Media Advocacy/Social Justice Internship

The Centre for Accountability and Rule of Law (CARL) seeks to promote a just society for all persons in Sierra Leone through monitoring institutions of accountability, outreach, and advocacy for institutional transparency, capacity building and empowerment of citizens. CARL has its origin in the Special Court Monitoring Group (SCMG), which was established in May 2004 as a partnership project of the International Centre for Transitional Justice (ICTJ) and the Coalition for Justice and Accountability (COJA) to exclusively monitor and produce objective reporting on proceedings before the Court for both the local and international community.

Interns are expected to have, at minimum, a sustained and reflected (via the CV and cover letter) interest in some or all of the following areas: human rights, social justice, media advocacy, and monitoring of the justice system. Interns should be working towards (or have completed) a Bachelors degree (or equivalent work experience) in a field related to Journalism, English, Law, Business, International Development, Non-Profit Management, Sociology, Human Rights, Government, Conflict Resolution, Media advocacy etc. Applicants pursuing a Masters degree in Journalism, Communications, Human Rights, International Law, are preferred with special preference given to those with experience in police work or police monitoring.

Since this position includes a significant amount of editing and writing, mastery of the English language is required, and each candidate is required to submit a brief writing sample for review.

The placements are based in Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone, where qualified individuals have the amazing opportunity to gain hands on experience while furthering their own education. We at ACIPP believe that learning should be holistic and have the utmost faith that each programme will foster growth, education, and compassion in our interns.

Basic Responsibilities:

1. Accompany staff in monitoring and recording proceedings of high profile court cases in the Sierra Leone special courts, high courts, and criminal courts. These court buildings are not always in the best condition, so interns should be duly prepared.

2. Work with the Director and accompanying staff to write and edit reports of court activities, to ensure that courts remain accountable to the general public and that justice has been upheld.

3. Edit and help write reports for use within CARL, and for publication within their newsletter, The Monitor.

3. Design effective media strategies, utilizing CARL's existing framework (newsletter, radio and tv outreach) as the basis for expansion. This includes developing targets based on increased website traffic, surveys of community/regional knowledge of CARL's activities and court cases, as well as overall listener base.

4. This position may include travel to the provinces (expenses to be covered by CARL) where the intern will be expected to attend court trials, hear community cases, and work with trained community monitors in cases related to domestic abuse and gender violence, child abuse, political violence, and anti-corruption cases. You will be expected to record these cases and if necessary, to bring transcriptions and accurate accounts to regional courts. Therefore, the highest standards of accountability and professionalism are required for this position.

5. Any other duty as assigned.

This is an opportunity to engage with the local community and business leaders, becoming more familiar with what it takes to lead a successful media campaign in a country with limited infrastructural development.

Any intern must be well versed in CARL's mission and goals and most importantly, be energetic and outgoing.

ACIPP- Sierra Leone interns live in the ACIPP Sierra Leone intern house. The house is fully furnished and has western style toilets and plumbing. Interns may be placed 2-3 to a room. Please let us know if you have any special accommodation or dietary concerns.

Time commitment: This internship has a minimum commitment of 8 weeks time and the internship can last up to 18 months. The intern will be reviewed and will also review CARL after every 3 months, and pending mutual agreement, will be able to increase the time of internship.

Academic Credit: Many universities have given academic credit for our internships, and we will work with you in obtaining credit if you would like.

Fees:

1) Programme Fee: All interns are housed at the ACIPP house, and are provided with meals (2x/day), accommodation, airport pick-up and drop-off, orientation and 24/7 emergency care support for a flat fee of $200 a week (the is the Programme Fee).

2) Confirmation Fee: This non-refundable $500 fee secures the placement. It also pays for the placement set-up (going to the host organization and explaining the intern's background, etc.), donation to host organization (for their time teaching and training you), airport pick-up (getting the intern from airport to the home, getting the staff member to and from Freetown, etc.).