Internships at the Academy

Interns are unpaid volunteers from Somaliland or abroad, supporting our work for a limited period of time. Internships provide students and young professionals with opportunities to learn and gain practical experience while broadly contributing to the Academy's activities at the same time.

The specific duties of interns are defined in mutual agreement, taking into account the workload, priorities of APD, learning opportunities (variety of new challenges), and added value -- since interns shall by and large not be used to substitute tasks of permanent staff. While we are open to other suggestions, internships may include:

• Research within the existing entry points or the overall mandate of the Academy. Research topics will be defined jointly, seeking to accomodate the intern's area of interest as well as APD's needs. This may include small surveys, literature reviews, internet searches, interviews, etc. Where applicable, interns may also compile background papers, briefing notes, etc.
• Support to the production of APD documentary films (concepts, production of footage, voice-over, etc.)
• Development and maintaining of electronic databases
• Maintaining and expanding the APD library, particularly its catalogue and new acquisitions
  
• Further development of the Academy's media archive
  
• Translations/interpretation work
• Development of concept notes for new initiatives
  
• Contributions to the Academy's website
  
• Preparation of public events (forums, workshops)
  
• Where feasible and appropriate, participation in field trips
  
• Providing internal training / tutoring to the staff
  

APD accepts interns for periods of three months, which may be extended to a maximum of six months following review and approval by the Academy's Team. The organization hosts a maximum of two interns at the same time so that proper supervision of the internship by an entry point or department leader can be ensured. Ideally, APD will host one international and one Somali intern in parallel at all times.

As a general rule, internships at the Academy are full-time, i.e. following APD's working hours from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday till Thursday. Part-time internships may be agreed but should be inquired before application.

In order to meet mutual expectations, and in the face of the Academy's limited capacity to host interns, the team has established a formal application procedure. Applicants are advised to inquire the availability of internship positions from APD before sending their full application. In its response, APD will also provide the e-mail address to which the application should be directed.

Requirements:

• International applicants must have a supporting institution (university, NGO, academic exchange organisation etc.) that provides the framework for the internship. Alternatively, Friends of the Academy, such as earlier visiting fellows and scholars, may back an intern's application.
• Applicants from Somaliland are must have graduated from secondary school or possess further education.
• In exceptional cases, interns who do not meet these requirements may be accepted when they come with their own projects.

Selection Criteria:

• The Academy is particularly interested in interns who demonstrate initiative and support to the organization's programmes and objectives.
• APD strongly encourages applications from female candidates.
• Preference will be given to applicants that relate to institutions or Friends of the Academy with whom we entertain a well-established cooperation.
• Good English language skills, including ability to edit research reports and other materials, are expected from international applicants. Somali language skills will be considered a strong plus.
• Somali applicants should be conversant in English.

Full Applications should include:

• A cover letter stating the applicant's interest in the Academy, her/his preferred activities during the internship, and the intern's desired outcomes of his/her stay with APD. The letter should also state how the intern expects to support her/himself during the internship and what specific period is envisaged for the internship (referring to the earlier inquiry, see above). International applicants are further requested to describe their earlier inter-cultural experience, such as previous travel or stays abroad, or work with diaspora communities.
  
• Curriculum Vitae in English.
  
• Copies of graduation certificates, diploma etc.
  
• References and/or recommendation letters, ideally from individuals/organizations known to the Academy. International applicants are required to submit a recommendation letter from their supporting organization (or, in exceptional cases, supporting Friends of the Academy).
  
• Where applicable, international applicants are requested to provide one or several samples of earlier academic writing, e.g. a term paper, thesis, article or other publications.

Please submit your application by e-mail to the address that we will provide in response to your initial inquiry. Please reduce the size of scanned attachments or send them in seperate (numbered) messages to the effect that no e-mail exceeds the size of 1 MB. Larger e-mail may not be accessible to APD or bounces back.

Somaliland-based applicants may submit their application to the office as a hard copy. In either case, please note that the selection committee will not consider incomplete applications. Following positive review by the selection committee, you will be contacted for an interview. Successful candidates will sign Terms of Reference with APD prior to commencement of the internship, detailing its period, contents and supervision, confidentiality statement and a commitment to the Academy's neutrality.

While internships with APD are unpaid and the Academy cannot provide material support, the organization will provide local transport within the scope of its means. International applicants will be further assisted in obtaining visa and identifying affordable accomodation.

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