CPSU Interns Sought

The CPSU is currently looking for up to 6 interns for the following positions.

Intern for Corporate Social Responsibility project

The CPSU is developing a project for a policy study on Corporate Social Responsibility and implications for the investment framework in Commonwealth countries. The CPSU is now looking for a volunteer with suitable research and communication skills who could collaborate in preparing funding proposals for funders.

The volunteer will be required for two days weekly over a three-month period and, as appropriate, will participate in meetings with potential funding organisations. A volunteer who collaborates in the preparation of a successful funding application may expect to become a paid Research Assistant. Please contact Homera Cheema for more details.

Intern for Youth Engagement project

The CPSU is developing a project for a policy study on Youth Engagement in Commonwealth countries. The CPSU is now looking for a volunteer with suitable research and communication skills who could collaborate in preparing funding proposals for funders. The volunteer will participate in meetings with potential funding organisations. A volunteer who collaborates in the preparation of a successful funding application may expect to become a paid Research Assistant. Please contact Homera Cheema for more details.

Intern for fundraising work

The CPSU is looking for an intern who wants to develop their fundraising and administrative skills. The volunteer will be involved in researching funding opportunities, communicating deadlines and application procedures to the rest the team. The volunteer will also be responsible for certain administrative tasks. A volunteer who collaborates in the preparation of a successful funding application may expect to become a paid Fundraiser. Please contact Homera Cheema for more details.

Intern for Gun Culture project

The CPSU is developing a project for a policy study on Gun Culture in Commonwealth cities. The CPSU is now looking for a volunteer with suitable research and communication skills who can work on this project. The Intern will be required to do research, administrative duties and participate in meetings. The Gun Culture volunteer may expect some remuneration. Please contact Homera Cheema for more details.

Intern for Commonwealth Clubs project

The CPSU is working with the Royal Commonwealth Society to raise funding for the second phase of the Commonwealth Clubs project. The CPSU is now looking for a volunteer with suitable research and communication skills who could collaborate in preparing funding proposals for funders. The volunteer will also be the point of contact for existing Commonwealth Clubs. A volunteer who collaborates in the preparation of a successful funding application may expect to become a paid Research Assistant. Please contact Homera Cheema for more details.

Intern for Ramphal Centre development

The Ramphal Centre for Commonwealth Policy Studies ( see http://www.ramphalcentre.org ) will launch in October, 2008, to mark Sonny Ramphal’s 80th birthday. An Intern will be involved in managing the website, and supporting fundraising and other development work under the direction of the Ramphal Centre Committee ( chair, Patsy Robertson, secretary, Richard Bourne ). Initially for three days a week, with modest remuneration, this Internship has the capacity to become a full-time paid post as Ramphal funding grows. The volunteer will be based at the CPSU, by agreement, starting in November 2007. Please contact Richard Bourne for more details, attaching a cv with applications.

Project Officers

Each CPSU project has its own designated Project Officer who is usually a person with demonstrable research experience. Often the CPSU advertises for Project Officers, but it is also possible for candidates with preconcieved project proposals to obtain support and conduct their study under the auspices of the CPSU. Any project adopted by the CPSU will benefit from the expertise of the CPSU's international advisory board.

All CPSU projects are externally funded. The CPSU has developed significant expertise in securing project finance, and is able to assist would-be Project Officers to take their proposals to potential funders. In the past, funders for CPSU projects have included: the European Commission; the Department for International Development, UK; the Ford Foundation, New York; the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, UK; the Commonwealth Fund for Technical Cooperation; and the Commonwealth Local Government Forum.

Each individual project usually requires research interns. These positions are advertised on the CPSU's website and other relevant job sites

Alternatively, if there is a research-area which particularly interests you, and which we feel is relevant to the CPSU, you can make a speculative application to research your idea through an internship with us. In the past, initial research of this type has been turned into a fully-funded project.

Internships are unpaid, although we can cover minimal expenses.
All interns should send a CV and  brief cover letter explaining the nature of their application to cpsu@sas.ac.uk