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Internship in Applied Research for ENS Masters' Students (Only for ENS Students)

  • Vernier, 1219

  • Stage

  • 05/05/2025- 04/11/2025

  • 1450CHF

Description

IMPACT INITIATIVES

IMPACT Initiatives is a leading global humanitarian research organisation, based in Geneva, Switzerland. The organisation manages several initiatives, including the REACH Initiative, which was created in 2010 to facilitate the development of information tools and products that enhance the capacity of aid actors to make evidence-based decisions in emergency, recovery and development contexts. The IMPACT team comprises of specialists in research design; data collection, management and analysis; GIS and remote-sensing. For more information visit: www.impact-initiatives.org.

INTERNSHIP OVERVIEW

The Antonin Girardi Research Internship was established in 2021 as a partnership between IMPACT Initiatives and the École Normale Supérieure (Paris), in memory of Antonin Girardi and of all humanitarian workers who have been victims of violence perpetrated against them. On 9th August 2020, Antonin Girardi and 6 other colleagues lost their lives when they were targeted by an attack in Kouré, Niger. Antonin and his colleagues were in Niger as humanitarians, putting their skills and capacity to the service of some of the most vulnerable communities in the world. Specifically, Antonin’s work revolved around applied research. Through his research, Antonin shed light on the situation and the needs of populations displaced and affected by conflict. By doing so, Antonin’s work was used by aid actors to target the most in need, with the right help, at the right time.

The Antonin Girardi Research Internship will provide opportunities to other ENS students to put their skills and capacity to the service of some of the world’s most vulnerable populations. The selected intern will join a leading humanitarian research organisation, and will spend 6-12 months in its Geneva headquarters supporting research being conducted in various contexts of crisis. The internship will provide a unique opportunity to be exposed to, and apply, quantitative research and analysis skills in an international working environment, centred around humanitarian action. 

We are currently looking for a Research Intern to join our global team in Geneva, Switzerland.

Position:                      Research Intern

Duration:                     6-12 months (depending on candidate availability and agreement with ENS)

Remuneration:             1,450 CHF gross per month
Start date:                    May 2025
Location:                      Geneva, Switzerland

The intern will be part of the Research Quality Assurance team within IMPACT’s Global Programmes, Research & Communications Department, working closely with both global and country teams across different crisis contexts, on all stages of the research cycle, including research design, data processing and analysis. Based on these terms of reference and initial discussions with the selected candidate, the internship supervisor will develop upon the start of the internship a specific set of objectives and a work-plan, which will be reviewed at regular intervals during the internship period and will serve as a basis for evaluation upon completion. Ideally, by the end of the internship, the selected candidate would have developed knowledge and skills to move to a field-based research or analysis position within the humanitarian sector.

Mission

INTERNSHIP OBJECTIVES

  • Develop capacity for the planning and implementation of applied (quantitative) research projects in humanitarian and conflict settings

  • Strengthen knowledge and skills in research design, including various methodologies and tools for data collection and sampling

  • Strengthen knowledge and skills in quantitative data processing and analysis tools / techniques, as well as good practices in analytical writing and data visualization for humanitarian decision-making audiences

  • Develop thematic knowledge in specific regional and/ or thematic areas of interest (for e.g. public health research, cash and market research, etc.) within the humanitarian and international development sector

  • Gain exposure to the international humanitarian coordination system, and build an understanding of today’s major humanitarian crises, their main drivers and consequences, and resulting humanitarian needs

 

CORE TASKS

  • Support with the quality assurance of 1) research design and 2) quantitative data processing & analysis for IMPACT research cycles, with a specific focus on a geographic and/ or thematic area of interest (to be agreed at the start of the contract). This includes:

    • Advise IMPACT Country teams on the above, in line with IMPACT research guidelines;

    • Review research design materials and tools, including (but not limited to) Terms of Reference, Data Analysis Plans, Data collection tools;

    • Review quantitative data processing and analysis outputs, including (but not limited to) datasets and accompanying documentation, analysis scripts and outputs, final information products;

    • Ensure that meaningful analysis and techniques are used to infer results on data collected;

    • Ensure all steps taken to produce final dataset and analysis are well documented and transparent

  • Support with the quality assurance of IMPACT’s information products for research cycles being followed, ensuring they are meeting the required quality standards for data interpretation, data visualization and research reporting. This includes:

    • Review final information products including, but not limited to, reports, factsheets, situation overviews, briefs, etc.

    • Provide clear, concise and constructive feedback to those drafting information products.

  • Support with day-to-day process follow-up for the research cycles being followed, including:

    • Follow-up on delayed/ missing research cycle documents, keeping databases up to date;

    • Ensure sufficient tracking and proper filing of relevant documents and tools.

  • Support a global or country team with a specific research or analysis project; topic and scope for this will be determined within the second month of the internship, aiming to align the candidate’s skills and interests with organizational needs and priorities within IMPACT  

  • Flag and discuss potential issues with the supervisor as and when relevant

  • Provide other support to IMPACT Departments/ Units, as required

Profil

REQUIREMENTS

Required:

  • Good academic qualifications, including a bachelor’s degree or higher in relevant discipline (Social Sciences, Economics, Anthropology, Statistics, International Relations, Political Sciences, or similar)

  • Basic understanding of quantitative research methods within the field of social sciences

  • Basic understanding of statistics and statistical analysis techniques

  • Good working knowledge in Microsoft Office, especially Excel

  • Fluency in oral and written English

  • Attention to detail and commitment to producing high quality work

  • Openness to feedback and willingness to learn

  • Ability to manage time effectively and work in a fast paced, results oriented working environment

  • Ability to work independently, with initiative, and strong capacity to work in intercultural team

  • Demonstrated interest in an extended career of research within the humanitarian and international development sector, upon successful completion of the internship

Desired:

  • Volunteering experience related to international solidarity, either at home or abroad

  • Prior experience with primary (field) research, ideally in an international context

  • Good working knowledge of R or similar languages

  • Fluency in oral and written French and / or Spanish

  • Familiarity with the humanitarian aid system

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

  • For this position, gross salary is 1’450 CHF monthly (before income tax). NB - IMPACT salaries are strictly determined by our salary grid depending on the grade of the position and the level of education and experience of staff. A contribution to medical insurance of 520 CHF per month is already included in the salary figure.

  • Insurance covering professional and non-professional accidents throughout the period of employment with IMPACT

  • Health insurance, life insurance and repatriation assistance in case of field visits/temporary deployments

  • Enrolment in IMPACT Initiatives Research Foundational Learning Programme within the first 3 months from the start of contract.

  • Up to 40% of remote work on a weekly basis