Research Intern

Terms of Reference
Civil Society Knowledge Centre Intern (Research Intern)

About Lebanon Support

Lebanon Support is an independent non-governmental, non-religious, non-political, and non-profit making information and research center. Established in 2006, Lebanon Support was registered as a National Non-Governmental Organisation in November 2008 (registered under the number 168/2009 AD). Lebanon Support aims at enhancing civil society capacity, efficiency and effectiveness through the creation of public spaces for reflection, collaboration and debate on and for civil society in Lebanon.

Lebanon Support adopts a multidisciplinary approach and evidence and fact based methodologies in civil society work in Lebanon so as to support and develop a civic voice and a better impact towards better accountability and societal change in Lebanon.

Within this framework Lebanon Support focuses on information and knowledge sharing and management, production and delivery; as it is within Lebanon Support’s beliefs, that information and knowledge are at the heart of developing adequate strategies and interventions to reduce existing vulnerabilities and marginalisation in the country.

Background

Lebanon Support is currently implementing three main programmes: Daleel Madani, launched in 2006, an online collaborative platform for civil society news and services; and the Civil Society Knowledge Centre, launched in 2013,  is the first and most developed online platform for research and knowledge management for civil society organisations, professionals, academics, and activists in Lebanon. Finally Lebanon Support has launched in 2016 the Civil Society Incubator, a programme designed to foster the creation, development, and growth of local civil society and public action initiatives, organisations, or projects.

About the Civil Society Knowledge Centre: (http://civilsociety-centre.org/)

Launched in 2013, with the support of the Norwegian Royal Embassy, the CSKC is the first and most developed online research and information platform for civil society organisations, professionals, academics, and activists in Lebanon. Composed of thematic projects combining qualitative and quantitative approaches, the CSKC constitutes a seminal and innovative knowledge base and publishing platform for original research and analysis on civil society work and issues and serves for civil society cooperation and collaboration. Currently, the programme has the following thematic projects: gender equity network, conflict analysis, history of conflict, and migration, mobility, and circulation. The CSKC makes available original research and analysis (papers, reports, etc.), interactive mappings, info-graphic visuals, and aggregated thematic libraries, among others.

Eligibility

We welcome applications from fresh graduates or those in the process of completing their masters degree.

This Internship period ranges from 3 to 6 months. The intern will be expected to work for a minimum of 3 and a half to 5 days a week.

Candidates should be knowledgeable about Lebanon Support’s scope of work and mandate and should have working capacity in Arabic (native) and English.

Main Tasks

• Under the supervision of the Project Manager, intern will be expected to:
• Assist in desk research, literature reviews, and archival research as needed;
• Produce preliminary literature reviews, and short reports that critically analyse and synthesise primary and secondary sources;  
• Assist in designing and administering qualitative research including interviews and focus groups, in Arabic or English;
• Assist in data organization, including data entry and coding, transcription, translation (from Arabic to English and vice versa);    
• Assist in the organization and management of meetings, workshops, seminars, lectures, roundtables, and conferences;
• Assist in data-analysis and research development as needed;  
• Identify experts, academics, and scholars relevant to the CSKC projects;
• Organise and regularly update the CSKC online library and resources;
• Assist in promoting the CSKC knowledge products and resources by developing social media posts
• Follow up on project deliverables;
• Provide administrative support for relevant projects on daily basis, maintain a filing system for all projects related documentations.

Benefits

Internships are learning opportunities for young professionals. They not only allow you to get used to a professional setting but also arm you with skills to be a competitive candidate for future employment opportunities.

Through this internship, you will:

1. Get hands-on experience in research design  
2. Access direct mentorship in conducting research relevant to Lebanon and the Middle East at large
3. Become familiar with the scholarship produced on Lebanon, as well as other contexts
4. Learn how to balance research work and administrative tasks
5. Learn how to best market knowledge products
6. Gain experience in working the nonprofit sector
7. Become familiar with social, political, cultural, and legal issues in Lebanon

Upon availability of funds, interns may receive a per diem for their working days. Interns will also receive a letter of internship detailing their tasks and performance during their work at Lebanon Support.

Requirements:

• B.A. in Social Sciences, particularly sociology, political science, anthropology, social policy, gender studies, and Middle East studies;
• Fluency in English and Arabic
• Prior research experience is a plus
• Experience with non-profit organisations is a plus