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Internship Program Overview

Qualifications

Program Areas

Graduate Assistantships

Internship Sessions

Program Highlights

Applications Procedures

FAQ

Internship Opportunities

 
Peace Programs Overview

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

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: Working to support Carter Center operations in the areas of Democracy, Human Rights, Conflict Resolution, the Americas, and China through assisting with administrative and substantive work.

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Americas Program

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

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

The mission of the China Program is to promote democracy, rule of law, and social justice in China. The program began in the middle 1990s, when China was promoting village elections and advancing grassroots democracy.  The Carter Center was granted the opportunity to initiate collaborative projects with the Chinese government to improve standardization of local election procedures.  The program has expanded its scope of operations and is now engaging in a variety of activities designed to improve local governance and to give Chinese officials, scholars, and common citizens a platform to discuss and share ideas on choice and accountability.

Examples of the China Program's work include:

• Highly visible and informative Web sites on China's elections and governance (Chinese at www.chinaelections.org and in English at www.chinaelections.net), villager self-government (www.chinarirual.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

Number of Interns per Semester: 3-4

Program Preferences:

• Read/understand Mandarin Chinese
• Aware of current Chinese affairs and U.S.-China relations
• Dedication to project's objective is mandatory

Typical Projects:

• Administrative assistance
• Document translation into Chinese and English
• Writing for our Web sites in either English or Chinese
• Updating Web contents
• Monitoring media for political developments in China
• Delving into Chinese reports
• Providing logistical support for Chinese delegations visiting the United States

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Conflict Resolution

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

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

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 improve compliance with human rights standards. The program provides electoral assistance to countries around the globe that are undergoing first or second transitional elections or are at risk of backsliding in their democratization process. Given the Center's established reputation and track record for impartial election monitoring and mediation, it is uniquely placed to promote democracy in countries around the globe. In recent years, the program has organized election observation projects in Ethiopia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nepal, Indonesia, and Lebanon. As of July 2009, the Democracy Program has monitored more than 75 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)
• Background in political science, international affairs, democratization, human rights, or other related areas
• Overseas experience

Typical Projects:

• Election observation and mediation
• 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

The Carter Center is founded on a commitment to human rights.  Accordingly, the Human Rights Program has an integral stake in all Carter Center activities and collaborates with staff from each of the Center's programs.  Human Rights is one of the only Center programs based primarily in the United States, although the office's reach extends internationally, with technical assistance projects and individual casework.

Human rights initiatives at The Carter Center include an annual policy forum that brings together human rights defenders and policy-makers and collaboration with the U. N. High Commissioner for Human Rights. President and Mrs. Carter interact personally with world leaders on behalf of victims of human rights abuse.

An internship with the Human Rights Program of The Carter Center involves rewarding, substantive contributions to all aspects of the Center's work. Interns are assigned to research cases and occasionally communicate with clients, 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. 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 preference for a solid human rights background, experientially or educationally
• Law students, recent graduates, or senior undergraduate students
• Ability to speak a second language

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
• Draft memorandums and reports

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Peace Programs

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

The Peace Programs intern works with the office of the vice president, John Stremlau, (see bio) and helps with administrative and substantive issues affecting Center operations in the areas of Democracy, Human Rights, Conflict Resolution, the Americas, and China.  During 2008, the Peace Programs intern monitored and analyzed the crisis in Zimbabwe and assisted the gender justice work in Liberia, including in-country work that resulted in her eventual appointment as a member of the Liberian field staff, based in Harper County.

Number of Interns per Semester:  1

Program Preferences:

• Background in political science, international relations, development, human rights, or other related fields

Typical Projects:

• Researching, writing, and editing various documents, reports, and/or letters on behalf of the Associate Executive Director's Office  

 

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