Title: Project Support Internship: SEMA global & National survivor networks

Location: The Hague

Period: Starting April 2023, full-time, for a period of 6 months

About Us

The Dr. Denis Mukwege Foundation is an international human rights organization, dedicated to ending rape as a weapon of war globally. The Dr. Denis Mukwege Foundation supports survivors’ demands for a world where sexual violence as a weapon of war is no longer tolerated, and bears consequences for individual perpetrators and states. We work for a future where survivors receive the holistic care & compensation they need to rebuild their lives. We create opportunities for survivors to speak out and be heard, and where they can organise to create change, influence policies, and demand justice and accountability.

We are working towards a future where sexual violence in conflict is no longer seen as inevitable, but is recognised for what it is: a crime that should have consequences. We want the international community to draw a line against wartime sexual violence and to hold states and individuals accountable. See also www.mukwegefoundation.org.

Internship overview

The scope of this 6-months internship opportunity with the Mukwege Foundation is to: 

1. Assist the team with the coordination of SEMA – the Global Network of Victims and Survivors to End Wartime Sexual Violence, and support with project management tasks. 

2. Support the programme manager for national survivor networks with reporting, activity planning, and other various project management tasks linked to national networks of survivors in various countries. 

I. Assist the team with the coordination of SEMA & support with project management tasks

In 2017, the Mukwege Foundation supported the creation of SEMA (https://www.semanetwork.org/the-sema-global-network/), the first global network of survivors of conflict-related sexual violence, and we have been accompanying them ever since. SEMA currently represents survivors of conflict-related sexual violence from 26 countries ranging from Africa and South America to the Middle East and Europe. Working together, these survivors draw global attention to the continued use of sexual violence as a weapon of war and call for the changes needed to end the violence and achieve justice. SEMA members influence policies and programmes by advocating for changes in how we address sexual violence in conflict. The SEMA network enables its members to share experiences and to learn directly from one another. The Mukwege Foundation currently acts as the Secretariat of SEMA. 

Tasks: 

The Project Support Intern will: 

• maintain direct and regular contact with SEMA members; 
• organise SEMA events and meetings (face-to-face and online), namely the (online) meetings of the working groups of the network; 
• organise the interpretation for SEMA events and meetings;  
• arrange logistics associated with the travel of survivors (e.g. visa application and travel requirements for SEMA members); 
• support with ongoing and new initiatives of the network, including but not limited to a global exhibition of collective memory initiatives from SEMA members;  
• support donor reporting and activity implementation; 
• provide general support with communications-related tasks, including keeping the website and social media platforms up to date. 

II. Support the programme manager in the implementation of projects for national networks. 

The Mukwege Foundation supports local survivor networks with capacity building and resources, to develop their own solutions and actions, and amplify survivors’ voices at the national level. The Mukwege Foundation helps facilitate the establishment of survivor networks and supports existing ones in more than ten countries. We enable survivors to document their testimonies through creative approaches, expressing experiences which are often beyond words. We strengthen survivors’ leadership and abilities to effectively advocate for victims’ rights and to enable them to act as key partners for consultation, policy and programme development around conflict-related sexual violence. We connect local and regional survivor networks with SEMA for mutual support, inspiration, learning and growth. 

The Project Support Intern will assist the programme manager with the implementation of projects in Ukraine, Iraq, and Nepal, as well as a project supporting Burmese survivors including refugees based in Bangladesh, India, and Thailand. On occasion, the intern might be asked to support other projects under the National Network programme in Uganda, South Sudan, Mali, Nigeria, the Central African Republic, and Burundi. 

Tasks: 

The Project Support Intern will assist the programme manager with: 

• Logistics for activity implementation, including helping with planning field missions of programme managers; 
• Donor reporting (narrative and financial); 

• Fundraising for national networks (grant-writing); 
• Managing relationships with the Mukwege Foundation’s local implementing partners (drafting contracts, reviewing reports, etc.); 
• Conducting desk research to understand country contexts and assess opportunities; 
• Drafting content for social media regarding national network projects. 

With mutual agreement, other discrete tasks of a similar nature may also be assigned. 

Profile of the candidate 

Mandatory: 

• The candidate must either be enrolled in or have graduated from a Master’s program in the field of International Affairs, Political Science, International Relations, Law, or other related field; 
• Strong interest in the topic of armed conflict and conflict-related sexual violence; 
• Strong organisational and communication skills; 
• Perfect command of English, both oral and written; 
• Proficient in Microsoft Office, including Excel and PowerPoint; 

• Attentive to details, highly organised, and autonomous; 
• Ability to prioritise and work under pressure; 
• Hands-on attitude, proactive mindset; 
• Commitment to women’s rights and a survivor-centred approach. 

Desirable: 

• Knowledge and experience using online conferencing platforms such as Zoom; 
• Good understanding of written and spoken French and/or Spanish; 
• Knowledge of social media platforms (Facebook and Twitter); 
• Familiarity with the context of one or more of our project countries; 

• Past experience in project management (monitoring, budgeting, reporting to donors). 

What we offer 

We offer either an Internship or Volunteer agreement, full-time, 40 hours/week (part-time internship may be considered upon request. If applicant is an enrolled student, a signature of an agreed learning assignment in relation to the applicant’s studies is required.  A small monthly remuneration can be offered based on Dutch law, depending on whether the agreement is a student or volunteer agreement. 

Work location: Must be based in The Netherlands (mostly remote, minimum 1 day at the office in The Hague per week) 

Duration: 6 months full-time, starting in April 2023 (part-time internship may be considered upon request) 

You will work with a small team of colleagues from all around the world. While getting first-hand experience in coordinating international projects and events, you have the opportunity to make a real contribution to the ongoing activities supporting the national and global survivor networks. Furthermore, this internship offers a unique opportunity to work directly with survivors of conflict-related sexual violence and gain experience in adopting a survivor-centred approach.  

How to apply 

Please send your cover letter and CV in English, no later than March 26 to Brynn Campbell, Office Manager, using the subject line “Project Support Intern” at: vacancies@mukwegefoundation.org.  

Applications are considered on a rolling basis. It will not be possible to obtain a work permit for this position. All candidates must be based in, and fully eligible for an internship in the Netherlands.