lives and protect the rights of refugee and displaced women, children and young people—bringing about lasting, measurable change.

Our vision is a world in which refugee, internally displaced, returnee and asylum-seeking women, children and young people:

  • are safe, healthy and self-reliant;
  • participate in the decisions that affect their lives, both during displacement and when displacement ends; and 
  • are advocates and activists themselves, providing continuous monitoring of the policies and practices that affect them.

The Women’s Refugee Commission is legally part of the International Rescue Committee, a non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization. The Women’s Refugee Commission receives no direct financial support from the IRC.

SCOPE OF WORK: During the fall of 2010, the Women’s Refugee Commission will be working to strengthen funding, policy and practice of economic security and protection programs for urban refugees. The intern will support the Livelihoods team in building an evidence-base on urban displacement, which will include economic coping strategies, protection concerns, and local economic dynamics in urban areas.

Currently there is a lack of sound evidence and knowledge about urban refugees, who are often highly mobile and hidden for fear of harassment, detention or eviction.  The Livelihoods Initiative aims to establish an evidence-base on their livelihood and protection challenges and potential or existing opportunities by conducting desk research, coordinating with practitioners and experts, and undertaking field-based research in three urban contexts.  Research will be used to develop operational guidance for practitioners and to inform UNHCR’s revised urban refugee policy.

This position reports to the Senior Program Officer – Livelihoods at the Women’s Refugee Commission.  It will be from September 2010 – December 2010, based in New York City.  Interns able to commit to September 2010 – May 2011, are also welcomed.

RESPONSIBILITIES: The livelihoods intern will work on research activities regarding urban displacement and urban poverty. Tasks include:

  1. Conducting literature search and review on urban displacement, characteristics and coping strategies of the urban displaced, and services provided by national authorities, humanitarian and development partners for urban displaced and host communities in the target countries.
  2. Liaise with relevant partners in three target countries, including UN agencies, academic institutions, and the NGO community to set-up in-country forums.
  3. Coordinate field assessments, including input on assessment methodologies.
  4. Provide logistical support to workshops, including working with IRC procurement to identify workshop venues and draft contracts; distributing workshop invitations, participant criteria, and application forms.
  5. Support the livelihoods team in monitoring and evaluating the impact of their work by collecting baseline data, and revising guidance documents on forms and tools.

        REQUIREMENTS:

        • Graduate student. Background/experience in international development, social sciences and/or economic development, preferred.
        • Familiarity with qualitative and quantitative research methods.
        • Experience/ interest in refugee and conflict issues.
        • Excellent logistic and coordination.
        • Excellent analytical skills and writing skills.
        • Knowledge of international affairs.
        • Ability to work productively in a team environment as well as independently.
        • Solid computer skills.

        REPORTS TO: Jina Krause-Vilmar, Senior Program Officer- Livelihoods
        Women’s Refugee Commission

        POSITION: Protection Program’s Livelihoods Intern – Fall 2010

        LOCATION: New York, NY

        TIMEFRAME: 4 months

        START DATE: Sept 2010

        **Please note that this is an unpaid internship**

        To apply please submit a resume and 3 page writing sample via e-mail to:
        Abigail Gacusana, Program Coordinator
        E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

        Please make sure to indicate “Livelihoods Internship” on the email subject, otherwise your application may not be considered.
        No phone calls please

        The Women’s Refugee Commission considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status or disability.
        The Women’s Commission is an equal opportunity employer.