Language: English

Working with trusted Syrian intermediaries can bridge the divide between donors and local communities and facilitate more efficient, sustainable support. In the absence of confidence in established authorities, appropriate Syrian intermediaries could assume coordination of projects, thereby reducing costs and resolving problems of aid diversion.

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A local, incremental approach to international support to Syria will facilitate the provision of fair and non-discriminatory access to aid for all Syrians. Working locally with smaller organisations reduces the risk of corruption and bypasses compromised channels of aid delivery.

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This publication showcases experiences of working with uncompromised channels inside Syria to deliver international assistance. Emphasising the need for innovation, legitimate payment mechanisms, and independent monitoring, it offers reflections on how these examples can be replicated and scaled up, these in order to help improve the lives of all Syrians.

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This infographic presents the SRG’s framework for principled international support to Syria and summarises how it can be operationalised.

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This document outlines the recommendations from the Towards More Principled International Support convening conducted by the IFIT Syria Resource Group and its 12 Syrian civil society partners. The event called for the international community to rethink its approach to providing support to Syria, to ensure an effective and sustainable response that meets the minimum needs of the Syrian people and facilitates local communities to lead their own recovery.

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This booklet highlights the progress made by local authorities in Libya to improve governance in their administrations. It also summarises the obstacles to empowering and strengthening local governance; presents ten best practices drawn from municipalities and localities that have achieved outstanding success on the ground; and outlines what other local administrations can share with their peers across the country.

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Internship Vacancy – IFIT Global

IFIT is currently seeking one full-time global intern for our Barcelona internship programme.

Headquartered in Barcelona, the Institute for Integrated Transitions (IFIT) is
a non-governmental organisation dedicated to helping fragile and conflict-
affected states achieve more sustainable negotiations and transitions out of
war or authoritarianism. IFIT’s core work is to serve as an expert resource
on integrated policy solutions for locally-led efforts to break cycles of
conflict or repression.

IFIT is currently seeking one full-time global intern for our Barcelona
internship programme. The selected intern’s responsibilities will include
research and support activities related to IFIT’s thematic and geographic
lines of work; assistance with events and fundraising; and other tasks
based on the needs of the organisation.

Although the internship is unpaid, IFIT offers: 1) reimbursement of travel to
or from Barcelona for the purposes of the internship (up to a maximum of
500€), and 2) partial offset of specific living costs incurred by undertaking
the internship in Barcelona (up to a maximum of 900€ per month).

Duration: 6 months (4 September 2023 to 29 February 2024)

Location: Barcelona

Qualifications:

• University degree(s) in political science, international relations, law, development studies, journalism, or a similar subject

• Demonstrated interest and experience in one or more areas of IFIT’s work

• Excellent research skills

• Strong command of spoken and written English; other languages are an asset (particularly Russian, Arabic or Spanish)

• Very good drafting and editing skills

• Detail-oriented, organised and reliable

IFIT is committed to building a racially diverse and culturally inclusive workplace and strongly encourages applications by candidates from underrepresented groups.

How to apply

Please send your CV and a one-paragraph expression of interest to Blanca Manresa ([email protected]), stating “IFIT Internship” in the subject line. The application period will be open until 5 June 2023; however, applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, thus applicants are strongly encouraged to apply early. Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

Written by IFIT Founder and Executive Director Mark Freeman, this publication draws on wide-ranging research, consultations and convenings conducted in the context of IFIT’s and the Ford Foundation’s Global Initiative on Polarization.

The first part of the publication focuses at the level of ideas, examining persistent ambiguities in our understanding of polarisation and offering a ‘hallmarks’ definition that might facilitate a more shared baseline among academics and practitioners alike. The second part draws on a global survey of de-polarisation practice, and on IFIT’s own fieldwork, to formulate an indicative solutions spectrum. The third part briefly explores the impact of the absence of any organised global network of scholars and practitioners working collaboratively on polarisation, and reflects on what it might mean for a ‘field’ of polarisation to emerge.

While there are worse evils in the world, polarisation is a problem ignored at one’s own peril. One might call it a ‘hyper-problem’: the special category of problem that makes the solution to every other problem harder. Inconspicuously and incrementally, polarisation can come to threaten everything – from the ideal of a tolerant society, to the practice of ordinary politics, to the prospects for peaceful coexistence and basic liberties. Achieving greater consensus on what polarisation is (and is not) is a critical step in avoiding this fate. 

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Internship Vacancy – IFIT LatAm

IFIT está buscando un pasante para nuestro programa de pasantías en la oficina de Bogotá para el equipo de Justicia Transicional.

Colombia

El Instituto para las Transiciones Integrales (IFIT), por sus siglas en inglés, es una organización
internacional no gubernamental que brinda asesoría técnica, imparcial, creativa e independiente a tomadores de decisiones en contextos de negociaciones y/o transiciones. El trabajo principal de IFIT es servir como un recurso experto que brinda soluciones para tomadores de decisión y para los distintos esfuerzos locales que pretenden romper los ciclos de conflicto o represión.

IFIT está buscando un pasante para nuestro programa de pasantías en la oficina de Bogotá para el equipo de Justicia Transicional. Las tareas específicas serán definidas por la Directora de proyectos para América Latina y el/la supervisor/a de la pasantía. Sin embargo, las responsabilidades del pasante serían: i) Apoyar al equipo con tareas de investigación y síntesis;. ii) Apoyar al equipo con los diferentes requerimientos sustantivos, logísticos y administrativos;. iii) Acompañar las reuniones que se requieran, tomando notas y elaborando relatorías; y, iv) Demás tareas relacionadas con los presentes términos de referencia y que sean requeridas por IFIT.

Así la pasantía no sea remunerada, IFIT ofrece un auxilio de conectividad, energía y transporte
mensual para cubrir costos de electricidad, internet, y desplazamiento a reuniones de trabajo del equipo, o asistencia a eventos relacionados (COP 600,000 mensuales).

Duración: 3 meses con posibilidad de prórroga de 3 meses más (inicia el 17 de abril de 2023). Con una intensidad de tiempo completo.

Lugar de trabajo: Semipresencial desde la oficina de IFIT en Bogotá, Colombia.

Perfil: Se busca que el/la pasante cumpla con todos o algunos de los siguientes requerimientos:

Áreas de interés:

IFIT está comprometido en la construcción de un lugar de trabajo diverso e inclusivo, así que anima a aspirantes provenientes de todo tipo de contextos geográficos, ideológicos, raciales o culturales, a participar en esta convocatoria y, si es del caso, plantear cualquier dificultad que tengan para participar. De ser escogida la persona, IFIT buscará contribuir hasta donde le sea posible a la superación de esas dificultades, en caso de que existan.

¿Cómo aplicar? Por favor envíe su hoja de vida a Laura Acevedo ([email protected]), indicando “Pasantía justicia transicional América Latina IFIT” en el asunto. El plazo para enviarla será hasta el 31 de marzo de 2023; sin embargo, las solicitudes se revisarán de manera contínua, por lo que se recomienda a los solicitantes que presenten su solicitud con anticipación. Sólo se contactará a los candidatos seleccionados para una entrevista.

Internship Vacancy – IFIT LatAm

IFIT está buscando un pasante para nuestro programa de pasantías en la oficina de Bogotá para el equipo de Justicia Transicional.

Colombia

About IFIT

Headquartered in Barcelona, the Institute for Integrated Transitions (IFIT) is a non-governmental organisation dedicated to helping fragile and conflict-affected states achieve more sustainable negotiations and transitions out of war or authoritarianism. IFIT’s core work is to serve as an expert resource on integrated policy solutions for locally-led efforts to break cycles of conflict or repression.

Role: Reporting to the Communications Manager and working under the overall supervision of the Head of Office, the position is focused on supporting the organisation’s communications, outreach and visibility tasks and thus contributing to the effective external positioning of IFIT.

Work schedule: Part-time (20 hours a week) from Monday to Friday

Starting date: Immediately

Duration: Indefinite

Probatory Period: 2 months

Location: Barcelona, minimum 50% office presence required

Responsibilities include:

Required qualifications:

IFIT is committed to building a racially diverse and culturally inclusive workplace and strongly encourages applications from candidates from underrepresented groups.

Prerequisites: Valid work permit/status for purposes of employment in Spain.

How to apply: Please send your CV and a cover letter explaining your motivation and interest to Eleanor Weber-Ballard ([email protected]), stating “IFIT Communication Assistant” in the subject line. The application period will end on 3 April 2023; however, applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and therefore applicants are strongly encouraged to apply early. Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.