Background

The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance – International IDEA – is an intergovernmental organization that supports sustainable democracy worldwide. Its objective is to strengthen democratic institutions and processes. International IDEA acts as a catalyst for democracy building by providing knowledge resources, policy proposals and supporting democratic reforms in response to specific national requests. It works together with policymakers, governments, UN organizations and agencies and regional organizations engaged in the field of democracy building.

International IDEA develops comparative knowledge, assist in democratic reform, and influence policies and politics, focusing in three main impact areas: electoral processes, constitution-building, political participation and representation. It also addresses issues of gender, diversity, and conflict and security.

Background on the Global Democracy Coalition

The Global Democracy Coalition (GDC) is a multi-stakeholder alliance of democracy organizations from around the world committed to advance and protect democracy worldwide and to influence the Summits for Democracy and the Year of Action.

The GDC was initially formed in October of 2021, and convened by International IDEA and other democracy assistance organizations from around the world. The intention was to create an informal group of organizations committed to the advancement of democracy, working together to engage constructively with the Summit for Democracy, hosted by United States in December 2021. Together, partner organizations decided to hold a Forum ahead of the first Summit for Democracy.

What began as an informal group working together to produce a single GDC Forum has evolved into a strategic multi-stakeholder alliance of more than 116 democracy organizations from around the world committed to advance and protect democracy worldwide and to influence the Summits for Democracy and beyond.

The GDC now provides a platform for dialogue, collaboration, knowledge exchange and experience-sharing, and advocacy on democracy around the Summits for Democracy and beyond. Working collectively on strategic issues relevant to the global democracy agenda has contributed to making individual organizational voices stronger and more likely to be heard.

Internship Activities

The intern will work closely with the Global Democracy Coalition team and contribute to the following activities:

1. Analysis and Reporting:
• Analyze contributions from Coalition partners and help compile positive outcome stories for ongoing campaigns.
• Take notes and prepare detailed reports from Coalition meetings, events, and working groups.
2. Event Coordination:
• Assist in organizing events, webinars, or meetings, such as coordinating logistics for the Global Democracy Coalition Forum 2025.
• Coordinate with partners and assist with pre-event and post-event tasks.
3. Data and Database Management:
• Maintain and update databases of Coalition members, partners, and events.
• Track communications and engagement with Coalition partners, ensuring timely follow-ups.
4. Donor Reporting and Grant Management:
• Assist with tasks related to donor reporting and grant management, such as tracking deliverables, timelines, and contributions from partners.

Expected outcome/learning opportunities

The intern is expected to benefit from the position by gaining insights, experience and knowledge on:

• Working processes of an intergovernmental organization;
• Deep understanding of the democracy resources available, which will in turn lead to the analysis of the recent democracy landscape trends;
• Understanding of the democracy organizations that are part of the Global Democracy Coalition, their areas of expertise and their primary activities.

The objective of the internship is to provide a learning opportunity for an interested and talented student within a relevant study area. The intern is expected to act as part of the team, learning from all team members in their different capacities.

The intern will also benefit from weekly mentoring meetings with the North America Team on a rotating basis in order to ensure guidance and progress are achieved throughout this experience.

Management and Organization

The intern will work under the guidance of the Project Coordinator and any other person designated by the Head of the North America programme.

International IDEA will not purchase equipment for this assignment.

Required Competences, Skills, and Experience

The intern should have the following skills and experience:

• An academic background in social science, political science, with proven experience of democracy-related work and analysis.

• Language skills: Fluent written and oral English required.

• Ability to meet deadlines.

• Ability to work independently or under minimum supervision.

• Ability to incorporate gender and diversity-related elements as well as a conflict-sensitive lens, as appropriate.

Terms of internship

All internships at International IDEA are unpaid. Insurance coverage in respect of travel, health, medical costs, disability, accident, and death is not provided by International IDEA. It would be your responsibility to make your own insurance arrangements to ensure such coverage and obtain all necessarily permits and/or visas and any other necessary travel-related documentation.