Intern – Hybrid governance Sahel and West Africa

The Netherlands Institute of International Relations ‘Clingendael‘ is a leading think tank and academy on international affairs. Through our analyses, training and public debate we aim to inspire and equip governments, businesses, and civil society in order to contribute to a secure, sustainable and just world.  

The Institute has three departments: Research, Academy and Corporate Staff. Within the Research department we are looking for a:

Intern – Hybrid governance, Sahel and West Africa

36 hours per week (full time, with physical attendance at the office expected)

The Conflict Research Unit (CRU) is a specialised team within the Clingendael Institute, conducting applied, policy-oriented research and developing practical tools that assist national and multilateral governmental and non-governmental organisations in their efforts to develop and implement more effective policies and programming on stability, development and rule of law in fragile and conflict-affected countries.

Within CRU, the Sahel research programme focuses on how governance is experienced by people in the Sahel and the risk potential of political conflict, radicalisation and regional instability. The objective of the programme is to advise on how development and stabilisation programmes could contribute to a situation in which exclusionary and/or ineffective governance structures open. The programme takes empirical stock of prevailing hybrid governance structures, identifies the power economy of these governance structures and advises where concrete pressure and entry points for change are located. This lens is applied in the programme’s work on local governance, access to justice, violent extremist spillover and migration.

Job description

The Clingendael Conflict Research Unit (CRU) has two internship positions opening for the team working on hybrid governance in the Sahel. The internship lasts six months: the first position from 15 January 2024 – 1 July 2024; the second from 01 February 2024 – 31 July 2024.

The intern would provide research assistance for projects on local governance structures in Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso (as well as spillover to West Africa) as part of a broader political economy analysis of the Sahel region. Specifically, s/he will:

• Conduct literature reviews;
• Conduct data collection and qualitative content analysis of different social media platforms, such as Twitter, Youtube, Facebook and relevant media outlets;
• Contribute to writing background material, drafts, and web content.
• Provide assistance for the organization of (closed) events as part of research projects and for the dissemination of research findings.

Qualifications and experience

We would be interested if the following requirements are met:

• BA degree relevant for this internship and current enrolment for MA degree (e.g. African studies, political science/IR, conflict studies);
• Fluent or mother tongue in English and French;
• Affinity with politics and conflict dynamics in Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso and/or West Africa
• Excellence in research and research methods, good writing skills.
• Service minded, social skills, capable of reaching deadlines.
• Capable of working independently on the basis of instructions, team player.
• Network-oriented, feeling at home in international environment.

Technical requirements:

• Enrollment in an MA program at the point of starting the internship
• EER/Switzerland nationality OR holder of a Dutch study visa

Clingendael offers:

• The opportunity to gain practical, policy-oriented research experience in one of Europe’s top ranking think tanks, in close cooperation with our researchers and stakeholders as policy makers, academics and (international) organizations. Ability to build up a network in the field.
• A stipend of € 550,- gross per month (in case of 36 hours per week).

Interested?

You can apply via the ‘Apply-now button at the top of this vacancy. The deadline for response is Sunday 12 November 2023.