Youth Curriculum Development Intern - Mauritania

Description

INTERNSHIP TITLE: Youth Curriculum Development Intern

INTERN WORKSITE LOCATION**:** Nouakchott, Mauritania

DATES OF INTERNSHIP: May – November 2024

HOURS PER WEEK: 40 hours a week

INTERNS SUPERVISOR & CONTACT INFORMATION:  Program Implementation Director

FUNDING AVAILABLE FOR THE INTERNSHIP: $2600 USD / month

Mercy Corps responsibilities

For the duration of this internship assignment the intern will receive:

• Housing (shared guesthouse n Nouakchott)

• Airfare (roundtrip)

• ISOS Emergency Med-Evac coverage

• Training and supervisory support

• Access to Mercy Corps online tools including establishment of MC email address

• All other tools, materials and communication requirements for this project

Intern responsibilities

Intern will remain responsible for all costs associated with:

Proof of medical insurance coverage

• Laptop for working

• All other costs associated with the internship

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within.

Mercy corps began working in Mauritania in 2022 with start of the USAID-funded Naforee Program, The goal of the Nafoore Program is to increase resilience capacities of vulnerable Mauritanian youth to resist radicalization and recruitment by violent extremist organizations (VEOs). To achieve this goal Nafoore will work across three objective areas:

• Objective 1: Increase youth economic potential

• Objective 2: Strengthen youth belonging and agency in their lives and communities

• Objective 3: Expand and strengthen youth-serving organizations and networks

Recognizing that drivers of risk and vulnerability are multi-dimensional, Nafoore takes a peer learning cohort approach, ensuring that youth participants strengthen multiple key dimensions of resilience across the objective areas. Each cohort will progress through a series of curriculum modules and activities, including training and capacity building, and hands-on opportunities to put newly learned skills into practice. The cohort curriculum is sequenced to ensure key foundational capacities are built prior to completing modules in conflict management, civic engagement and agency and finally launching into economic pathways. Additionally, within each module, and through ongoing activities at the youth center, the program has been designed to sensitively address social divisions and increase cohesion and youth agency.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

• Curriculum development under three thematic areas around economic empowerment, conflict and life skills

• Activity planning and implementation techniques

• Youth development and mechanisms for preventing violent extremism through improving youth resilience

DELIVERABLES:

• Perform a comprehensive disk review to compile all documents related to Modules’ manuals and youth participant cohort planning.

• Assist in the enhancement and modification of existing program templates.

• Support the writing of the three manuals, beginning with foundational skills, followed by civic engagement, and concluding with conflict management.

• Lead the creation of a master youth participant cohort plan, ensuring alignment with all available information.

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE:

• University degree in progress or recently completed (within 1 year) in relevant discipline and curriculum development.

• Analytical Skills: Capable of conducting a thorough disk review to gather and organize documents related to Modules' manuals and cohort planning.

• Communication Skills: Effective communication is essential for coordinating with team members, conveying ideas, and presenting the developed materials.

• Collaborative Attitude: Works well in a team, collaborating with others to achieve the common goals outlined in the deliverables.

• Adaptability: Able to support the modification and improvement of existing program templates, demonstrating flexibility in adapting to different project requirements.

LIVING CONDITIONS:

The internship is based in Nouakchott, and has access to medical services and the living situation is of a reasonable standard.

Mercy Corps interns represent the agency both during and outside of work hours and are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and Mercy Corps policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.

Mercy Corps Diversity Statement

Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives.

We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained global impact.

We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.

Safeguarding & Ethics

Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC and have signed on to the Interagency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct e-learning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.   Interns must agree to follow Mercy Corps COVID-19 Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) in country.

Mercy Corps Headquarters: 45 SW Ankeny Street, Portland, Oregon 97204

Mercy Corps: https://www.mercycorps.org/

In your statement, you are encouraged to discuss any relevant experience, and demonstrate your interest. Your application will be reviewed by the Mercy Corps team and shortlisted candidates will be contacted directly for interviews.

WEB SERVICES: Interns are automatically provided a Mercy Corps email address, as well as access to The Hub, Workplace and the Digital Library.