GSIPM

**MIIS students completing research in Africa in 2015 are encouraged to apply!

***Research could be completed as part of an internship or job as well as for-credit or not-for-credit.

Announcing the Sarah Meek Travel Grant for Research in Africa

Starting this January, four travel grants of $1500 each will be awarded for MIIS students conducting research on social change in Africa. The research can be either independent or part of established immersive learning programs such as IPSS, DPMI+, or Frontier Market Scouts. The research must be conducted in Africa for a duration of 3 months or more. Research proposals that involve 2 months in Africa and the remainder back in the US or outside Africa will also be considered.

To receive this grant students must submit a research design that focuses on a social condition in Africa of the applicant’s choosing; e.g., poverty, environment, crime, armed violence, gender equality, conflict, disease, education, refugees, etc., with the goal of making policy/program recommendations that can change that condition.

The application must include the following elements:

1. Dates of research
2. Location of research, to include a letter of support from an organization which is hosting or assisting you with your project.
3. A two page statement that includes a complete research design, to include a preliminary literature review that shows a need for this research, the who, what, where, and how of the project, and its potential impact on the social condition.
4. A description of the deliverable and date of presentation.

Applications must be received between now and 15 January. A committee of faculty judges will evaluate all applications and determine the four recipients of the award by 20 January. Awards will be given as reimbursement for travel to Africa in 2015.  If you have any questions or wish to discuss the eligibility of your planned research for this award, please make an appointment with Professor Ed Laurance at elaurance@miis.edu.  He can also be reached at 831-402-2631.

These awards are made possible by a continuing donation from the family of Sarah Meek, a MIIS alum of 1996 whose life was cut short while working to improve social conditions in Africa.

Upcoming Application Deadline for Fellowship – January 27th, 2015

Great opportunity for those who are studying or who want to study less commonly taught languages such as Arabic, Chinese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, and Swahili – among MANY others. Boren Awards also has an African Flagship Languages Initiative, for those interested in studying Akan/Twi, French, Portuguese, Swahili, Wolof, or Zulu. Check out Boren Awards website for a complete list of languages as well as Country Preferences, fields of study, and length of study.

Boren Fellowships, an initiative of the National Security Education Program, provide unique funding opportunities for U.S. graduate students to study less commonly taught languages in world regions critical to U.S. interests, and underrepresented in study abroad, including Africa, Asia, Central and Eastern Europe, Eurasia, Latin America, and the Middle East. The countries of Western Europe, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand are excluded.”

“Boren Fellows represent a vital pool of highly motivated individuals who wish to work in the federal national security arena. In exchange for funding, Boren Fellows commit to working in the federal government for at least one year after graduation.” – Retrieved from Boren Awards Website

Not just national security:

Boren Awards views National Security  broadly, to include “the challenges of global society, including sustainable development, environmental degradation, global disease and hunger, population growth and migration, and economic competitiveness.” – Retrieved from Boren Awards Website

This is a great opportunity to study a unique or uncommonly taught language – perfect for MIIS Students!

For more information check out their Website: https://www.borenawards.org/boren_fellowship

Application Deadline: January 27th, 2015

  The priority registration deadline for the inaugural 2015 Hult Prize at MIIS competition is this Friday, November 14th.  All you need to compete is a social business idea that tackles this year’s President’s Challenge, a team of 3 – 5 members and a 10 minute pitch.  The event will be hosted at the Irvine Auditorium on Friday, November 21st at 4:30.

  In partnership with President Bill Clinton and the Clinton Global Initiative this innovative crowdsourcing platform identifies and launches disruptive and catalytic social ventures that aim to solve the planet’s most pressing challenges.  Student teams compete around the world for a chance to secure $1,000,000 in start-up funding to launch a sustainable social venture and spend the summer inside the Hult Business Accelerator – an innovative incubator for social enterprise – and a one year membership into The Clinton Global Initiative.  The 2015 Hult Prize will focus on Early Childhood Education in the Urban Slum and Beyond – a challenge personally selected by President Bill Clinton.

  The winning team from the Hult Prize at MIIS event will be fast tracked to compete at one of the six Hult Prize regional finals events in San Francisco, Boston, London, Dubai, Shanghai, or Rio de Janeiro.  Following the regional finals, one winning team from each host city will move into the summer Hult Accelerator, where participants will receive mentorship, advisory and strategic planning as they create prototypes and set-up to launch their new social business.  A final round of competition will be hosted by the Clinton Global Initiative at its annual meeting in September, where CGI delegates will select a winning team that will be awarded the million dollar prize by President Bill Clinton himself.  In the words of President Clinton, “The Hult Prize is a wonderful example of the creative cooperation needed to build a world with shared opportunity, shared responsibility, and shared prosperity, and each year I look forward to seeing the many outstanding ideas the competition produces.”

Applications Invited for a Trip to the Russian Far East in Spring 2015:

The Graduate Initiative in Russian Studies is pleased to announce that two MIIS and two Middlebury students will participate in a research trip to the Russian Far East under the supervision of Professor Tsuneo Akaha (GSIPM). The trip is designed to introduce the participants to the political and economic issues of contemporary Russia, with a focus on her Far Eastern territories, and relations with the neighboring countries. Students will take part in meetings with faculty, researchers, and students of Far Eastern Federal University in Vladivostok and the Economic Research Institute in Khabarovsk, as well as local community representatives in these two largest cities in the Far East. The students will develop a research report based on their trip and pre-trip and post-trip research. Students who wish to earn academic credit will consult with Prof. Akaha and Prof. Vassilieva.

The entire cost of the trip will be covered by the Graduate Initiative in Russian Studies, a MIIS project funded by Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Preference will be given to students with advanced Russian language skills.

Two MIIS participants will be selected through the following procedures:

1. An essay describing the applicant’s background and interest in Russia (including the Far East) and her relations with the regional neighbors, including Korea, Mongolia, China, and Japan. The essay should be three-pages long and submitted by email to Prof. Akaha and Prof. Anna Vassilieva by Friday, November 7, 2014.
2. An up-to-date resume, to be submitted along with the above essay.
3. An oral interview after review of the above submissions.

Applicants will be notified of the results of the selection by Friday, November 14, 2014.

Inquiries may be addressed to Prof. Akaha at takaha@miis.edu or Prof. Vassilieva at avassili@miis.edu.

Applications Invited for Research Trips or Internships in Russia in Summer 2015:

The Graduate Initiative in Russian Studies is pleased to announce that there are funds available for four MIIS students to undertake an internship and/or research in Russia in the summer of 2015.

The entire cost of the trip will be covered by the Graduate Initiative in Russian Studies, a MIIS project funded by Carnegie Corporation of New York. The available funding covers round-trip travel, accommodation allowance, and miscellaneous expenses. Only students with advanced Russian language skills will be considered.

Four students will be selected through the following procedures:

1. An essay in Russian describing the applicant’s background and interest in Russia. The essay should be three-pages long and submitted by email to Prof. Anna Vassilieva by Sunday, March 1, 2015.
2. An up-to-date resume, to be submitted along with the above essay.
3. A detailed research/internship proposal, including desired placement, focus of research/internship, and deliverable.
4. An oral interview after review of the above submissions.

Applicants will be notified of the results of the selection by Sunday, March 15, 2015.

Inquiries may be addressed to Prof. Vassilieva at avassili@miis.edu.

The Institute for Economics and Peace is searching for a full-time Research Fellow to join their research team at their headquarters in Sydney,  Australia. Click here to download full position description. 

A Research Fellow will conduct research on topics related to the Global Peace Index, peace economics, development studies and peace and conflict studies.

Application Deadline: August 28th, 2014

Selection Criteria: 

1. Master’s degree (PhD an advantage) in a combination of economics and/or statistics, international
relations or other social sciences discipline.
2. Minimum of three to five years professional experience conducting empirical research and
quantitative data analysis specifically related to a combination of social sciences, development
studies, economics, statistics and peace and conflict studies.
3. Experience working with governmental and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) on peace
economics, peace and conflict studies, and international development issues.
4. Experience handling large datasets and knowledge of R, SPSS, STATA, and other related econometric
packages is required. Ability to write code for R, SPSS or STATA and advanced Microsoft Excel skills.
5. Track record of demonstrable analytical and data visualisation skills.
6. Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Competence to undertake research assignments
and project manage teams with minimal supervision.

Applications to: CV and cover letter addressing the selection criteria and desired personal qualities to Lucie
Paleckova on info@economicsandpeace.org
Deadline for applications: 28 August, 2014
Website: www.economicsandpeace.org, www.visionofhumanity.org

Policy Studies, Research Associate

Open Data Analyst

Research Associate in Policy Studies, Kroc Institute, University of Notre Dame

The Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies at the University of Notre Dame seeks applications for the position of Research Associate in Policy Studies.  The Research Associate will work closely with the Director of Policy Studies at the Kroc Institute on research projects, curriculum development, and organizing research and education events both at Notre Dame and elsewhere.

Application deadline: August 8th

Open Data Analyst, Open Society Foundations, London or New York

The CODEX program seeks to leverage a wide range of open (and sometimes not-so-open) information relating to the extraction of oil, gas, and mineral resources in developing countries. The purpose of the work is to demonstrate, using innovative techniques and creative approaches to data-storytelling, how open data can be a powerful tool in the fight against mismanagement and plunder of natural resource wealth in the world’s poorest countries. This work would constitute a contribution to the growing field of “Open Government.”

Application deadline: August 17th

Email from TIP Office Public Outreach [TIPOutreach@state.gov]

U.S. Department of State

Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons

 Competitive Grant Solicitation for Research on Trafficking in Persons in Supply Chains in Sub-Saharan Africa

The Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons announces an open competition for funding of one or more projects to answer the following research question:  How do supply chains that touch sub-Saharan Africa operate and intersect with trafficking in persons, and prevent trafficking in sub-Saharan Africa?

Using the results of this research question, the successful applicant will develop a highly detailed typology across sectors, commodities, regions or other subdivisions that become apparent during the research.  The goal of the research is to enable governments and businesses to identify risks and best practices of programs, policies, and laws to combat those risks.

The request for proposals is posted on www.grantsolutions.gov and www.grants.gov under funding opportunity number AT-ATC-14-009.  To be considered for funding, proposals must be submitted by Wednesday, August 27, 2014 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time.

U.S.-based and foreign non-profit organizations, for-profit organizations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), public international organizations (PIOs), and institutions of higher education are eligible to apply.

– Application deadline EXTENDED to April 29 – 

Team El Salvador Practicum 2014-2015 Call for Leadership Applications

Team El Salvador (TES) is seeking three student leaders to lead the Team El Salvador 9 Practicum during its 2014-2015 program year.

Do you want to gain skills in leadership? International Development? Environmental policy and natural resource management? Survey creation? Improving your Spanish proficiency and communication?

TES leadership is open to all MIIS students, from all departments and fields of study!

How to apply? Please send resume and cover letter to: teamelsalvadormiis@gmail.com by Tuesday, April 29th. Visit us at: http://blogs.miis.edu/teamelsalvador

Team El Salvador provides a unique, professional opportunity for MIIS students to develop and apply practical skills and enhance language proficiency and multicultural competency in a dynamic international setting.

Team leaders will cultivate a variety of professional skills while gaining real world experience. The ideal candidate has a passion for international development, strong leadership skills, and a willingness to facilitate and manage a variety of program elements, including communication and outreach, program development, fundraising, updating and developing website content and social media sites, event scheduling and management, meeting planning and travel logistics and community engagement.

Ideal Candidates will:

• Speak, write and read Spanish at a 400 level
• Understand the mission and goals of Team El Salvador and
El Salvadoran history and culture
• Have strong communication and organizational skills
• Have experience living and working in rural communities of Latin America (or other developing
countries)
• Have a lucid understanding of the unpredictable nature of development work
• Be personable, dynamic, patient, flexible and adaptable to changing program and project
demands
• Have experience with fundraising
• Develop and deliver compelling presentations to MIIS faculty, prospective team members, etc.
Executive management and staff

Professor Les Zambo, (1941-2003)

The Fisher International MBA Program invites applicants for the 2014-2015 Les Zambo Scholarship Program. Applications are due Wednesday, April 30th.

Zambo Scholars will receive a grant of up to $12,000.00 towards tuition for MBA studies. Award may be applied to Summer 2014, Fall 2014 or Spring 2015 semesters.

Program Purposes

• Offer financial aid and encouragement to deserving full-time students preparing for international careers.
• Recognize academic achievement by students in the Fisher International MBA Program.
• Encourage academic excellence, commitment to the field, service to the Program and the Institute, and collegiality with the MBA class, staff and faculty.

For more information and to access the Application Form please click here: Zambo Announcement 14-15

The Center for Conflict Resolution’s Peacebuilders Fellowship application is due THIS Saturday, March 15th! “The Center will be choosing eight fellows to travel to four countries (Burma, Mexico, Ethiopia, and the West Bank) for 8 to 10 weeks over the summer. Fellows will work in teams of two in each country to research water conflicts, with an emphasis on gathering the stories of stakeholders in these conflicts. Upon their return, fellows will work with CCS to share these stories over a variety of mediums, including podcasts, video interviews, and digital storytelling.” – See more at: www.miis.edu.

You can click here to apply and see the FAQ regarding the Peacebuilders Fellowship. Be prepared to fill out the short online form and upload your resume.

Will you only be satisfied in your life and career if you make real and meaningful impact? Are you entrepreneurial, deeply driven, and obsessed with finding innovative solutions to our world’s most intractable problems? Do you want to collaborate with the world’s brightest minds and be directly mentored by current world leaders to achieve your ambitious goals? At IPSI, we passionately design and execute the world’s preeminent training programs for peacebuilding professionals.  We are seeking the best and brightest to join our growing global team relentlessly pursuing peace.  Are you one of us? Then join any of the two symposium in Bologna or The Hague:

The 5th Annual Bologna, Italy Symposium on Conflict Prevention, Resolution, & Reconciliation from July 5 – August 2, 2014 at the Johns Hopkins University SAIS Bologna Center. The symposium will offer direct training by world leaders in international negotiation, mediation, facilitation, strategic nonviolent action, social entrepreneurship, project planning and design, trauma healing, economics of peace, and more. The symposium will provide graduate-level certificate course with continued training and high-level networking opportunities. You can earn M.A. Credits, Johns Hopkins SAIS. Exceptional professionals, graduate students, and accomplished undergraduates are eligible to apply.

2014 The Hague Symposium on Post-Conflict Transitions & International Justice from July 12 – August 9, 2014 at the Clingendael Institute for International Relations. This symposium will offer intensive training in the skills necessary to holistically restructure a post-conflict society, as well as serve justice to those responsible for human rights violations; formal lectures, site visits to International Tribunals and Courts, and interactive simulations and workshops. The symposium will provide graduate-level certificate course with continued training and high-level networking opportunities. You can earn LLM Credits, University of Leiden. Exceptional professionals/lawyers, graduate students, law students, and accomplished undergraduates are eligible to apply.

Application deadline is January 30, 2013. The discounted price is $4,275,00. For more information and application portal, please click here.

“Turn Down the Heat: Why a 4°C Warmer World Must be Avoided” is a World Bank hosted free online course on the internet platform of coursera. Session starts January 27th and will run for four weeks.

This MOOC has a week-by-week structure, with resources, activities and exercises for you to engage in during each of the four weeks of the course. Each week, you will find a variety of course material (…). You can register here.

Over 5 years, San Francisco based nonprofit Mama Hope has developed an effective, people-first model of international development that has transformed the lives of more than 100,000 people.
Now, a new fellowship called the First Fifth Institute has arisen to meet the growing demand for experience in international development and increased capacity at local project sites. Global Advocates (fellows) participate in a carefully constructed, 9-month program that provides instructional career training, real leadership opportunity, and hands-on experience including a 3-month stay in Africa as a program manager.

Click here for the online application process and further information on First Fifth and its programs.

ProInspire is now accepting applications for both the 2014 ProInspire Fellowship and the Managing for Success Program in Washington D.C. and the San Francisco Bay Area!

The ProInspire Fellowship targets sector switchers who want to join a nonprofit to use their skills for social impact. Managing for Success targets managers who are already working at nonprofits and want to build their skills through professional development and peer support. First round of applications are due January 12th.

ProInspire is building the next generation of nonprofit leaders by expanding the talent pipeline, developing professionals, and increasing diversity. We are passionate catalysts of outstanding performance.

Mercy Corps is an International non-profit organization whose mission is to alleviate suffering, poverty and oppression by helping people build secure, productive and just communities across the globe. Mercy Corps manages programs in 43 countries, with a FY13 budget of $275 million. Mercy Corps has been working in Liberia since 2002, and is strongly committed to supporting the social integration and economic empowerment of Liberian youth through its programs, which focus on the sectors of youth employment, entrepreneurship and social development.

The intern will be involved across these work areas, including: 1) Building on existing learning resources to conduct developmental evaluations and lesson learning from across the program portfolio – understanding what is working, what is not, and why; 2)Program design – identifying opportunities for phase 2 programming, conducting needs assessments (inside and possibly outside Monrovia) and potentially writing components of proposals; 3) Program implementation – supporting the team where needed for ongoing design of activities, methodologies, and curricula; 4) Reporting and documentation – writing reports for donors, collecting case studies, and writing blogs etc. For more information, click here.

LIVING CONDITIONS: The position will be based in Monrovia, and may require some travel outside the capital.  Liberia is recovering from 14 years of war and instability. Security has improved and Mercy Corps staff travels throughout the country to program sites.  Monrovia and towns in outlying areas are generally safe though nighttime travel and activities should be considered carefully.  Life in Monrovia is still basic but very comfortable, with a young and vibrant expatriate scene and supermarkets full of western goods at western prices. It is however an expensive place to live, and interns should expect monthly costs at least as high as they would experience at home.

In this four-week certificate course, participants will explore how mapping, social media, and mobile telephones can effectively support the work of conflict prevention and management.  The course will feature case studies from Kenya, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Syria, and Libya among others,  and draw on relevant conflict prevention and resolution theory to arrive at best practices for using technology in conflict-affected settings.  Participants can expect a dynamic and interactive learning environment with a  number practical and hands-on activities and simulations aimed at developing tangible skills and strategies in use of technology for conflict prevention and peacekeeping. You can explore the course syllabus here. The course will take place from January 13, 2014 – February 7, 2014

The course is designed for conflict management professionals to assist them in understanding the roles of technology in conflict prevention and peacekeeping.  No specific technological skills are required for the course. If you apply and submit your application by December 8th, you will pay the smaller early-bird fee. More information on course requirements and courses offerings can be found here.

The SE Outreach Accelerator is an exciting 8 week program that takes place in Stockholm, Sweden and aims to build your business capacity. We will help you take your idea to the next level by providing you with seminars, workshops, mentorship as well as individual coaching and group coaching sessions. Peer-to-peer discussions and feedback sessions will also be an important part of the Accelerator. We believe that social entrepreneurship is a vital element of society, and would therefore like to assist you as much as possible as you and your enterprise embark on the journey of making the world a little bit better!

The topics covered during the seminars and workshops include business planning, business modelling, communication strategies, funding strategies, financial management, team building and leadership skills as well as social impact metrics.

The training is based upon the action learning-approach, which is an educational process whereby the participants learn by applying the new skills directly on their own enterprise. We will adopt a ‘learning-by-doing’ approach, allowing you to develop your enterprise as your move along the program.

Be inspired by other participants, find motivation in our mentors and speaker, discover the fun in being a social entrepreneur!

When: April 21-June 13, 2014
Where: Stockholm, Sweden
Language: Language of instruction will be in English.
Cost: Free to attend, with most costs covered. Click here for more information. Deadline is fast approaching: December 9th, 2013.

Interested in:

• Gaining new skills or knowledge?
• Enhancing already existing skills?
• Meeting people from more than 30 countries and sharing stories and experiences?

Then mark your calendars for SPI 2014! Course offerings and instructors for 2014 are now published online. This year SPI is offering several new courses at the frontiers of peacebuilding, including:

• Media for Societal Transformation, where you can learn to use video and social media to get your message out.
• Trauma-Sensitive Practice and Programming, to explore how to include trauma-sensitivity in all stages of emergency response and post-conflict recovery work.
• The Impact of Social Issues on Restorative Justice will look at the effects of race, class, gender, and culture on individual and community conflict and resilience.
• Peace by Design, where participants will discuss how the design of working spaces conveys a message that helps or hinders the work.
• Applied Playback Theatre for Conflict Transformation, to teach you how to be part of a team of actors that weaves together stories from the audience into a single narrative, while respecting and validating each individual story.
• Mindfulness teaches you to give full and non-judgmental attention in all situations and how to reflect on the similarities and differences between people in conflict that help or hurt situations.

The Summer Peacebuilding Institute (SPI) provides broad-based and specialized trainings that empower participants to contextualize the knowledge to their own situations. Learn more about yourself, others, and the world around you. Courses are open to people interested in integrating conflict transformation, peacebuilding, restorative justice, trauma awareness, and related fields into their own work and life.

The Summer Peacebuilding Institute (SPI) offers four 7-day sessions, each with several courses running simultaneously. An interactive approach is used in all courses. Participants will learn from the course instructor as well as other participants and are encouraged to reflect and to share from their own experiences in the “safe space” created by SPI.  Courses can be taken for professional training or graduate credit. Applications will be considered in order of arrival. For course curriculum, online application and costs, please click here.

The INEE Minimum Standards Internship in NY (or Virtual)  presents a unique learning opportunity to work closely with the INEE Secretariat, liaise directly with INEE members around the world, and be part of projects that contribute to education quality in crisis settings. Deadline is fast approaching on December 9, 2013.

The INEE Minimum Standards intern will assist the INEE Coordinator for Minimum Standards with various projects that will further the promotion, utilization and institutionalization of the INEE Minimum Standards. For a full list of responsibilities, click here. Students have to be enrolled in a graduate program. A full list can be found under the same link above.

The intern must be available to work 2 or 3 days/week starting in November 2014 through the Spring Semester (Jan-May 2014). Strong preference will be given to candidates who can intern through the Spring 2014 and Summer 2014 semesters.  Summer interns must be available to work 3 or 4 days/week. Interns will be based at the IRC HQ office in New York City but may be asked to work from home on assigned days. Interns based outside of the NYC-area will be considered for home-based internships.  Interns may take school credit for the internship with prior agreement from the supervisor. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis until position is filled. This is an unpaid opportunity. Students residing abroad, who need visa sponsorship, will not be considered.