Fall 2015 Junior Associate - Women"s Empowerment Program job - The Asia Foundation - Washington, DC

• * * THE APPLICATION DEADLINE is Friday, August 21, 2015 * * *

Are you excited at the prospect of employing your knowledge and skills to improve lives, expand opportunities, and help societies flourish across a dynamic and developing Asia?

In an increasingly complex and changing world, we believe that a peaceful and engaged Asia is of critical global importance. We work with innovative leaders and communities to build effective institutions and advance path-breaking reforms. Together with our partners, we are committed to Asia’s continued development as a peaceful, just, and thriving region of the world.

Informed by six decades of experience and deep local expertise, The Asia Foundation’s programs address critical issues affecting Asia in the 21st century: governance and law, economic development, women’s empowerment, environment, and regional cooperation. These are just some of the ways we encourage Asia’s continued development as a peaceful, just, and thriving region of the world.

The Asia Foundation’s Women’s Empowerment team seeks a Junior Associate (JA) to work in its Washington, DC office during the fall 2015 program period of October 5– December 24, 2015 .

Women’s Empowerment Program:
While women in Asia have made steady gains in recent years, gender inequality remains a significant problem. For almost 60 years, The Asia Foundation has supported women and girls across the Asia-Pacific region. Our Women’s Empowerment Program was established in 1994 and has transformed the lives of thousands of women and girls through significant programs that focus on three key areas: expanding women’s economic opportunities, increasing women’s personal rights and security, and advancing women’s political participation.

During the 12-week program the JA will:
RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Strengthen Lotus Circle cultivation efforts: Work closely with the WEP Senior Director and collaborate with RD colleagues in San Francisco to support ongoing cultivation of this key group of WEP supporters. Substantive activities will include engaging with the WEP team to improve messaging regarding program activities and achievements, including enhanced results reporting; utilizing event planning and program development skills to plan a fall event in NYC that showcases TAF’s work on WEP issues; and potentially support preparations for the Annual Lotus Awards Gala. The JA will also support preparations for an LC site visit to Indonesia in January 2015.


• Enhance information-sharing on women’s empowerment across the Foundation: Support WEP’s efforts to effectively share information both internally and externally. This will include updating our one-page program documents on Education, Women’s Political Participation, Access to Justice, and Gender and Conflict, which will be accomplished through communication with our field offices. The JA will also support the development of the WEP newsletter, both in terms of pulling together content and assessing the structure. Finally, the JA will help to update WEP’s internal OneTAF homepage and the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment group on Yammer to ensure they are useful to our colleagues across the Foundation.


• Support follow-on activities related to the 2015 WEP Violence Against Women (VAW) Workshop : WEP is holding a workshop in September to analyze best practice and current research related to VAW, and share impact from ongoing TAF programming

on the topic. The JA will support ongoing information sharing and networking after the workshop, develop a workshop synopsis of major learnings, and collaborate with participants from various field offices on action items that emerge from the workshop.

Deliverables

• The JA will work seamlessly with colleagues in SF and DC, as well as supporters in NYC, to continue to nurture the Lotus Circle, organize associated events, and communicate results.


• Contribute to WEP’s external communication materials through updating our one-page program documents. Contribute to WEP’s internal communications through newsletter development and updating WEP’s OneTAF homepage to enhance our ability to effectively communicate information with the field.


• Participate in proposal and report development, including through research.


• Write and publish at least one blog on a gender-relevant topic by the end of November.


• Attend and develop event reports on relevant events related to gender integration and women’s empowerment, and post on WEP’s OneTAF site.

QUALIFICATIONS:
Positions for the Douglas K. Bereuter Program for Junior Associates in Asian Affairs are expected to be very competitive. We are seeking talented, high-energy individuals who will benefit from their affiliation with the Foundation and contribute to the organization as well.

Candidates must have the following:

• Received a post-graduate degree within the past two years. In addition, to be considered, a candidate must have completed and obtained this degree prior to the beginning of the program period. The fall 2015 program period is October 5, 2015 – December 24, 2015.


• Completed graduate studies in Asia-related areas: international relations, international development, public administration, public policy, law, political science, economics, or sociology with work experience in Asia


• Authorization to legally work in the United States without sponsorship


• Strong written and verbal communication skills


• Great organizational skills


• Great computer skills

Who are we looking for?

The ideal candidate is someone who understands and appreciates the impact that government and politics have on people and the challenges they face in the developing world. The candidate is passionate about the work that they do and have boundless enthusiasm for working collaboratively in a multi-cultural environment. The ability to work efficiently and politically in a context that can be very challenging is highly desirable.

Why work at The Asia Foundation?

You will have the opportunity to help solve some of the toughest challenges in the development/aid sector. Address environmental problems in the region, improve access to legal information, enhance civil society, promote government engagement/collaboration, and encourage learning and awareness.

You will work in an innovative environment and build lasting relationships. The Asia Foundation, its donors, and its partners are unmatched throughout the region. This is an opportunity to work with and learn from some of the most accomplished leaders, influencers, and social entrepreneurs working in Asia today.

HOW TO APPLY:
To apply, please upload your cover letter and resume (preferably in one document) and submit as an attachment. ** We will only consider applicants who apply on-line and provide all required documents prior to the application deadline on Friday, August 21, 2015, 5:00 PM PST . We require a resume, cover letter, an official transcript confirming the completion of your degree, and two letters of recommendation (either two academic OR one academic and one personal) In addition to being considered, please answer the assessment questions provided.

Please be sure to submit your official transcript confirming the completion of your degree and two letters of recommendation submitted as either a Word or PDF document to Junior.Associates@asiafoundation.org . Please include “Recommendation letter for

[Candidate Name]” in the subject line of the recommendation letter email.

This position offers benefits.

**Must be legally eligible to work in the United States **

The Asia Foundation is an equal opportunity employer. EOE/M/F/D/V. No phone calls, please.