We are no longer accepting applications at this time, but we will begin accepting applications for Summer 2013 internships in early March. Please direct any questions about future opportunities to Todd Ruffner at todd.ruffner@pomed.org, or call him at (202) 828-9660 ext. 24.

The Project on Middle East Democracy (POMED) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to examining how genuine democracies can develop in the Middle East and how the U.S. can best support that process.  Through dialogue, research, civil society partnerships, and advocacy, we aim to strengthen the constituency for U.S. policies that peacefully support democratic reform in the Middle East.

• Policy Interns
• Research Interns
• Egypt Programs Intern
• Communications Intern
• Civil Society Partnerships Intern

Policy Interns

This internship offers a unique opportunity to take part in the Washington policy conversation surrounding the Middle East and inform the debate around particular issues related to political reform. As a Policy Intern you will play a crucial role in supporting our work by covering news and debates around U.S. policy and the Middle East on the POMED blog, assisting with legislative and congressional research, and compiling and editing our weekly publications. Policy Interns also have the opportunity to engage in long-term projects, report on Congressional hearings and policy events, and track legislation and Congressional votes.

Qualifications:

Successful applicants will be enthusiastic, highly motivated individuals with strong academic backgrounds and an interest in U.S. foreign policy as it relates to prospects for democratic reform in the Middle East. Regional language skills are a plus (Arabic, Persian, French, Turkish) but not required. Candidates should also be committed to POMED’s mission and principles (www.pomed.org). Although this position is unpaid, POMED will support the candidate in receiving academic credit for their work. The internships will last approximately five months, from early January through the end of May 2013.

To apply, please send a cover letter, resume, and one short writing sample (no more than three pages) to policy.internship@pomed.org. Please submit your applications materials by Friday, November 2 for consideration.

Research Interns 

Egypt Programs Intern

The position provides a unique opportunity to impact debates on U.S. policy towards Egypt, as well as build skills and interact with leading thinkers.

The Egypt Programs Intern is responsible for producing POMED’s Egypt Daily Update, an email roundup of news stories on democracy and human rights in Egypt that is sent to policymakers, academics, journalists, activists, and others. This involves surveying English and Arabic news, choosing stories and consolidating similar topics, writing summaries, translating quotes and headlines, and proofreading. A strong proficiency in Arabic is required, as well as the ability to quickly extract and synthesize information.

In addition, he/she may also be called upon to provide research for POMED reports, perform translations, give input on Egyptian politics or media, attend relevant events and writing summary notes, or help arrange round tables and panels.

Qualifications:

This position is ideally suited to outstanding students focused on the Middle East and/or governance and democratization and interested in gaining practical experience in informing policymakers.

The POMED Egypt Programs Intern is chosen each term through a highly competitive application process. Candidates should be deeply motivated individuals with a strong working knowledge of the policy debates surrounding U.S. impact on political reform in Egypt and the broader Middle East. They should possess outstanding communication and organizational skills, be detail-oriented and be able to multi-task. Strong research skills and proficiency in Modern Standard Arabic are required.

Candidates should be able to work from early January through the end of May 2013 on at least a part-time basis (20 hours per week). Although this position is unpaid, POMED will support the candidate in receiving academic credit for their work. To apply, please send a cover letter, resume, and one short writing sample (no more than three pages) to egypt.internship@pomed.org. Please submit your applications materials by Friday, November 2 for consideration.

Communications Intern

POMED is currently seeking a Communications Intern to assist POMED’s efforts to enhance public outreach, streamline its communications tools, and encourage greater use of POMED’s reports, expertise, and resources by media.

The Communications Intern will be expected to:

• Assist the Communications Director in managing POMED’s media relations efforts and strategy to respond and lead on evolving stories on the Middle East and US policy.
• Aggregate and analyze data on various communications initiatives and work with staff to construct long-term strategies.
• Work with the communications and policy teams to maximize the POMED’s reach online — including website traffic, blog coverage, social network reach, etc.
• Help explore opportunities to streamline POMED’s website and integrate additional features; assist with management of the POMED website to ensure that all materials are updated in a timely manner and with high quality.
• Coordinate with the Communications Director and staff in all outreach to various target audiences in order to increase the visibility and impact of POMED’s research, advocacy, and dialogue work.
• Assist in the production and distribution of POMED publications and in drawing media and public attention to POMED reports, policy briefs, analysis, and advocacy initiatives.
• Support the Communications Director in the preparation, execution and especially the promotion of POMED’s public discussion events, dialogue conferences, and other public activities.

Qualifications:

Successful applicants will be bright, highly motivated and very well-organized individuals. They should possess outstanding communication and organizational skills, be detail-oriented and able to multi-task.  Candidates should be at ease with technology, skilled at data collection and analysis, and proficient with Microsoft Excel. Experience with Google Analytics or the willingness to learn is essential. Applicants should have excellent writing and editing skills and a demonstrated ability to take initiative and work independently as well as part of a team.

Candidates should have an academic background and an interest in U.S. foreign policy and the prospects for democracy in the Middle East and North Africa. Candidates should be committed to POMED’s mission and principles (http://pomed.org). Hands-on press and policy experience is a plus.

The internship, with an option for part-time, will last from early January through the end of May 2013. To apply, please send a cover letter and resume to communications.internship@pomed.org. Although this position is unpaid, POMED will support the candidate in receiving academic credit for their work. We will begin reviewing application materials on Friday, November 2.

Civil Society Partnerships Intern

The position provides a unique opportunity for the candidate to impact POMED’s fourth and newest program area – its regional Civil Society Partnerships Program – and this program’s innovative work to build the capacity of policy-oriented NGOs in the Middle East.

POMED’s growing Partnerships Program includes several projects with policy-oriented organizations in Egypt, Tunisia and Libya. Although each project takes a different form (based on the characteristics of each partner organization), the overarching objective of all projects is to help build the capacity of policy-oriented organizations in the region to serve as think tanks and effective advocacy groups. More specifically, POMED supports its partners in the production of policy analysis and providing concrete recommendations to their national governments and policymakers (mirroring the hybrid think tank and advocacy role that POMED plays in Washington).

The Partnerships Intern will provide feedback on and assist in the editing and production of publications (including weekly updates, monthly policy briefs, and annual reports) produced by regional NGOs with POMED’s support and guidance. He/she will help provide substantive feedback on these draft Arabic publications, and could play a role in editing and improving the quality of their English translations. The Partnerships Intern will also perform short-term research projects to provide background information on the various issues that are focused on in these publications, and will play a role in connecting both POMED’s formal and informal partners in the region with resources found in the Washington policy community. Finally, the Partnerships Intern may support POMED staff in monitoring and reporting on the progress of all partnerships projects, and in assessing their impact.

Qualifications:

Successful applicants will be bright, highly motivated individuals with strong academic backgrounds and research skills, a strong interest in democratic reform in the Middle East, and a passion for helping the growth and development of regional NGOs. Advanced Arabic proficiency is essential for this position. Experience working with a civil society organization in the Middle East and/or with a domestic think tank is also a plus. Candidates should be committed to POMED’s mission and principles (www.pomed.org). The internships will last approximately five months, from early January through the end of May 2013.

Candidates should be able to work from early January through the end of May 2013 on at least a part-time basis (20 hours per week). Although this position is unpaid, POMED will support the candidate in receiving academic credit for their work. To apply, please send a cover letter, resume, and one short writing sample (no more than three pages) to partnerships.internship@pomed.org. Please submit your applications materials by Friday, November 2 for consideration.