Background
In 2024, Eduba Center assumed management of Mercy Hands' "Expat Program Management Internship" Program, the first initiative of its kind in Iraq.
This program builds on Mercy Hands’ experience since 2015 in recruiting international humanitarian workers. In 2020, Mercy Hands began offering paid internships for young expat professionals, placing them under local Program Managers or Program Directors. These interns gained valuable field experience while also enhancing the skills of local staff, resulting in significant benefits for the communities served.
After four years of success, the program was formalized in 2024 and is now managed by Eduba Training Center. It connects junior foreign humanitarian and development workers with local Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Iraq, offering mutual benefits: local CSOs gain from international expertise, while expat interns develop crucial field experience to advance their careers in the humanitarian and development sectors.
Program Overview
General Internship Terms
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Duration: 6-month internship, with the option to extend based on performance and organizational needs.
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Compensation: This is a paid position.
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Location: This is an in-person internship, with interns based in various locations throughout Iraq.
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Support: Mercy Hands will facilitate the intern’s visa and residency process, as well as assist in securing affordable lodging and health insurance. The costs for these services will be shared between the intern and the host CSO.
Intern Responsibilities
Interns will work closely with Program Managers, providing essential programmatic support. Key duties include:
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Managing both internal and external communications, such as preparing program updates, drafting social media content, and writing success stories.
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Assisting in the development and refinement of project management systems.
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Reviewing, editing, and ensuring the quality of grant-related documents and reports.
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Conducting community needs assessments to support program goals.
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Helping to organize and prepare for meetings, including scheduling, minute-taking, and distribution of materials.
This internship offers a unique chance for expats to gain hands-on experience in humanitarian and development work while making a meaningful contribution to programs that have a direct impact on communities in Iraq.
Who Can Apply?
Eligible Nationalities
Due to governmental visa restrictions, we can only accept applicants from the following countries:
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United Kingdom, European Union countries
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Canada, Switzerland
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Australia, New Zealand
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Japan, South Korea
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China, Russia
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Bachelor's or Master's degree in International Affairs, Global or International Studies, Non-Profit Management, or other relevant fields.
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Passion for humanitarian and development work, particularly in refugee contexts or the Middle East region.
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Ability to work at least 35 hours per week.
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Strong oral and written communication skills.
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Proficiency in MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
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Knowledge of the Arabic language is a bonus, though not required.
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Prior experience working in culturally diverse settings.
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Some project management experience is preferred.
TESTIMONIALS
Justine and Francesco, who joined the Expat Program Management Internship Program in early 2021, were among the first group of expat interns. They both secured full-time positions as Program Managers at Mercy Hands and later advanced to senior roles in international organizations. Listen to their insights on the program in this testimonial video.
Learning Arabic Language!
When possible, expat interns will be offered Arabic Language lessons! Watch one of our interns presenting her assignment to the Arabic tutor.
Interns Touring Iraq!
During their free time, interns will have the opportunity to explore Iraq and visit incredible natural and historic sites—some of which are unknown even to locals! These tours are organized by Mercy Hands' affiliate, Seventh Sense for Media and Art Production Ltd., which provides special discounts and customized tour packages exclusively for interns.
Watch the videos below to hear firsthand from interns as they share their experiences touring Iraq. In these testimonials, they talk about the memorable sites they've visited and how the tours have enriched their time in the country.
Intern Application
If you are an expat young professional who is interested in gaining field experience in a humanitarian or development sector then we encourage you to apply!
Host CSO Application
If you are an Iraqi CSO interested in hosting an expat young professional then drop us a message and we will be in touch with you soon!