Starting date: September 2011

Deadline for applications: 19 August 2011 – interviews will be held from 24 August onwards. 
Duration: minimum of 3 months (4 days a week)
Place: GPPAC Office in The Hague, The Netherlands
Please note that the position is unpaid. Travel costs to and from the office will be reimbursed.

The GPPAC Foundation

The Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict (GPPAC) is a network of civil society organizations working on conflict prevention and peacebuilding around the world. GPPAC has been working together since 2003 to build a new international consensus on the way in which we approach violent conflict. GPPAC calls for a fundamental change of approach towards conflict: a shift from reaction to prevention. The Global Secretariat of GPPAC (formerly known as the European Centre for Conflict Prevention, ECCP) is based in The Hague. For more information about GPPAC see www.gppac.net.

The Public Outreach and External Communication Programme

One of the key steps towards reaching GPPAC’s goal is raising awareness. This resulted in the Public Outreach Programme, which has the aim of gaining public support for conflict prevention and peacebuilding to achieve a sea change in both policymaking and in fostering a genuine culture of prevention in communities. GPPAC focuses on engagement with the media to enhance the voices of its members on the ground, to promote more conflict sensitive reporting, as well as to make use of new media opportunities for conflict prevention and peacebuilding. Related to the latter, GPPAC has been working on developing a new on-line initiative, the Peace

Portal, which will be one of the key tools of the Public Outreach Programme. GPPAC tries to develop and coordinate public awareness campaigns throughout its membership. Part of this has been to launch an international campaign to bring inspiring stories of conflict prevention and peacebuilding to mass audiences, by focusing initially on the opportunities presented by the UN International Day of Peace and Ceasefire (21 September), the day set aside on the calendar each year for a global ceasefire.

External Communication is essential for GPPAC since it is part of increasing the visibility of the network and promoting both its activities and conflict prevention itself. GPPAC produces newsletters, e-bulletins and thematic publications. It also uses new media tools, like www.gppac.net, facebook, twitter and other page, as well as working with the Peace Portal.

Internship

We seek an enthusiastic and motivated intern who will assist in the Public Outreach abd External Communication programme to collaboratively reach the goals described above.

Tasks will include amongst others:

• Assist in developing communication strategy, including working on websites, e-bulletins and the Peace Portal,
• To help in the formulation of core-messages,
• To work on the development of broader visibility campaign of GPPAC,
• Supporting the further development of the Public Outreach programme, including possible actvities around the International Day of Peace,
• Work on media/communication strategies for different GPPAC events in the coming months,
• Keeping the content of organisation and network websites and material current
• The collecting and writing of articles and pieces for newsletters and news bulletin.
• Collecting new case studies for www.peoplebuildingpeace.org and edit them for online publication
• Assisting in daily functioning of the organization 

Requirements:

• Fluency in English
• Strong communication skills and ability to multi-task
• Relevant educational background (university level), preferably in peace and conflict research
• Ability to problem-solve and work independently
• Interest in and commitment to peace, conflict resolution and human rights
• Some experience with website management (Content Management Systems and databases) is an advantage but not a requirement
• Work experience in the field is an advantage but not a requirement

This internship will give the intern an excellent opportunity to take a look at the inner workings of an NGO working internationally, to get hands-on experience and to challenge him- or herself in a small, inspiring team.

 
Please e-mail a CV, cover letter and writing sample to Ms. Marte Hellema at m.hellema@conflict-prevention.net