Internship

Job Posting Organization:
SOLIDARITES INTERNATIONAL (SI) is an international humanitarian aid organization that has been providing assistance to populations affected by armed conflicts and natural disasters for nearly 40 years. The organization focuses on meeting vital needs such as access to clean water, food, and shelter. SI is particularly committed to combating diseases related to unsafe water, which is the leading cause of mortality worldwide. Through its interventions, SI has developed expertise in providing access to drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene promotion, as well as in security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">food security and livelihoods. SI operates in approximately twenty countries and employs around 3,000 people who work with professionalism and commitment while respecting local cultures. Since March 2020, SI has been active in France across five territories, targeting populations living in precarious housing situations such as slums or squats, who have limited access to basic services, particularly in terms of drinking water, sanitation, and essential hygiene products. Despite the recognition of the rights to water and sanitation by the UN since 2010, access to these basic services is not currently considered a fundamental right in France. Through advocacy activities, SI aims to achieve recognition and effective implementation of the right to drinking water in France. SI's strategy includes both supporting local actors in finding concrete solutions to improve sanitary conditions at sites, such as installing drinking water supplies, sanitation infrastructure, distributing hygiene products, and working on risk reduction, and providing advocacy for transforming the legal framework of the right to water in France and implementing an effective, universal, and sustainable public policy for access to water for all in France.

Job Overview:
The Advocacy Assistant for the France Mission operates under the authority of the Legal & Advocacy Referent and collaborates with field teams to support SOLIDARITES INTERNATIONAL (SI) projects concerning the recognition and application of rights to water and sanitation in France, particularly in degraded areas (Mayotte, Northern Coast). Since 2022, SI has been monitoring situations through its observatory on access to water, hygiene, and sanitation (EHA), which aims to address the lack of available data on these issues in France and influence local and international public policies. The objectives of this position include supporting the Legal and Advocacy Referent and SI teams working in degraded areas in project development and the production of tools for advocacy actions, such as capitalizing on internal data from SI and its partners to highlight the situation of access to EHA in France and degraded areas, supporting inter-associative efforts to develop local advocacy actions for access to EHA for all, and helping the NGO to raise awareness of the issues surrounding the rights to water and sanitation in degraded areas and support their deployment. The role also involves putting humanitarian advocacy into practice (specifically regarding the right to water) in connection with the projects of an NGO.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The duties and responsibilities of the Advocacy Assistant include:

• Data Collection and Analysis – Observatory: - Oversee and support the collection of qualitative (testimonials) and quantitative (data from SI teams and partners) data locally to reveal the reality of the needs of individuals with nonexistent or insufficient access to EHA. - Ensure the analysis of primary and secondary quantitative and qualitative data. - Under the direction of the Legal & Advocacy Referent, draft reports from the EHA access observatory and participate in the strategy for disseminating/communicating these documents. - Harmonize methods for archiving primary and secondary data internally.
• Monitoring, Research, and Contextual Analysis: - Contribute to the calendar of advocacy opportunities and calls for action for effective access to EHA in France. - Participate in identifying advocacy targets at local, national, and European levels. - Provide support for contextual analysis and media and legal monitoring of the local context and the application of rights to water and sanitation. - Participate in updating an internal tool for contextual monitoring and reporting and evaluation tools.
• Advocacy: - In collaboration with the Legal & Advocacy Referent and field coordinators, participate in drafting advocacy documents, letters of appeal, and internal and external publications. - Collaborate with field coordinators to engage with the network of associative partners (inter-associations) to facilitate the flow of EHA information to and from SI in degraded areas (Mayotte, Northern Coast). - Help disseminate knowledge of the applicable rights to water and sanitation among partners and institutions. - Participate in mobilizing mechanisms for the protection of national and international human rights.
• General: - Attend weekly and monthly meetings of the office and various services involved. - Update and revise internal methodological documents for the mission.

Required Qualifications:
The position requires a minimum of a BAC+4 level of education, with a higher degree in political science, social sciences, public policy, or law. Candidates should have a strong interest and knowledge of issues related to water insecurity and overseas territories. Excellent writing, analytical, and drafting skills are essential, along with a desire to work collaboratively in a team environment. Proficiency in Microsoft Office (particularly Excel) is required, and prior experience in data collection and analysis is preferred. Candidates should demonstrate strong synthesis abilities and interpersonal skills, as well as proactivity and critical thinking. Organizational skills and the ability to anticipate needs are also important, along with a commitment to the principles and work of SOLIDARITES INTERNATIONAL.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess a minimum of a BAC+4 level of education, ideally with a specialization in political science, social sciences, public policy, or law. This educational background is crucial for understanding the complex issues surrounding water rights and sanitation, particularly in the context of humanitarian work and advocacy.

Experience:
The position requires candidates to have relevant experience, particularly in data collection and analysis. While specific years of experience are not mandated, familiarity with the challenges of water insecurity and advocacy work in humanitarian contexts is highly desirable. Candidates should demonstrate a capacity for critical thinking and the ability to synthesize information effectively.

Languages:
Fluency in French is mandatory for this position, given the local context and the need to communicate effectively with stakeholders. Proficiency in English is also beneficial, as it may be necessary for engaging with international partners and resources. Additional languages relevant to the regions of operation may be considered an asset.

Additional Notes:
This internship is based at the headquarters of SOLIDARITES INTERNATIONAL in Clichy (92), accessible via the Mairie de Clichy metro station. The internship requires a formal internship agreement. Compensation is set at €5.60 per hour, calculated based on actual hours worked each month (approximately 154 hours per month, equating to 22 days of 7 hours each). Public transport costs are covered at 50% by SOLIDARITES INTERNATIONAL, and interns receive meal vouchers worth €8.90 per day worked, with SOLIDARITES INTERNATIONAL contributing 60%. Candidates are encouraged to submit their CV and cover letter, as applications consisting solely of a CV will not be considered. SOLIDARITES INTERNATIONAL reserves the right to close the recruitment process before the application deadline.