The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is an independent federal government agency that receives overall foreign policy guidance from the Secretary of State and fosters transformational development around the world. Our headquarters is centrally located in downtown Washington, DC, at the prestigious Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, 14th and Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. We are located next to the Federal Triangle Metro. Our office is in within walking distance of many major attractions.
This vacancy is limited to the first 25 applications received and will close at midnight Eastern Time on the day this application limit is reached regardless of the closing date specified in this vacancy announcement. Any complete application received prior to midnight Eastern Time of the day the application limit is reached will be accepted and considered.
You are strongly encouraged to submit all required supporting documents at the time of application, should the vacancy close earlier than stated in this announcement due to the applicant limit being reached. Supporting documents will not be accepted once the vacancy announcement closes.
This appointment is anticipated to last for 10 - 20 weeks, but not-to-exceed 1-year and can be extended without further competition based on the needs of the organization for the work to continue and provided the individual continues to meet the eligibility requirements.
This USAID Pathways Internship position is part of our centrally funded internship program.
We are seeking an Intern to work 20 hours per week for the following area:
The Center of Excellence on Democracy, Human Rights, and Governance (the DRG Center), which is a division within the Bureau of Democracy, Conflict and Humanitarian Assistance, aims to promote evidence-based programming in the DRG sector. The Learning Team of the DRG Center provides research and technical leadership to the DRG Center and the USAID field missions in other countries. The Learning Team’s objective is to help the Agency determine which programs have the greatest impact in supporting democratic institutions and behaviors, demonstrate how these effects unfold, as well as identify ways to explain the failures of ineffective programs and improve future program performance. The Learning Team achieves this goal by overseeing cutting?edge impact and performance evaluations, survey research, conducting and promoting research and innovations in the DRG sector, maintaining strong relations with the international academic community, and managing DRG communities of practice across the Agency’s DRG membership.
The Learning Team requests an Intern who can support our work and efforts to strengthen relations with academic institutions and to organize and disseminate knowledge developed to USAID DRG cadre in the field missions and implementing partners. The Intern will provide assistance to the Learning Team and specific communities of practice of USAID DRG experts in Washington and field missions through conducting research and preparing short briefing papers on different topics on democratization, development or foreign affairs. The internship will also include helping the DRG Center to disseminate this knowledge to different stakeholders through USAID websites, electronic lists and other online forums. The internship may include other office duties as needed, such as coordinating activities or attending meetings with other units of USAID.
This internship will provide the student with valuable knowledge about USAID programming, DRG substantive fields, as well as significant applied experience with communication and research methodologies.
The Intern will be closely mentored by Learning Team members and interact with other development practitioners in the DRG Center. USAID also offers a number of weekly brown bag presentations from researchers and policy makers within and outside of the Agency that Interns have the opportunity to attend.
The ability to work a minimum of 20 hours per week highly preferred
The initial appointment for this USAID Pathways Intern position is at the grade level for which the applicants qualifies in accordance with the criteria below:
GRADE - LEVEL OF EDUCATION
GS-4 - Completion of 2 full years of post-high school study
Candidates should possess the following:
You will be rated based on your qualifications for this position as evidenced by the education, experience and training you report relative to this position which shows that you possess the knowledge, skills and abilities required. Paid or unpaid experience will be considered.
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Interns are eligible for transit subsidy, holiday pay, and annual and sick leave at specified rates; Appointments for more than 12 months are eligible for a comprehensive benefits package.
NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE.
Due to the large number of applications received, we are unable to respond to all of the applicants individually. Only those candidates under consideration will be contacted.All applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, marital status, political affiliation, age, sex, sexual orientation, physical disabilities, membership in an employee organization, or any other non-merit factors. This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the agency. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be on a case-by-case basis. Moving expenses are not authorized. Relocation expenses are not authorized. Government paid housing is not available. Entrance on duty is contingent upon completion of a pre-employment background investigation. Eligible applicants will be asked to submit forms required for a security clearance and suitability determination. The clearance process considers such factors as: registration for the Selective Service; failure to repay a US government-guaranteed student loan; past problems with credit or bankruptcy; failure to meet tax obligations; unsatisfactory employment records; violations of the law; drug or alcohol abuse; a criminal record; extensive travel; education; residence and/or employment overseas; dual citizenship; foreign contacts; immediate family or relatives who are not citizens of the United States and/or a foreign born spouse; or less than honorable discharge from the armed forces. Investigations, which usually take several months, include current and previous contacts, supervisors, and coworkers. These investigations are conducted by USAID in cooperation with other federal, state, and local agencies SELECTIVE SERVICE. As a condition of employment, all male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must have registered for the selective service. If selected for this position, the applicant must sign a statement certifying his registration, or the applicant must demonstrate exempt status under the Selective Service Law. Applicants must be U.S. citizens. Generally, preference is granted to veterans who entered military service prior to October 14, 1976; or served on active duty during the period from August 2, 1990, through January 2, 1992, and who are otherwise eligible; or who served on active duty during the period beginning September 11, 2001, and ending on the last day of Operation Iraqi Freedom; or who have served in a military action for which they received a Campaign Badge or Expeditionary Medal. This includes the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (AFEM) awarded to those who participated in Operation Joint Endeavor or Operation Joint Guard. Also, you may be entitled to veterans’ preference if you are a disabled veteran; you have received a Purple Heart; you are the spouse or mother of a disabled veteran; or you are the widow, widower, or mother of a deceased veteran. You will need to submit a Standard Form (SF) 15 and proof of your claim. If you are claiming 5-point veterans’ preference, or you are applying for consideration under the Veteran Employment Opportunity Act or Veteran Readjustment Authority, attach a copy of your DD-214 “Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty” or other proof of eligibility. If you are applying for consideration under the 30% or more Disabled Veteran Authority, you must attach a SF-15, “Application for 10-Point Veterans’ Preference” plus the proof required by that form If you are an eligible Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) applicant you may apply for special selection over other applicants for this position. Individuals who have priority selection rights under the Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) must be well qualified for the position. CTAP/ICTAP eligibles must submit one of the following as proof of eligibility for the special selection priority: a separation notice; a “Notice of Personnel Action” (SF-50) documenting separation; an agency certification that you cannot be placed after injury compensation has been terminated; an OPM notification that your disability annuity has been terminated; OR a Military Department or National Guard Bureau notification that you are retired under 5 U.S.C. 8337(h) or 8456
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REQUIRED DOCUMENTS:
An automated applicant assessment system is used to determine basic eligibility and qualifications. We will notify you of the outcome after each step in the process has been completed. After making a tentative job offer, we will conduct a suitability/security background investigation. A final job offer is contingent upon satisfactorily passing the background investigation and obtaining the proper security clearance.
