Women's Protection and Empowerment Intern

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you're a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.

Background

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) helps people affected by humanitarian crises – including the climate crisis – to survive, recover, and rebuild their lives. Founded at the call of Albert Einstein in 1933, the IRC is now at work in over 50 crisis-affected countries as well as communities throughout Europe and the Americas.

This fully remote MSW field placement will support Resettlement, Asylum, and Integration (RAI) in the United States which is comprised of 29 dynamic offices. RAI-US delivers lasting impact in refugee and immigrant communities by providing initial resettlement, mental health, employment, workforce development, English as a second language, and immigration services in addition to services for foreign-born survivors of crime and human-trafficking. Across these dynamic program areas, private resource development is increasingly critical to continue providing lifesaving services in our communities. Through supporter engagement including volunteers and donors, we can build wider webs strengthening welcome and integration for newcomers. Volunteers provide critical support to clients, programs, and offices. Increasing creative strategies for private fundraising and donor engagement is essential. Join our team and meet this historic moment by helping to sustain services and the value of welcome.

This MSW field placement opportunity will work with the SHE Technical Unit. The Safety, Health and Education (SHE) Technical Unit is based out of RAI-HQ with the mandate to support RAI programs in the areas of safety, health and youth and education. This internship will play a critical systems-support role in support of our Women’s Protection and Empowerment programming, housed within the Safety & Wellness team.

This position is fully remote with a flexible schedule. It entails learning and navigating several digital platforms as well as communicating with staff, volunteers, and partners across the U.S. The ideal candidate is enthusiastic about human rights, women’s empowerment, and social work practice in support of refugees, asylum-seekers, and other immigrant communities in the US. Successful interns are able to prioritize time and work independently on detail-oriented projects or design activities initiating proactive communication with updates and questions.

Major responsibilities can be refined based on student interest; these may include but are not limited to:

• Provide support to RAI offices that have programs addressing violence against forcibly displaced populations, including supporting project monitoring and evaluation and data collection
• Business development, including prospecting opportunities for funding and helping prepare proposals for public and private grants
• Draft practice guidance and protocols, including researching evidence-based practices and engaging with multi-disciplinary actors
• Analyze new developments in trends, laws and policies to guide RAI-US offices and the IRC advocacy efforts
• Provide support to the Women’s Empowerment Community of Practice, a network of practitioners across 28 IRC offices

Field placement projects could include:

• Compilation of a Healthy Relationship Curriculum for newly arrived communities
• Development of a WPE Program Foundations Guide
• Compilation and analysis of program data

Learning Objectives

• Learn best practices in humanitarian aid delivery in the US, with a particular focus on support to women and girls and other survivors of GBV
• Receive training on and exposure to organization’s approach to GBV prevention and response
• Learn/develop skills in building relationships across multiple locations and approaches
• Learn/develop skills in social work practice with refugees and immigrants
• Learn/develop skills in organizational social work at an international non-governmental organization
• Gain insight into IRC RAI-US offices and contribute to national-level staff/clientr support services.

Requirements

• Must be a US citizen or legal permanent resident and authorized to work in the U.S.
• Must be at least 18 years old
• Alignment with MSW placement term

Demonstrated Skills & Competencies

• Clear, compassionate communicator who leads in a way that demonstrates IRC’s work is best accomplished through the true collaboration of individuals with a great variety of skills, perspectives, and experiences
• Digitally savvy and innovative problem-solver with demonstrated success working independently
• Curious asker of questions, flexible systems-thinker
• Experience working with survivors of gender-based violence
• Fluent in English, both spoken and written
• Attention to detail and accuracy is critical
• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Outlook); ability to use the internet and learn digital tools for outreach, engagement, and training

Working Environment

• Fully remote, intern must use their own laptop/equipment
• Intern must have a workspace they can effectively complete their service from during regularly scheduled service hours
• All positions are contingent upon clearing a background check vetting process at no cost to the applicant

IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Standard of Professional Conduct: The IRC and the IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – our Code of Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability, and Equality.

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US Benefits: We offer a comprehensive and highly competitive set of benefits. In the US, these include: 10 sick days, 10 US holidays, 20-25 paid time off days depending on role and tenure, medical insurance starting at $143 per month, dental starting at $6.50 per month, and vision starting at $5 per month, FSA for healthcare and commuter costs, a 403b retirement savings plans with immediately vested matching, disability & life insurance, and an Employee Assistance Program which is available to our staff and their families to support counseling and care in times of crisis and mental health struggles. 

Equal Opportunity Employer: IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.