Internship Opportunities: Peace Programs Overview

 
Americas, China, Conflict Resolution, Democracy, Human Rights, Peace Programs Development

Interns support the staff of the Carter Center's Peace Programs by researching particular themes, issues, or countries and by providing logistical support for current projects.  Peace Program staff look for candidates who have the following skills/background:

Program Preferences:

• Strong academic record with displayed interest in the program of your choice
• Advanced research, writing, and analytical skills
• English proficiency
• Basic technological proficiency (PowerPoint, Word, Excel, Internet)
• Familiarity with research databases
• Real-world experience: previous work/internship experience and/or studying abroad
• Ability to work independently or as part of a team
• Positive attitude, curiosity, flexibility, resourcefulness, and enthusiasm for the work of The Carter Center

Internship positions are available in the following programs:

• Americas Program: Working toward the collective protection and promotion of meaningful democracy in the Western Hemisphere. It works within countries with a special focus on the Andean region, with bilateral and trilateral country dialogues, and at the regional levels.  The program capitalizes on the Carter Center's comparative advantages in building bridges among people, bringing attention to issues and agenda-setting, capacity-building of governments and civil society, and working with governments, nonstate actors, and international organizations.
  
  
• Access to Information: Promoting the right of access to information as a fundamental human right and a critical tool to hold government accountable, to improve public administration, and to allow citizens to more fully participate in public life.  This is a cross-programmatic initiative, focusing on Africa, China, and the Americas.
  
  
• China Program: Engaging in a variety of activities designed to improve government accountability in several sectors; to give Chinese officials, scholars, and common citizens a platform to discuss and share ideas on reform, social issues, and public policy; and to conduct pilot projects to test new ways that incremental changes can be implemented to improve the lives of Chinese people.
  
  
• Conflict Resolution Program: Focusing on preventing, resolving, and ending armed conflict and regularly monitoring many of the world's armed conflicts in an attempt to better understand their histories, the primary actors involved, the issues presently in dispute, and the efforts being made to resolve them.
  
  
• Democracy Program: Promoting democratic transition and consolidation through projects involving election monitoring and mediation, technical assistance to strengthen civil society, and efforts to advance the rule of law and improve compliance with human rights standards.
  
  
• Human Rights Program: Intervening on behalf of victims of human rights abuses, strengthening the voices of human rights defenders internationally, and building capacity for rule of law in partnerships with civil society, governments, and international organizations.
  
  
• Peace Programs Development: Supporting Carter Center Peace and Health programs by generating project-specific financial and in-kind resources from foreign governments, U.S. government agencies, foundations, corporations, and individuals. 

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Americas Program

Americas, China, Conflict Resolution, Democracy, Human Rights, Peace Programs Development

The mission of the Americas Program is to work toward the collective protection and promotion of meaningful democracy in the Western Hemisphere.  The Americas Program strives to enhance the quality of democracy and its ability to improve the lives of individuals by sustaining democracies and crisis prevention, by promoting democracy through effective citizenship with particular emphasis on the right of access to information, and by building regional consensus.

Examples of the Americas Program's work include:

• providing advice and technical assistance to regional organizations, governments, and civil society organizations related to the right of access to information
• monitoring and reporting on the constitutional process in Ecuador
• training in conflict resolution techniques offered to officials from the Bolivian National Institute for Land Reform
• facilitating  dialogues between key individuals from Ecuador and Colombia in order to improve bilateral relations

The Right of Access to Information*

Number of interns: 1-2

For almost a decade, The Carter Center has been promoting the right of access to information as a fundamental human right and a critical tool to hold government accountable, to improve public administration, and to allow citizens to more fully participate in public life. Started in the Americas Program, and still housed in this program, the access to information project now works in Africa and China to advance the right to information through regional norm building; core country engagement; convening high-level conferences and meetings; and the development of tools and scholarship.

*Please note that while you only have the opportunity to apply to the Americas Program, you may choose to indicate in your Short Essay if you have a preference to work with the Access to Information Initiative.

Number of Interns per Semester: 5-6, including Access to Information interns

Program Preferences:

• A background in Latin American and  Caribbean studies is favored
• Studies that concentrate on international relations, development, and political sciences
• The ability to speak, read, and write Spanish
• For interested Access to Information Project interns, a background in international law, development, or public administration also is favored, as is an interest in and beyond the Americas

Typical Projects:

• Provide research and logistical support for a relevant program activity
• Conference preparation and follow-up
• Periodically briefing program staff
• Conduct research projects
• Work directly on project planning and implementation
• Draft memorandums

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China Program

Americas, China, Conflict Resolution, Democracy, Human Rights,Peace Programs Development

The mission of the China Program is to advance government accountability, access to information, and public participation in China, and facilitate multi-stakeholder collaboration between China and Africa. The program began in the mid-1990s, when China launched electoral experiments at the village level.  The Carter Center was granted the opportunity to initiate collaborative projects with the Chinese government to improve and standardize local electoral procedures.  The program has expanded its scope of operations and is now engaging in a variety of activities designed to improve local governance, build citizen consensus on political reform, advance government transparency, and foster public participation. The program also seeks to encourage China's responsible engagement with African countries through facilitating collaboration between Chinese entities and African civil society organizations.

Examples of the China Program's work include:

• Highly visible and informative websites on China's elections and governance (Chinese at www.chinaelections.org and in English at www.chinaelections.net), villager self-government (www.chinarural.org), and open government information (www.chinatransparency.org);
• Long-term engagement with various government agencies empowering local officials and elected village leaders;
• Close relationships with academic and nongovernmental organizations in China to promote political reform and social changes;
• Website on China-Africa relations (www.sinoafrica.org) and policy advisory group consisting of experts from China, Africa, and the West.

Number of Interns per Semester: 3-4

Program Preferences:

• Aware of current affairs related to China and U.S.-China relations
• Dedication to project's objective is mandatory
• Proficiency in Mandarin Chinese a plus

Typical Projects:

• Translating documents into Chinese and/or English;
• Contributing to program websites;
• Monitoring political developments through Chinese and/or western media;
• Providing logistical support to staff travel and visiting delegations;
• Preparing China-related briefing materials for senior staff;
• Conduct research on specific projects as directed by program staff.

Carter Center interns come from around the world to make vital contributions to the Center's work. In turn, the Center provides a substantive learning experience that serves as a basis for the interns to explore their career options and to develop professional skills. The goal of the Internship Program is to advance an informed, skilled, and committed workforce serving peace and health needs around the world. Apply now >

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Conflict Resolution

Americas, China, Conflict Resolution, Democracy, Human Rights, Peace Programs Development

War and civil strife continue to be the most significant impediments to sustainable development and basic human rights. Devastation from such conflicts has impoverished countries in every region, in many cases wiping out the achievements of decades of development. The Conflict Resolution Program focuses on preventing, resolving, and ending armed conflict. Much of the program's work revolves around regularly monitoring many of the world's armed conflicts in an attempt to better understand their histories, the primary actors involved, the issues presently in dispute, and the efforts being made to resolve them. When a situation arises in which President Carter has a unique role to play, and when specific conditions have been met, the CRP is directly responsible for supporting his intervention efforts. To accomplish this, the CRP works closely with representatives of international organizations, governments, and nongovernmental organizations. The CRP has worked on projects in the Baltics, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Great Lakes region of Africa, Korea, Sudan, Uganda, Fiji, and Ecuador.  Currently, its primary areas of focus are Liberia and the Middle East.

Number of Interns per Semester:  3-5

Program Preferences:

• There is no preferred program of study; rather, the applicant must display an interest in this field
• Ability to speak a second language (particularly Arabic)
• Overseas experience

Typical Projects:

• Assist CRP staff in preventing conflicts throughout the world
• Monitor and research roughly 10 armed conflicts
• Assist in drafting memoranda and reports
• Prepare briefing materials for meetings and trips
• Organize conferences
• Conduct research projects
• Assist in planning and executing project objectives

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Democracy Program

Americas, China, Conflict Resolution, Democracy, Human Rights, Peace Programs Development

The Democracy Program was founded on the belief that reinforcing the process of democratization is the best means of promoting human rights, supporting sustainable economic opportunity, and resolving conflicts peacefully. The program's goals are to promote democratic transition and consolidation through projects involving election monitoring and mediation, technical assistance to strengthen civil society, and efforts to advance the rule of law and to strengthen the implementation of international democratic election standards based on international public law. The program provides electoral assistance to countries around the globe that are undergoing transitional elections or are at risk of backsliding in their democratization process.  In recent years, the program has organized election observation projects in Lebanon, Ghana, Cote d'Ivoire, and Sudan. As of December 2011, the Democracy Program has monitored 86 elections around the world. In all of its work, the program incorporates a commitment to the protection and advancement of broad-based human rights values. The involvement of other Carter Center programs creates the comprehensive, long-term strategic approach needed to help nations build peaceful, just, and economically viable societies.

Number of Interns per Semester:  4-5

Program Preferences:

• Foreign language skills (particularly French, Arabic)
• Background in political science, international affairs, democratization, human rights, or other related areas
• Overseas work or research experience

Typical Projects:

• Election observation
• Technical assistance to promote democratic consolidation, human rights, and civil society building
• Conduct research projects
• Work directly on project planning and implementation
• Draft memorandums
• Prepare briefing materials for meetings
• Aid staff in forming election observation delegations

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Human Rights Program

Americas, China, Conflict Resolution, Democracy, Human Rights, Peace Programs Development

A commitment to human rights for all people around the world is a founding principle of The Carter Center. These include civil, political, social, economic, and cultural rights, and freedoms enumerated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.  The Human Rights Program works to protect and advance human rights globally through the protection of human rights defenders, the convening of leading activists and decision makers, and the strengthening of national and multilateral human rights institutions.

Human rights initiatives at The Carter Center include:

• An annual policy forum that brings together human rights defenders and policymakers in collaboration with the U. N. High Commissioner for Human Rights;
• Country-based work in the Democratic Republic of the Congo that focuses on mining sector transparency, protection of human rights defenders, strengthening the capacity of civil society organizations to implement quality human rights programming, and giving government actors the skills and knowledge they need to advance human rights through policy reform;
• Programs designed to educate and mobilize a theologically diverse and expansive coalition of U.S. Christian leadership to actively support a peaceful and just resolution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict through partnerships in the region and constituent mobilization in the U.S.; and,
• High-level appeals on behalf of victims of human rights violations.

An internship with the Human Rights Program of The Carter Center involves rewarding, substantive contributions to all aspects of the Program's work. Interns are assigned to research cases and occasionally communicate with those seeking help, their families, non-governmental organization partners such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, attorneys, government offices, and/or local human rights-oriented NGOs worldwide. They carry out scholarly research and analysis to support our programs in the DRC and Palestine-Israel, occasionally including travel to the field, as well as to inform the annual Human Rights Defenders Forum. Interns also draft detailed memos regarding cases, as well as letters for the Carters' signatures.

Number of Interns per Semester:  3-4

Program Preferences:

• A strong human rights background, experientially or educationally
• Law students, recent graduates, or senior undergraduate students
• Ability to speak French and/or Arabic

Typical Projects:

• Research significant human rights issues
• Prepare briefing materials for executive meetings
• Record minutes from executive meetings
• Handle memoranda to senior Carter Center staff, including President Carter
• Draft letters for President Carter, addressed to heads of state, on human rights issues
• Work directly on project planning and implementation for country-based programming in DRC and Palestine-Israel
• Draft memorandums and reports

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Peace Programs: Institutional Development/Fundraising*

Americas, China, Conflict Resolution, Democracy, Human Rights, Peace Programs Development

 
The Office of Institutional Development/Fundraising supports Carter Center Peace and Health programs by generating project-specific financial and in-kind resources from foreign governments, U.S. government agencies, foundations, corporations, and individuals.  Staff researches potential funding prospects and initiates relationships through letters, proposals, phone calls, and meetings.  The development department maintains long-term relationships with more than 150 program donors.

Development staff must have extensive knowledge of Carter Center goals and activities in program countries.  In addition, they must stay abreast of the assistance policies and internal politics of donor nations as well as current corporate and foundation philanthropic news and initiatives.

Internship positions are available to support the following development departments:

• Peace Programs Development: The intern working in peace development conducts research on the relationship of foundation, corporation, and government donor priorities to the Center's international peace programs. This is a fantastic opportunity to learn how to raise money to support a nonprofit organization through grant and proposal writing and research. The funds raised benefit the Human Rights, Democracy, Conflict Resolution, China, and Americas programs.

*Please note that while you only have the opportunity to apply to the Office of Institutional Development as a whole, you may choose to indicate in your short essay if you have a preference for a specific department.

Number of Interns per Semester: 1 per department

Program Preferences:

• Coursework in English, international development, international finance and economics, international affairs, public health, public policy, philanthropy, business, scientific and technical writing, library sciences, and/or nonprofit management
• Familiarity with – or interest in – one or more of the following issues:  foreign aid, mental health, international health, disease control, corporate philanthropy, democracy, civil society, human rights, and conflict resolution
• Relevant experience:  research and technical writing, work in procurement/ contracting, fundraising, or other work with nonprofit organizations
• Exceptional writing and research skills
• Extensive experience with Internet resources and electronic databases
• Proficiency with Access or another contact database
• Availability to work 30-40 hours per week
• Creative and entrepreneurial
• Able to work both independently and as part of a team in a deadline-driven environment

Typical Projects:

• Research potential funding prospects
• Monitor international giving trends, development/humanitarian assistance approaches, and the work of similar nonprofit organizations
• Write/edit letters, articles, reports, and proposals
• Write talking points and briefing memoranda for executive staff
• Assist with donor mailings and other correspondence
• Support efforts to raise unrestricted funds by marketing the annual fund through the Ambassadors Circle. Provide event support for donors participating in the annual Executive Briefing and Visit to Plains, Ga.

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