Program Internship

Driven by the conviction that a better world is achievable, Mercy Corps builds its strength upon diverse perspectives to foster long-term impact, as highlighted by the M&M CBRM Program internship opportunity. This role directly supports critical activities in livelihoods, natural resource management, peacebuilding, and resilience across cross-border communities in the Horn of Africa, working within a consortium led by the Life and Peace Institute. Program Interns will be instrumental in implementing training, providing technical support, and ensuring activities integrate essential elements like gender sensitivity and climate-smart approaches, requiring strong commitment, cultural sensitivity, and the willingness to work effectively in diverse teams—even while traveling to challenging field locations.

About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is powered by the belief that a better world is possible. To do this, we know our teams do their best work when they are diverse, and every team member feels that they belong. We welcome diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be stronger and have long term impact.

Program / Department Summary

The M&M CBRM program seeks to enhance the effectiveness of conflict prevention and mitigation, disaster risk reduction and management, and resilience building in cross-border communities in selected border areas in the Horn of Africa. The program is led by Life and Peace Institute in consortium with Mercy Corps and Pastoralist Concern.

General Position Summary

The primary role of the Program Interns is to support program activities related to livelihoods, natural resource management, resilience, peacebuilding, and social reconciliation. They will help develop and implement strategies in coordination with the MC program team and consortium partners. Their work includes training community groups, providing technical support, and ensuring consistent program approaches across communities. They will also monitor and report on program results in collaboration with the MEL team, stay updated on changing contexts, and incorporate new ideas where relevant. Additionally, they maintain strong partnerships with organizations such as LPI and PC, ensuring effective collaboration and linkages across related programs.

Essential Job Responsibilities

• Support implementation of program activities on livelihoods, NRM, resilience, peacebuilding, and social reconciliation.
• Assist in executing work plans, ensuring timely, quality, and cost-effective delivery of activities.
• Contribute to community engagement, entrepreneurship, and life skills training initiatives.
• Integrate gender, conflict sensitivity, and climate-smart approaches into activities.
• Support community mobilization and collaboration with county government departments and partners.
• Facilitate linkages among women, youth, traders, and financial institutions.
• Promote and uphold Mercy Corps’ safeguarding principles and ethical standards.
• Assist in data collection, monitoring, and reporting program progress.
• Collaborate with internal teams (logistics, finance, admin) to support field operations.
• Maintain professional conduct and contribute to a positive, learning-oriented work environment.

Organizational Learning

• As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient, and relevant to the communities they serve, we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.

Accountability to Beneficiaries

• Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts towards accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring, and evaluation of our field projects.
• Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC’s policies, procedures, and values always and in all in-country venues.

Safeguarding

• Actively learns about safeguarding and integrates it into their work, including safeguarding risks and mitigations related to their area of work
• Practices the values of Mercy Corps including respecting the dignity and well-being of participants and fellow team members
• Encourages openness and communication in their team; encourages team members to submit reports if they have any concerns using reporting mechanisms e.g., Integrity Hotline and other options

Supervisory Responsibility: None

Accountability:

Reports Directly To:   M&M-CBRM Program Officer

Works Directly With:   M&M-CBRM Program Coordinator, MEL Manager and Consortium partners.

Minimum Qualification & Transferable Skills

• Diploma in Community Development, Economic Development, Gender and Development Studies, Business, Agriculture, Livestock, or a related field.
• Basic knowledge of quantitative and qualitative data collection and reporting techniques, with the ability to apply basic statistical concepts such as measures of central tendency and dispersion.
• Strong commitment to working with women, youth, and vulnerable groups, regardless of race, tribe, religion, or gender.
• Understanding of and commitment to collaborative work with local partners and the Mercy Corps M&M-CBRM team.
• Demonstrated problem-solving, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Proficiency in English and Swahili; knowledge of local languages is an added advantage.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision and effectively within a diverse team environment.
• Competent in Microsoft Office applications, including Excel, Word, and Access.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Success Factors

The Program Intern (s) will have the ability to work effectively with Mercy Corps program target participants and partners. The Program Intern (s) will have demonstrated cultural sensitivity and appropriate flexibility to work cooperatively with team members and partner organizations.

Living Conditions/Environmental Conditions

The position is based in Marsabit and requires up to 50% travel to support programming activities, which may include travel to insecure locations where freedom of movement is limited and areas where amenities are limited. Hence, housing for this role is individual housing.

Ongoing Learning

In support of our belief that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities we serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further their personal and/or professional growth and development

Team Efficiency and Effectiveness 

Achieving our mission starts with how we build our team and collaborate. By bringing together individuals with a variety of experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives, we strengthen our ability to solve complex challenges and drive innovation. We foster a culture of trust and respect, where every team member is valued for their contributions, empowered to reach their full potential, and motivated to do their best work.

We recognize that building a strong and effective team is an ongoing process, and we remain committed to learning, improving, and growing together.