Communications & Website Internship

Reports to: Communications and Knowledge Management Officer, CDAC Network

Location: Thomson Reuters Foundation,**London, UK

Type of contract: Internship agreement, 3 months (3 days / week)

Benefits: National Minimum Wage Rate for 8 hour day**

Starting date: Ideally week beginning 31^st March

BACKGROUND

Communication is Aid

Communicating with, and providing information to, people affected by crisis are two of the most important elements of humanitarian response. They are also two of the most overlooked. This is the case even though information can save lives and help mitigate risk.

People also have the right to participate in dialogue with aid providers; the right to ask questions and get answers. In the midst of a disaster, it is often the affected communities who have the deepest and most immediate knowledge about their greatest needs, and listening to their voices can help to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of humanitarian response. When people are given the opportunity to voice their opinions and provide feedback, this enhances their sense of well-being and can help them adapt to the challenges they face. It can also better enable them to take an active role in their own recovery.

Communication with affected communities is a cross-cutting function that facilitates greater accountability and effectiveness of aid delivery; enhances resilience-building; and promotes understanding between humanitarian organisations and the communities they serve. Yet despite its potential to save lives and improve aid delivery, communication with affected communities has not been given sufficient attention by humanitarian organisations and is not systematically institutionalised within the humanitarian sector. Its importance to quality programming is not widely recognised and rarely implemented effectively. 

***The Role of the CDAC Network ***

The CDAC Network was established in response to this communication ‘gap’ and promotes the provision of life-saving information and communication with crisis affected communities as key humanitarian deliverables. The aim of the Network is that communities affected by or prone to crises are supported to withstand humanitarian emergencies through active engagement in decisions about the relief and recovery efforts in their country.

The CDAC Network is unique in terms of who it convenes: humanitarian and media development organisations and, increasingly, technology and telecoms providers. By collaborating across traditional boundaries, CDAC Network Members increase mutual understanding of the challenges they face and identify opportunities for partnership in order to bring about innovative and effective field practice and, ultimately, a more sustainable and improved response. Members seek to build capacity together, share learning and research, and advocate to ensure that two-way communication with affected communities becomes a predictable, consistent and resourced element of crisis resilience, response and recovery.The CDAC Network delivers through four pillars identified in its Strategy[1]: action research and learning; capacity strengthening; convening; and advocacy. Due to its activities and diverse membership, the Network is well placed to bring about the systematic change required in the humanitarian sector to position communication with affected people at the heart of resilience building, preparedness and response.

GENERAL FUNCTION

The Communications and Website Intern will work with the Communications and Knowledge Management Officer to ensure effective delivery of the new CDAC Network website. While certain tasks will be administrative due to the nature of the position, a certain portion of the Intern’s time will be dedicated to a project which includes substantive content work, in agreement with the CDAC Network Director/Communications and Knowledge Management Officer, in order to ensure a rounded learning experience.

Key tasks:

·Supporting the design of a new website feature that aggregates services related to the CDAC Network’s mission, and undertaking ‘market research’ on what could be included

·Monitoring the current CDAC Network website, including updating the tools and resources sections

·Undertaking communications activities such as drafting articles and monitoring social media platforms

·Ensuring the integrity of the new content for the website and that it contains the appropriate metadata

·Developing internal tools and systems as needed

QUALIFICATIONS

This internship is an ideal opportunity for an enthusiastic and ambitious graduate or early professional to gain exposure to, and thus develop skills within, an exciting cross-sector initiative in the humanitarian sector. It should appeal to candidates with a passion for promoting and supporting the voice of affected communities in disaster response, particularly those who have an interest in technology and/or communications. This is also an opportunity to develop a personal reputation within this niche, but rapidly growing area of humanitarian action.

In considering candidates for this opportunity, we would expect you to demonstrate aptitude in the following core skills:

Essential

·Experience of working with website content management systems and online platforms

·Demonstrable interest in the humanitarian and media development sector evidenced through current/recent academic study and/or similar previous placements**

• Experience of using MSWord, Excel and Outlook, as well as different social media platforms
• Excellent oral and written communication skills 
•  Experience of undertaking a range of tasks and prioritising to meet deadlines 
•  Experience of working effectively under pressure, demonstrating a calm, confident and flexible approach to work
• Committed team player; flexible and adaptable to varying work demands

Desirable

·Good knowledge of Microsoft Access

[1] The CDAC Network Moving Forward: Strategy 2012-2016,http://www.cdacnetwork.org/sites/www.cdacnetwork.org/files/the_cdac_netw...

How to apply:

Interested candidates meeting the qualifications should send their CV and a one page cover letter tojobs@cdacnetwork.org

·Duration of role: 3 days a week, for three months (starting early April)

·ob Reference: CDAC-N WEB + name in the subject line

·Deadline for applications: Friday 14^th March 2013

·Interviews: w/c 17^th March

·Please note that we can only consider applications from EU citizens or those holding a valid work permit for the UK.