Programs Fellowship

About Concern Worldwide

Concern Worldwide is an international humanitarian organization committed to the relief, assistance and advancement of the poorest people in the least developed countries of the world. Founded in Ireland in 1968, Concern Worldwide has over 4,700 personnel working in 25 countries across the globe. Concern believes in a world where no one lives in fear; where all have access to a decent standard of living and the opportunities essential to a long, healthy and creative life. Our mission is to help people living in absolute poverty achieve major improvements in their lives, improvements that are sustainable without ongoing support from Concern.

We believe in creating a culture of inclusion where everyone feels empowered to bring their full, authentic selves to the workplace. Building a diverse and inclusive team is an absolute necessity to deliver the solutions needed to achieve our core mission, because without promoting justice and equality, we cannot eliminate extreme poverty.

Concern Worldwide US (CUS) is an independent affiliate of Concern Worldwide, with offices in New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles. CUS advances the Concern Worldwide mission through mobilizing financial and human resources, as well as influencing and activating networks in the US to elevate programs globally.

Concern Worldwide US is seeking highly motivated individuals to join its 2024 Summer Fellowship Program. Concern’s fellowship program is an excellent opportunity for individuals to work alongside dedicated, experienced staff to learn about Concern’s mission and vision and the many mechanisms that come together to create an effective humanitarian organization.

About the Fellowship

As a Concern Worldwide US fellow, you will have the opportunity to learn about and gain exposure to the breadth of Concern’s portfolio of work which includes international humanitarian and development programming, grants management, communications and marketing and IT. Through your day-to-day assignments, as well as experiential learning opportunities such as brown bag presentations, your fellowship experience will provide you with an opportunity to work on engaging, high impact projects for a large international NGO.

About the Programs Fellowship:

The Programs Department at Concern Worldwide US is a dynamic and diverse group of professionals working to support Concern’s mission of improving the lives of those living in extreme poverty. The team works to support Concern’s work around the world through high quality training, proposal development, programmatic support, and fundraising. The Programs Department is composed of 4 units: Advocacy, Business Development, Grants Management, and Humanitarian Research and Training. The 2024 Programs Fellow will be working jointly with the Advocacy and Humanitarian Research and Training units and will have the opportunity to connect with and learn from the full Programs team.

Concern Worldwide has long been invested in bolstering the capacity and agency of local and national actors within the humanitarian system through training, research, and partnership. In the past few years, Concern has redoubled this effort through the Beyond Barriers project, which seek to find feasible, operational solutions to shift localization from rhetoric to action. 

The Beyond Barriers research study on advancing localization has come to an end, and the team is now in the process of writing reports and developing tools for stakeholders throughout the humanitarian sector to use. With the writing and data analyzed, it is critical to package the learning for maximum benefit and uptake. The Programs Fellow will be tasked with translating this learning into more digestible infographics, social media posts, and summary documents. In working with the Advocacy unit, they will learn the spaces in which this kind of information can be shared, and the practical steps related to advocating for change at the international level.

The Programs Department is dedicated to creating a supportive environment for the 2024 Fellow that is mutually beneficial, collaborative, and grounded in purpose. The Fellow will be co-managed by a member of the Humanitarian Research and Training unit and a member of the Advocacy unit, with mentorship from across the Programs Department. 

Responsibilities:

• Production of concise learning materials related to the findings of the Beyond Barriers research study on the localization of humanitarian aid (including, but not limited to infographics, report summaries, social media posts, etc.)
• Writing a short blog on a topic of their choice for Concern Worldwide.
• Attending Advocacy meetings and events as needed.
• Contribution to regular program activities such as meetings, teach-ins, book clubs, strategic brainstorming sessions.
• Assistance with the implementation of programmatic activities in the Humanitarian Research and Training Unit, as needed.

Requirements: 

• Currently enrolled as an undergraduate student.
• Demonstrated interest in international humanitarian aid, development, or advocacy as evidenced by coursework, previous work/internships, or lived experience.
• A highly motivated self-starter with the ability to navigate remote management and work with minimal supervision.
• Flexibility to meeting changing deadlines and priorities and ability to manage multiple tasks.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills.
• Commitment to the core values and vision of Concern Worldwide.
• Candidates must be currently authorized to work in the US.

Structure and Compensation: 

The fellowship will begin Tuesday, June 11, 2024, and conclude Friday, August 16, 2024. 

Fellows are expected to be in the office every Tuesday & Wednesday during the course of the fellowship. Fellows are expected to work a minimum of 16 hours per week. The program will run for a period of 10 weeks.

The fellowship program is compensated through a $3000 stipend to be paid semi- monthly.