Lifeline Internship

Freedom House promotes the spread of freedom and democracy around the world through research, advocacy, and programs that support frontline activists. We are a leader in identifying and mitigating threats to freedom worldwide. With 12 field offices and two U.S. offices, we support the right of every individual to be free.

Freedom House seeks an intern to support the Lifeline Embattled CSO Assistance Fund. Lifeline provides emergency assistance and rapid response grants to frontline defenders and civil society organizations under threat for their human rights work. Freedom House manages the global fund through a consortium of 7 INGOs and with the support of a donor steering committee of 19 governments. Lifeline has supported over 2,100 CSOs in over 103 countries with support for temporary relocation, trial monitoring, medical expenses, and other types of emergency assistance, in addition to support for efforts to mobilize communities, conduct policy and legal analysis, and carry out advocacy campaigns targeting both domestic and international actors.

Position Summary

The intern will have the opportunity to provide administrative, logistical, and programmatic support for Lifeline's work in providing grants to front line defenders and human rights CSOs in a worldwide effort to counter the rising trend of closing civic space with support to civil society leaders. She/he will be well-integrated into the team and work in a highly-dynamic, multicultural office environment.

Anticipated learning outcomes include understanding threats to civil society worldwide; understanding of how human rights advocacy is coordinated among international NGOs; how to design programs in restrictive environments; how digital security techniques can be utilized in the human rights field; practical administrative, logistical, and programmatic skills to help implement a large-scale grant and sub-grant program; understanding of financial and budgetary oversight; and qualitative and quantitative monitoring and evaluation techniques.

This position is based in Washington, DC and reports to the Program Officer for the Lifeline Program.

Minimum Qualifications

• Currently enrolled college or graduate student
• Strong ability to communicate effectively in English, both verbally and in writing
• Demonstrated knowledge and interest in human rights
• Proficiency with MS Office Suite, specifically Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook
• Ability to work both independently from and collaboratively with program team
• Excellent research, analytical, writing, and organizational skills
• Experience with preparing financial documents preferred
• Experience handling sensitive information in a secure and confidential manner preferred
• Language skills including Arabic, French, Russian or Spanish preferred

Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide support for the administrative, logistical, and programmatic aspects of project implementation
• Provide research assistance for discrete projects
• Prepare daily news update that highlights country-specific and regional developments related to closing civic space and human rights
• Assist with developing and writing reports, press releases, briefing books, and other communications materials
• Prepare grant agreements, payment requests, and other financial documents as needed
• Assist with emergency assistance case processing as needed
• Contribute to work streams related to donor reporting
• Assist in tracking qualitative and quantitative progress on subgrants
• Monitor and developing Lifeline-related updates on mainstream news sites, blogs, and social media sites
• Assist with organizing events and meetings in DC and abroad related to FH programs
• Other related duties as assigned

Disclaimer - This job description is only a summary of the typical functions of the job. It is not an exhaustive or comprehensive list of all possible job responsibilities, tasks and duties. The responsibilities, tasks, and duties of the jobholder may differ from those outlined in the job description and that other duties, as assigned, may be part of the job. Freedom House may add, change, or remove essential and other duties at any time.

Work Environment and Physical Demands:

Essential functions are typically performed in an office setting with a low level of noise. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Qualified and Interested Applicants

We invite qualified candidates to complete an online application and submit a resume and cover letter.

Only candidates who have been selected for an interview will be contacted.

Only candidates authorized to work in the U.S. without any restrictions need apply.

Successful candidates will be applying for this unpaid internship as part of an established colleague/graduate school internship program.

A fixed stipend for travel cost will be available.

EOE M/F/D/V