Skills Development Intern

INTERNSHIP TITLE: Skills Development Intern  

INTERN WORKSITE LOCATION: Beirut, Lebanon, with potential travel to various regions within the country of Lebanon.

DATES OF INTERNSHIP: up to 3 Months

HOURS PER WEEK: Full time (40 hours/week)  

Mercy Corps Responsibilities

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

• Training and supervisory support
• Access to Mercy Corps online tools
• All other tools, materials and communication requirements for this project

Intern responsibilities

Intern will remain responsible for all costs associated with:

• Accommodation, travel and living expenses

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. Working in Lebanon since 1993, Mercy Corps has implemented community development programs focused on promoting economic development and increased opportunity for disadvantaged communities, while responding to emergencies as they emerged in the country. In 2012, the program portfolio shifted in response to the massive refugee influx from Syria, and Mercy Corps in Lebanon has solidified its emergency response programming while integrating longer-term development programming by focusing on key sectors: Protection, Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), Governance and Conflict, and Livelihoods.

The intern project assistant will work under the FORSA III project. FORSA III (Fostering Resilience by Strengthening Abilities III) program is a 1.3 million Euros one and a half year (Jun 2023 – December 2024) program focusing on strengthening employment pathways within the digital economy. The program aims to facilitate access to employment through a holistic and integrated approach that builds the skills of young people aiming to increase their work readiness while strengthening the capacities of the private sector to absorb and retain the skilled workforce. Hence, the program targets youth between the ages of 16-34 from Lebanese, Syrian, and Palestinian communities; as well as key market actors such as coworking spaces, digital businesses, and TVET institutes – in targeted areas of Beirut – Mount Lebanon, Tripoli, and Bekaa.

The primary objectives of the program are:

• The digital community is more market-responsive and conductive to income-generating pathways for young women and men.
• Local enterprises and institutions can start , sustain, or grow their business operations.

Under the supervision and guidance of the skills development officer, the intern project assistant will support the FORSA III team. S/he will be responsible for:

• Assist in the outreach activity.
• Assist with administrative tasks such as scheduling meetings, organizing files, managing email correspondence, and maintaining project documentation.
• Assist in designing and conducting surveys or interviews to gather feedback from program participants.
• Assist in the logistics of events, workshops, or training sessions.
• Assist in the data collection, this includes but is not limited to MEAL data collection activities, updating the applicants' database through calling and data entering, and organizing and cleaning data.
• Regularly contact new applicants to check their availability and commitment.
• Prepare schedules in coordination with participants and trainers.
• Participate in team meetings and contribute ideas for improving program effectiveness and efficiency.
• Any other task as requested by the Skills Development Officer.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

Through the internship, the intern will acquire:

• Gain experience in designing surveys and interviews.
• Learn techniques for gathering and analyzing feedback from program participants.
• Acquire skills in event planning and logistics coordination.
• Develop competency in data collection methods.
• Enhance communication skills through regular contact with program participants and stakeholders.
• Learn to prioritize tasks and manage time effectively.
• Participate in team meetings to understand project objectives and progress.
• Contribute ideas for improving program effectiveness and efficiency based on observations and insights gained from tasks.

DELIVERABLES:

Survey and Interview design:
Designed surveys or interview protocols for gathering feedback from program participants. Compiled and summarized feedback data from surveys or interviews.
Event Logistics Deliverables:
Coordinated logistics for events, workshops, or training sessions. Ensured smooth executions of logistics plans during events.
Communication Deliverables:
Established regular communication with program participants and stakeholders to check availability and commitment.
Scheduling Deliverables:
Prepared schedules in coordination with participants and trainers for program activities.
Team Collaboration Deliverables:
Actively participated in team meetings and contribute ideas for improving program effectiveness and efficiency.

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE:

• Diploma: Fresh graduate. Preferably in something related to the digital sector (Social Media, Graphic Design or any other related field).
• Experience: No experience needed. Volunteering or previous experience within the humanitarian sector is a plus.
• Languages: Very good English level and excellent Arabic level.
• Communication and reporting skill levels: Excellent communication skills.
• Interpersonal skills: Communication, teamwork, empathy, and professionalism
• Computer skills: Very good command of Microsoft Excel, Word, and PPT in addition to a good knowledge of internet research and usage.

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.

Mercy Corps Headquarters: 45 SW Ankeny Street, Portland, Oregon, USA 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 and Mercy Corps email address, as well as access to The Hub, Workplace and the Digital Library.