Intern, Paper Archives

Organizational Context

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, with a network of 191-member National Societies (NSs). The overall aim of IFRC is “to inspire, encourage, facilitate, and promote at all times all forms of humanitarian activities by NSs with a view to preventing and alleviating human suffering and thereby contributing to the maintenance and promotion of human dignity and peace in the world.”  IFRC works to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people before, during and after disasters, health emergencies and other crises.

The IFRC is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (Movement), together with its member National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The work of IFRC is guided by the following fundamental principles: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality.

The IFRC is led by its Secretary General, and has its Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. The Headquarters are organized into four main Divisions: (i) National Society Development and Coordination, (ii) Humanitarian Diplomacy and Digitalization, (iii) Management and Accountability and (iv) People and Strategy.

The IFRC has five regional offices in Africa, Asia Pacific, Middle East and North Africa, Europe, and the Americas.  IFRC also has country cluster delegations and country delegations throughout the world. Together, the Geneva Headquarters and the field structure (regional, cluster and country) comprise the IFRC Secretariat.

The IFRC has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment and other forms of harassment, abuse of authority, discrimination, and lack of integrity (including but not limited to financial misconduct). IFRC also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles.

This position is located in the Financial and Administrative Management Department and reports directly to the Manager, Library and Archives Unit.

Job Purpose

This position is located in the financial and Administrative Management Department and reports directly to the Manager, Library and Archives Unit. The IFRC Library and Archives Unit is looking for an archival studies student or recent archival studies graduate for 3 months.

The intern will work on a archival arrangement and description projects in its office in Geneva, Switzerland.

The successful candidate may start late April/early May 2025, or in September 2025. Please indicate your availability in your application!

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Job Duties and Responsibilities:

• Appraise (in consultation with supervisor) paper records in storage to determine which should be transferred to the Archives.
• Arrange and describe the paper records, and enter the descriptions into a database.
• Assess the physical condition of the paper records and identify those requiring conservation treatment.
• Re-box and re-file the records.

Job Duties and Responsibilities (continued)

• Share outputs of internship as appropriate, for example in an issue of the monthly IFRC Archives Bulletin.
• Additional tasks to assist the archivist as required, such as assisting with research requests or checking deliveries of digitized material

Education

Required:

• Be currently enrolled in a university or equivalent level archival studies programme, or have graduated recently (less than 1 year before the date of hiring) from a university or equivalent level archival studies programme.

Knowledge, Skills and Languages

Required:

• Be able to read and write in English.
• Be able to read French, as some of the records are only in French.

Competencies, Values and Comments

Values: Respect for diversity; Integrity; Professionalism; Accountability
Core competencies: Communication; Collaboration and teamwork; Judgement and decision making; National society and customer relations; Creativity and innovation; Building trust