Language: English
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.
The DOI registration ID for this publication is: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.12529894
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.
The DOI registration ID for this publication is: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.12529664
This documents outlines recommendations for providing principled international support to Syria and guaranteeing no harm is done in Syria’s rehabilitation and future recovery. Within the current political context and in the wake of the recent earthquake, it is vital 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.
The DOI registration ID for this publication is: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.12529856
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 (9 September 2024 to 9 March 2025)
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 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 Global Internship” in the subject line. The application period will be open until 15 June 2024; 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.
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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.
The DOI registration ID for this publication is: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10468818
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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.
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:
- Pregrado en Derecho.
- Estudiantes de último semestre de pregrado podrán ser tenidos en cuenta, siempre y cuando
tengan una carga académica de máximo de 2 clases o que se encuentren en proceso de tesis
y/o consultorio jurídico.
- Interés por la realidad nacional y conocimiento del contexto del proceso de paz y sus debates
relacionados.
- Interés por la justicia transicional, derechos de las víctimas, derecho internacional, derecho
penal internacional, derechos humanos y DIH.
- Habilidades para la investigación. La actitud recursiva será valorada positivamente.
- Habilidades de comprensión de lectura, capacidad de análisis y síntesis.
- Actitud flexible, proactiva, creativa y versátil.
- Excelente redacción en español y excelente nivel de inglés oral y escrito.
- Capacidad e interés de análisis de noticias y de manejo de redes sociales.
- Manejo de Word, Excel, Powerpoint y Zoom. El manejo de Canva será valorado
positivamente.
Áreas de interés:
- Justicia transicional.
- El Acuerdo Final para la construcción de la paz estable y duradera.
- El Acuerdo Final para la construcción de la paz estable y duradera.
- Derechos de las víctimas.
- Derechos humanos.
- Derecho constitucional y penal colombiano.
- Derecho internacional.
- Derecho Internacional Humanitario.
- Derecho Penal Internacional.
- Negociaciones.
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.
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In situations of entrenched conflict, a common tendency is to seek comprehensive rather than limited deals. This practice is often reinforced by the uncritical adoption of the rule that “nothing is agreed until everything is agreed”.
Yet, the default to comprehensive and all-encompassing goals can be counterproductive since local, regional and global conditions seldom will be propitious to achieving them. An approach of multiple ‘partial agreements’ to ‘shrink the conflict’, instead of seeking its comprehensive end, may sometimes be the wiser choice.
Against this backdrop, this IFIT publication examines 1) the relevance and potential advantages of partial agreements in situations of armed or political conflict; 2) associated risks and dilemmas – and the means of addressing them; and 3) the range of issues that might be suitable for partial agreements.
The DOI registration ID for this publication is: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10425177
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Internship Vacancy – IFIT Global Internship (Arabic-speaking)
IFIT is currently seeking one full-time Arabic-speaking intern for our Barcelona internship programme beginning on 9 September 2024. The selected intern’s responsibilities will include: research related to IFIT’s various thematic and geographic lines of work; support to IFIT’s projects in the MENA region; assistance with events and fundraising; and other tasks based on the needs of the organisation.
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 Arabic-speaking intern for our Barcelona/HQ internship programme beginning on 9 September 2024. The selected intern’s responsibilities will include: research related to IFIT’s various thematic and geographic lines of work; support to IFIT’s projects in the MENA region; 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 (9 September 2024 to 9 March 2025)
Location:
• Barcelona
Qualifications:
• University degree(s) in international relations, international law, development studies, peace, and security, or a similar subject
• Demonstrated interest and experience in one of the areas of IFIT’s work
• Research skills
• Mother tongue fluency in Arabic and strong command of spoken and written English
• 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 from 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 Global Internship (Arabic-speaking role)” in the subject line. The application period will end 15 June 2024; however, applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, so applicants are strongly encouraged to apply early. Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.
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Since the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021, the international community has been struggling with the dilemma of how to support the Afghan people without legitimising the unelected regime. Based primarily on the views of local leaders and experts, this IFIT working paper draws on lessons learnt from other contexts and proposes tailored ideas for an alternative aid delivery framework for Afghanistan. It suggests that the shifting boundaries between humanitarian aid, ‘humanitarian plus’ aid, early recovery assistance and development aid may need to be revisited, so that donors can find a way to support local populations without rewarding illegitimate regimes.
The DOI registration ID for this publication is: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.12529047
On 16-17 November 2022, the Benue Working Group of IFIT’s Middle Belt Brain Trust (MBBT) conducted a two-day convening of ‘first and second class’ traditional rulers from Benue State. The aim of the convening was to validate the main findings of the MBBT’s comprehensive research report, Ending Violence in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, and to secure the traditional rulers’ feedback on a proposed grievance management system reform plan.
“As custodians of the customs and culture of the people, we agree with the key findings from the report as the main drivers of conflicts in our communities,” the rulers concluded before listing land administration, youth and rural development, and chiefdoms/traditional administrations as issues of priority in their communities. They also stressed the importance of focusing on cross-border and interrelated conflicts with Nasarawa and Taraba State, explaining that polarisation between communities is increasing in Benue due to divisive narratives and songs pushed forwards by politicians to serve their agendas.
The traditional rulers also agreed on the immediate need for capacity-building in alternative dispute resolution. In addition, they advocated for a constitutionalised role for traditional rulers in community grievance management processes.
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