Internship Terms of Reference

• 1 year ago

Are you passionate about transformative change, civil society empowerment and peacebuilding? Take advantage of the opportunity to join the Summer 2025 Internship Program at the Center for Civil Society and Democracy (CCSD). CCSD is a Syrian founded, independent, non-governmental organization committed to strengthening Syrian civil society and promoting democracy, freedom, and equality.

As an intern with CCSD you will gain hands-on experience in the dynamic environment non-profit organization whose team spans locations in multiple countries including the U.S., the EU, and Turkiye. You will work closely with our team in one of the following departments: Administration, Development, Programming or as an Executive Assistant to the Executive Director.

While familiarity with the conflict in Syria, the Middle East affairs, or the nonprofit sector is preferred, being committed, flexible, and open-minded about learning is essential for this role.

Duration: 10-20 weeks. (120, 240, or 300 hours)

Application Deadline: May 18th, 2025

Application requirements: Submit Resume & Cover Letter  (Including ranked department preferences) to hr.usa@ccsd.ngo

Take the first step and join the movement dedicated to achieving enduring peace, justice, and democracy within Syria!

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Title: Associate (Programs, Administration, or Development) Executive Assistant

Location: Remote, United States, no travel required.

If located in Washington, DC or the surrounding areas, all Associates and Assistants are welcome to use the office space in DC.

Main Contact: Christina Grossen, Project Coordinator

Proposed Period: June – August 2025 (10-20 weeks for a total of 120, 240, or 360 hour)

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1. Background of the internship:

The Center for Civil Society and Democracy (CCSD) is an independent, non-governmental, non-profit organization committed to transformative change in Syria. Founded by a group of passionate Syrian civil society activists, CCSD’s core mission is to strengthen civil society, champion democracy, and promote the fundamental values of freedom, justice, and coexistence.

Registered independently in the USA (CCSDS), the EU (CCSDE), and Türkiye (CCSDT), CCSD channels its efforts towards supporting sustainable, Syrian-led movements dedicated to achieving enduring peace, justice, and democracy within the nation.

CCSD works on empowering Syrian women’s leadership and participation, civil society capacity development, good governance, peacebuilding, transitional justice, conflict mitigation, and independent media. It also engages in the Syrian peace process in Geneva.

2. Purpose of the internship:

The CCSDS internship program exposes qualified students specialized in various professional fields to the day-to-day working environment of an on-the-ground nonprofit organization. Successful interns will be assigned to one of the four following areas: the Programs Department, the Development Department, or serve as an assistant to the Executive Director. We will seek to accommodate your desired interest. During this internship, you will learn about the project cycle operational procedures, provide general support across different departmental areas and learn more about women’s empowerment, peacebuilding, engagement in the Geneva peace process, and peace journalism in Syria.

Learning opportunities:

1. General Opportunities:

• Project Cycle: Learn and engage in projects that CCSD is running in Summer 2025, which support civil society organizations, with special emphasis on women, and youth.
• General Support for CCSD’s Program Areas: This involvement will encompass diverse topics such as women’s empowerment, peacebuilding, engagement in the Geneva peace process, and peace journalism in Syria.

2. Administration Associate:

• Understanding Nonprofit Operations: Associates will gain insights into the specific operational processes of nonprofit organizations.
• Office Management skills: Associates can learn about organizing office operations, maintaining records, and managing supplies, which are crucial for any administrative role.
• Communication skills: Associates will practice professional communication through emails, phone calls, and in-person interactions, enhancing their ability to communicate effectively in the workplace.

3. Development Associate:

• Grant Identification and Writing: Support the Development team in researching grant opportunities, drafting grant proposals, and compiling data and success stories to be included in grant applications and reports to funders
• Communications: Learn how to write appeals, edit digital platform posts, follow up outreach to donors, and assist with donor acknowledgments/correspondence
• Database management: Learn and utilize essential databases to track donor information and manage fundraising efforts

4. Executive Assistant:

• Organization skills: Learn about calendar management and prioritizing communication follow-ups
• Communication Skills: Interns will enhance their verbal and written communication abilities by drafting emails, reports, and meeting notes and interacting with stakeholders.
• Networking Skills: Executive assistants may have opportunities to connect with professionals and stakeholders, build their networking skills, and understand the importance of relationships in business.

5. Program Associate:

• Operation procedures: the project associate/intern will learn and engage in the different aspects of operations that CCSD conducts.
• Report writing: Associates will learn how to gather information from project teams and write reports for donors.
• Stakeholder coordination: Associates will develop skills in coordinating with various stakeholders, including scheduling meetings and answering questions.

Furthermore, successful candidates will gain valuable contextual knowledge, including insights into the experiences of refugees in the region, comprehension of regional and global power dynamics, perspectives on the international aid system, and the importance of cultural sensitivity.

CCSD is committed to aligning the interns’ skills and knowledge with the most suitable program while encouraging them to contribute to general support across all programs. New this year, we are requesting that when interns apply to the internship program, they rank the different internships to best match an intern and their skill set with their desires. This approach aims to provide a comprehensive and enriching experience for the interns.

3. Responsibilities

a. Administration Associate:

• Support the Finance and Administration Director activities related to hiring new positions, including drafting job descriptions and posting, updating and removing job ads from job boards, careers pages and social networks
• Recommend and implement personnel policies and procedures; help to prepare and maintain a handbook on policies and procedures.
• Assisted in developing presentations on metrics, reports, and analysis, and performed other duties as assigned.

* NOTE: While the position is remote, preference will be given to interns located in Washington, DC.

b. Development Associate

• Support the Development Coordinator and Grants Manager with writing appeals, editing digital platforms, follow-up outreach to donors, assisting with donor acknowledgments/correspondence, and compiling data and success stories to be included in grant applications and reports to funders.
• Learn and utilize essential databases to track donor information and manage fundraising efforts.
• Support the Development team in researching grant opportunities and drafting grant proposals.

c. Executive Assistant:

• Manage the calendar of the Executive Director and support communication follow-up with the team, stakeholders, and other contacts.
• Make travel arrangements for the Executive Director while adhering to CCSD internal and US government regulations.
• Support in document creation and editing related to all areas of operation – administration, development, and programs.

d. Project Associate

• Collaborate on materials for capacity building within Syrian civil society and contribute to communication and advocacy products.
• Research and draft materials to enhance the influence of Syrian civil society in the political process.
• Craft, edit, and write reports on CCSD’s initiatives.
• Engage in data collection and analysis to evaluate the impact of CCSD’s work.
• Provide support for programmatic monitoring and evaluation, as well as resource development.

4. Recommended Skills:

• Proficiency in English, robust written and oral communication, and analytical skills are prerequisites.
• Familiarity with Syria and the conflict is advantageous, though candidates can acquire this knowledge before and during the internship.
• While prior experience in Syria, the Middle East, development fields, NGOs, or research institutes is preferred, it is optional.
• Candidates must be open-minded and enthusiastic about learning from the organization and colleagues.
• Essential qualities include commitment to work, flexibility, and a willingness to support ongoing initiatives actively.
• Successful candidates must be self-motivated and demonstrate an ability to generate creative ideas that contribute to project enhancement and the overarching mission of CCSD.
• For the Admin Position – HR laws and regulations, and ensure compliance with labor codes and local and state laws.

5. Financial Aspects:

• Upon successful completion of all internship hours and responsibilities, interns will be rewarded a stipend based on hours worked. For 120 hours, you are eligible for a $1,000 stipend, for 240 hours you are eligible for a maximum of a $2,000 stipend, and for 300 hours you are eligible for a maximum of $2,500.

6. Terms of Appointment:

• The internship duration is 10 – 20 weeks for 120, 240, or 300 hours.

7. Application:

CCSD requires the following steps before accepting the candidates:

• Submission of a Resume and a Letter of Intent explaining the candidate’s motivations for applying and the reasons for aspiring to work with CCSD. In the letter of intent, please rank your preference for internship 1 being the highest, four being the lowest.
• Email the documents to hr.usa@ccsd.ngo.
• Mandatory completion of at least one virtual or in-person interview for prospective candidates.

Deadline for receiving applications: May 18, 2025

Deadline for signing the internship agreement: June 2, 2025