ThaiNGO

Terms of Reference

Internship Officer

Pattani, Thailand

1. About ACTED

ACTED is a non-governmental organisation with headquarters in Paris, founded in 1993. Independent, private and not-for-profit, ACTED respects a strict political and religious impartiality and operates according to principles of non-discrimination and transparency.

ACTED’s vocation is to support vulnerable populations affected by wars, natural disasters and/or economic and social crises, and to accompany them in building a better future. The programs implemented by ACTED are in 35 countries in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Latin America and the Caribbean seek to cover the multiple aspects of humanitarian and development crises through a multidisciplinary approach which is both global and local, and adapted to each context.

2. Project Background

The project aims to promote inter-communal collaboration, mutual understanding and positive engagement between Pattani-Malay and Central-Thai communities, while concurrently improving economic opportunities for vulnerable youth groups within Pattani Province, Thailand.

These aims will be achieved by addressing key conflict drivers, such as the lack of trust in Government institutions; particularly the education system and the lack of economic opportunities for youth. These initiatives will in turn positively affect the ongoing legacy of prejudice between Pattani-Malay and Thai Buddhist communities.

Specifically, the project will coalesce Pattani-Malay and Central-Thai youth, to participate in culturally sensitive and collaborative vocational and small enterprise development training, which will be developed collaboratively with local stakeholders, such as CSOs, Government educational authorities (OVEC), local businesses and vocational training colleges.

Social cohesion between mixed youth groups and potential employers, will be enhanced through the implementation of a cross cultural internship scheme (i.e. Pattani-Malay youth interning at Central-Thai business, and vice versa). This will improve cultural and social awareness and ultimately the employability of VT graduates, who are then better able to secure sustainable livelihood opportunities within a multi-cultural environment and are therefore less inclined to support or participate in disruptive, divisive and violent activities.

3. Assignment and main responsibilities of Internship Officer

Following the completion of each VT cycle, VT students will be encouraged to follow an internship with local businesses to further refine their technical skills and gain invaluable on-the-job experience, improving their overall employability. The internship scheme aims to contribute to building positive links between ethnic/religious groups, pairing Pattani-Malay students with Central-Thai business owners, or Central-Thai students with Pattani-Malay business owners.

The Internship Officer will be in charge of facilitating the implementation of the internship scheme by: identifying suitable businesses that can provide internships placements and mentoring to VT students; delivering a 3-day training on ‘Single Identity Work’ and Child Safeguarding  to intern host and mentors to ensure both safe and non-exploitive work environments for participating students; pairing VT students with intern host and mentors; supervising the interns during their internship placements. A preliminary list of interested intern hosts have been identified by ACTED, however the Internship Officer will conduct outreach activities to identify additional potential intern hosts and mentors.

The Internship Officer will also be responsible for the welfare of interns during the internship period and for the management of their accommodation and transport to and from the place of internship/accommodation.

Specific responsibilities include:

• Conduct outreach activities and identify potential intern host and mentors from local businesses;
• Organize and/or facilitate a 3-day training on ‘Single Identity Work’ and Child Safeguarding to intern host and mentors to ensure both safe and non-exploitive work environments for participating students;
• Evaluate VT students applications and place students best reflecting selection criteria with intern hosts;
• Host orientation sessions for incoming intern participants;
• Support intern hosts and mentors in ensuring a safe and valuable on-the-job experience for VT students on a day-to-day basis;
• Regularly monitor and report student participation and attendance;
• Conduct pre-, during, and post-internship interviews (intern and host) and assessments;
• Coordinate with all relevant local stakeholders in Pattani on day-to-day operational issues of the internship scheme.

Other:

• Other tasks as deemed necessary by line management;
• Adhere to HAP standards.

4. Required Qualification and Skills

• 3 years of experience in supervising youth from 15 to 25 years old and in project administration/management;
• Ability to communicate effectively, verbally and in writing with a wide range of stakeholders;
• Organizational skills and capacity to work in autonomy;
• Experience working with vulnerable youth in Deep South of Thailand;
• Fluent in Thai and Pattani-Malay, English language capacity desirable;

6.         Duration

The Internship Officer will be contracted for a period 20 months from November 2019 to June 2021.

7.         Application Procedure

Each applicant should provide:

• CV;
• Cover letter;

Applications should be submitted on or before 15/10/2019 at 05:00 pm Bangkok local time via email to pattani.program-manager@acted.org, pattani.program-officer@acted.org and thitaporn.sareebutr@acted.org.