Who We Are

The Free Yezidi Foundation (FYF) supports the Yezidi community in the aftermath of the 2014 Yezidi Genocide. FYF promotes the rights and well-being of Yezidis in Iraq and the diaspora, with an emphasis on women’s empowerment, the pursuit of justice, and helping the community rebuild through trauma treatment, education, training, and economic development.

FYF is virtually headquartered in the Netherlands and the United States, with its operational base in Duhok, Iraq. The Foundation is particularly engaged in service provision for religious and ethnic minorities (REM) in Iraq, with an emphasis on women, youth, and survivors of mass atrocities from the Yezidi and other REM communities.

Background

Founded in August 2014 in response to ISIL’s genocide perpetrated against the Yezidi community in Iraq, FYF is a non-partisan, Yezidi, women-led nonprofit organization. FYF’s mission is to support the Yezidi community through advocacy and justice, as well as provide mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS), education, and livelihoods opportunities to genocide survivors, with an emphasis on women and survivors of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV). FYF began its work with the establishment of a Women’s Center and Children’s Center in Khanke IDP camp in Duhok, Iraq in 2015 and has since provided critical programming for REM women, youth, and survivors, including opening and operating an Enterprise and Training Center (ETC) and Bakery, supporting survivors to access reparations under the Yezidi Survivors Law (YSL), and obtaining justice for survivors of genocide and conflict-related sexual violence. Grounded in principles of empowerment and dignity, FYF’s humanitarian and development work equips women and survivors with the tools needed to sustainably improve their lives for a brighter future.

Job Summary

Under the supervision of the Programs and Development Officer and the oversight of the Programs Director, the Programs and Development Intern will play a crucial role in supporting the ongoing efforts to address the multifaceted challenges faced by Yezidi and other REM communities in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI). The Programs and Development Intern will perform the duties and responsibilities inherent in this position as part of the HQ team remotely (between GMT and GMT+3 time zones. Please, note that this is a part-time position (20 hours per week).

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform several functions:

• Conduct background analysis and research for funding proposals, with a focus on gender-sensitive political and conflict analysis.
• Research donor priorities to optimize current projects and identify opportunities for future projects and partnerships with other international and local NGOs.
• Assist in the development of a grant calendar to schedule and track funding opportunities.
• Coordinate data collection and analysis with local staff on Yezidis and other REM communities residing in IDP camps and host communities in the KRI.
• Support program implementation, monitoring, and evaluation, and assist in the preparation of donor reports.
• Additional tasks, as assigned.

Qualifications

• Currently enrolled in or recently graduated from a relevant undergraduate or graduate program.
• Strong research and analytical skills, with the ability to conduct thorough background analysis.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a multicultural environment.
• Knowledge of or interest in issues related to REM communities, displacement, women’s rights, and humanitarian and development aid in conflict-affected areas.
• Fluency in English; knowledge of Kurdish or Arabic is a plus.

The essential qualities for this position include compassion, cultural sensitivity, dedication, professionalism, patience, integrity, emotional strength, ability to work as part of a team, and respect for the vulnerable and suffering.

What we offer:

FYF provides ongoing learning and professional development opportunities for interns and is committed to fostering a supportive and inclusive environment where interns gain valuable skills for their future academic and professional endeavours while contributing to meaningful projects.

Throughout your internship, you will have the chance to explore and deploy a broad range of essential development tools and skills, including those related to governance and operations, monitoring and evaluation, proposal writing, theory of change, and reporting.

This internship is a unique opportunity to gain insight into the ongoing hardships, including protracted displacement and ongoing discrimination, faced by Yezidi genocide survivors and other REM communities in the KRI. You will work closely with experienced professionals in the field of humanitarian assistance and development and make a meaningful impact by contributing to projects that directly benefit vulnerable populations.

Upon Joining FYF

FYF has non-disclosure and liability waiver clauses in its contracts for all employees, upon joining the team. All paperwork and related documents will be managed between the time the internship offer is sent and the incumbent begins work, including agreeing to the FYF code of conduct.

How to apply

All candidates interested in this position should send their CV and cover letter of interest to FYF’s Human Resources team with “Programs and Development Officer” in the subject line by 28 February 2024 to hr@freeyezidi.org.

Women are strongly encouraged to apply.