Internship: Institutional Learning Team - DM&E/Knowledge Management

The Institutional Learning Team works across every programme at Search for Common Ground (SFCG). Design, Monitoring and Evaluation (DM&E) is a key component of our Institutional Learning Team. SFCG aims to enhance organisational effectiveness through our commitment to excellence in DM&E and continuous institutional learning.

To this end, the DM&E division:

• Uses ‘on-the-job’ coaching to build the organisational capacity in evaluation
• Conducts research on key DM&E issues
• Facilitates the utilisation of evaluation recommendations and lessons learned
• Co-ordinates the biennial evaluations of country programmes
• Manages and implements internal monitoring, evaluation and reflection processes

Using a mixed support and lead approach, we aim to:

• Identify information requirements across the organisation
• Design and implement joined-up indicator systems and monitoring tools
• Increase the organisations’ knowledge about DM&E and its specific language
• Equip our programme staff to communicate with our funders about DM&E
• Develop practitioner focused coaching tools (interactive DM&E modules)

Job Description

This internship presents an enormous opportunity for those seeking a challenging and rewarding intern-work experience. The intern will be s upervised by a member of the ILT. The main responsibilities of this internship include, but are not restricted to:

• Taking a leading role in compiling and collating information from programs within Search. Th e effort to build up and develop our information systems is a key ILT/DM&E strategy. Our goal is to streamline and harmonise the flow of information for project management, reporting and partnerships, and to work towards ’core’ and ‘optional’ indicators along with tools to collect, analyse and disseminate data. This project is a long-term project for the organization and will evolve over time. This internship is an opportunity to be involved in this key priority for ILT, Search and the Peace Building community.
• Assisting in coordinating evaluations:
  • Recruiting and managing external evaluators and consultants
• Reviewing evaluations and utilization of evaluation results
• Liaising with country field staff to produce contributions to our Tools for Peace Building and Conflict Resolution series
• Taking a supporting role in the development of Interactive Modules
• Assisting with the production of Indaba, the internal Newsletter designed to disseminate good practice on DM&E 

• Researching key areas, tools, methods for DM&E
• Identifying and tracking latest thinking in the evaluation of peace building fields
• Providing logistical support for DM&E activities

Required Skills:

• Education (graduate student preferred) and/or experience (minimum 3 yrs) in conflict resolution, international relations, development, governance, social research, evaluation.
• Experience in information gathering and research - book, journal and Internet
• Excellent written and oral English communication skills and the ability to draft, edit and proofread
• Good computer skills
• Demonstrated successful experiences in public administration or entry-level program management

Desired Skills/Assets:

• Experience or education in monitoring & evaluation
• Masters degree in relevant field
• Work experience in non-profit organizations
• Advanced computing skills would be helpful (e.g. Dreamweaver, HTML programming, Desktop publishing)
• Familiarity with/interest in the African region

Required Attributes:

• Proactive attitude and ability to work independently
• Attention to detail and strong organizational skills
• Creative and thorough approach to research
• Interest in evaluation of conflict resolution interventions

Application:

The intern should be able to commit to working for SFCG for a minimum of 3-4 days per week, for at least a 3-month initial period. The ideal starting period for this internship would be late Summer/early Fall (August/September) 2008, though there may be some flexibility.

To apply please email Nick Oatley at noatley@sfcg.org and include the following:

• Cover letter
• Resume
• Contact information for two references 

In your cover letter, please clearly state why the position is of interest to you, which aspect of the work particularly interests you , what you can bring to it and what you hope to gain from it. If applicable, please list any other divisions you have applied to within SFCG. Also, please include the date you can start work, the length of your availability (in months), and the number of hours per week to which you can commit.

Please note this is an unpaid internship, a small daily stipend is available for those with financial needs.