About the Organization
The Salvation Army is an international movement and an evangelical part of the universal Christian Church. Its mission is to meet human needs without discrimination. National Headquarters (NHQ) supports the work of The Salvation Army across the United States and internationally by providing leadership, resources, and strategic support to territorial and local operations.
ABOUT SAWSO
The Salvation Army (TSA) operates in 134 countries around the globe serving vulnerable communities. The Salvation Army World Service Office (SAWSO), along with other supporting offices (SOs), play a key role in this global effort, serving as the U.S.-based arm in supporting high-impact international assistance tailored to meet local needs in communities around the world. Guided by our mission to meet human needs without discrimination, we work alongside local partners to provide food, shelter, healthcare, education, and emergency relief to individuals and families facing poverty, displacement, and crisis.
Key Responsibilities
The intern will support SAWSO’s disaster preparedness work through the following responsibilities:
Conduct desk research on best practices in international disaster preparedness, anticipatory action, disaster risk reduction, and strengthening community-based disaster response.
Review internal project documents, proposals, training materials, and case examples from Salvation Army disaster preparedness and response projects, including emerging work in South Africa and the Philippines.
Research approaches to prepositioning emergency relief items, including considerations for stock selection, storage, replenishment, distribution readiness, and accountability.
Support learning around anticipatory action, including how early warning information, preparedness triggers, and pre-agreed plans can support faster action before a disaster’s full impact is felt.
Help organize and synthesize information into accessible learning products, including briefs, slide decks, infographics, guidance notes, and field-friendly templates.
Collaborate with SAWSO technical advisors and international emergency services colleagues to ensure materials are practical, relevant, and grounded in real-world field experience.
Provide administrative and coordination support for preparedness-related meetings, trainings, workshops, or learning sessions as needed.
Support other disaster relief and recovery portfolio tasks as assigned.
MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT
- Computer and Printer
- Photocopy Machine
- Scanner
- Microsoft Office365
Required
Education & Experience
Qualifications
- Current graduate student or recent graduate in humanitarian assistance, international development, emergency management, public policy, disaster risk reduction, public health, social work, or a related field.
- Strong interest in disaster preparedness, humanitarian response, anticipatory action, international emergency management, or disaster risk reduction.
- Excellent writing, research, and synthesis skills, with the ability to translate technical information into clear, practical language for field practitioners.
- Experience conducting desk research and reviewing programmatic, operational, or evaluation documents.
- Familiarity with humanitarian programming, disaster response systems, emergency logistics, training development, or monitoring and evaluation is preferred.
- Experience developing practical tools, templates, presentations, or learning materials is a plus.
- Cross-cultural communication skills and sensitivity to working with international partners and locally led response teams.
- Ability to work independently while also collaborating with a remote and international team.
- Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
Skills
- Basic research and analytical skills.
- To find relevant information, conduct qualitative analysis and basic quantitative analysis and synthesize large amounts of information into clear, actionable insights. Also to research existing projects and budgets to help estimate costs of WASH improvements to health care facilities.
- Strategic thinking and problem-solving skills.
- To gain an understanding of key public health interventions and programs; to identify vulnerabilities and opportunities and to make recommendations based on the data and trends.
- Excellent communication skills.
- To summarize complex information into clear deliverables, etc.
- Experience in creating briefs or presentations to capture key findings or recommendations.
- Data management and organization skills.
- To manage the various data gathered to allow for easy access and use of the information and ensure attention to detail for organizing the information.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES
- Excellent research, analytical, and writing skills.
- Ability to manage multiple tasks and prioritize deadlines.
- Ability to organize and present information clearly.
- Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
- Cultural humility and sensitivity toward diverse populations.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality and professionalism.
- Proficiency in English and Microsoft Office365.
BENEFITS:
Ability to Commute:
- Alexandria, VA 22314 (Required)
Work Location: In person
