ALTSEAN-BURMA – WOMEN OF BURMA INTERN/TRAINER

Preferred start date: 6 Jan 2025 

Based in Bangkok.

The successful candidate needs to be:

1. Committed to women’s empowerment, particularly women from marginalized communities (including transwomen & transmen)
2. Extremely organized – this program has a lot of moving parts including admin and logistics!
3. Culturally sensitive, resilient, oriented to problem-solving. A pro-active communicator (and listener!)
4. Experienced in various training methods
5. Familiar with the situation in Burma/Myanmar

This position is reserved for female candidates only, as some of our trainees have been exposed to serious human rights violations, and would feel more confident sharing with a female trainer.

The successful applicant will be able to contribute directly to the capacity development of young activists from Burma who work in challenging and sometimes hostile conditions. This position will suit an individual who is comfortable working in close collaboration with a team of diverse people, willing to work long hours when necessary, and be able to observe the strict discipline and security protocols of the office.

Excellent written and verbal skills in the English language would be an advantage.

The trainer will be the main role model of the women of Burma interns and therefore should embody the dedication, efficiency, and qualities oriented to pro-active communication, problem-solving and dialogue.

About us:

ALTSEAN-Burma (the Alternative ASEAN Network on Burma), established in 1996, is based in Bangkok, and works with a broad range of people from Southeast Asia and beyond to promote the cause of human rights and democracy in Burma. Our main thematic priorities are atrocity prevention, business and human rights, and women’s participation and leadership.

About the job:

Under the supervision and guidance of the management team, coordinate and implement the Women of Burma training program. A batch of up to 7 young women are trained for 5-6 months to strengthen knowledge, skills, and personal qualities needed as leaders.

The Women of Burma Program has been ongoing since 1997, and alumni include many current leaders in the movement. In 2025, ALTSEAN will transition to a hybrid training – for the first 3 months, the program will be run online, and based on their performance, participants will complete the final two months in Bangkok.

Duties (normal programming):

1. Organize the classes and activities for each group of interns, utilizing our Batch Planner tool. Coordinate with colleagues, guest instructors and other stakeholders to ensure smooth implementation of the training and exposure plan for each group.
2. Deliver classes to the women of Burma interns on a range of topics covering aspects of human rights, research and writing, project cycle management, and critical thinking. Specific assignments will depend on the successful applicant’s level of knowledge. The Training Intern will be expected to be in class for 17-25 hours per week. There are already lesson plans and modules for all topics listed, but occasionally they may need to be updated. New modules will be created according to the needs of the interns.
3. Together with the program team, mentor Women of Burma interns through the complete Project Cycle Management process of a mini advocacy project, i.e. design, implementation, and evaluation (we already have Project Cycle Management and Advocacy modules). This is a key priority and will take up more class time.
4. Other duties relevant to the Women of Burma Internship and Alumni program include:

1. Daily management of the Women of Burma internship and the well-being of the interns;
2. Correction of interns’ homework, assignments, timesheets, transfer detail and invoice;
3. Implementation of Women of Burma interns’ outings in compliance with security protocols (when they are in Bangkok for the final 2 months);
4. Recruitment of new Women of Burma interns including review of application forms and coordination of interviews;
5. Maintain the Women of Burma Alumni Facebook page and track progress of alumni;

1. Develop, review, and update the curriculum, training materials, and lesson plans for the Women of Burma Internship program, with the support of the Coordinator. 

NOTE: Participants come from and are expected to work in contexts that are extremely challenging. Situations will arise (or be created) during the program which challenge them to strengthen their problem-solving, team-building, dialogue, risk management and negotiation skills. The Trainer is expected to actively encourage this process.

WOB Alumni Refresher Courses:

ALTSEAN conducts refresher courses for alumni, to provide “top-up” skills and knowledge, and group mentoring. The content is often nominated by participants. The successful candidate is expected to coordinate such courses which are usually held every 2 years. 

Reporting:

The successful candidate will be responsible for effective monitoring and evaluation of the project, and the production of reports of a high standard for our donors. This will be carried out in coordination with the Program Officer or Program Support Officer. 

TERMS OF CONTRACT:

• Minimum duration of 12 months. Tenure and remuneration will be upgraded and extended depending on work performance, team dynamics, and available funding.
• Minimum of 40 working hours per week, excluding public holidays.
• 12 days’ annual leave per 12 months, or pro-rata equivalent.
• Breakfast and lunch available at the office on workdays.
• Compliance with the Staff Manual, including security protocols. Compliance with COVID-19 policy that requires all staff to be fully vaccinated and boosted.

During 3-month probation period:

• Title – “Training Intern”
• The successful candidate will be provided with subsidized accommodation during this period. Those who opt to stay at their own accommodation may be given a small transport allowance in lieu of accommodation subsidy.
• Monthly allowance of THB 11,000.
• Reimbursement of visa expenses to a maximum of THB 13,000 for the probation period.

After satisfactory completion of 3-month probation, the intern will:

• Receive a monthly living allowance of THB 11,000 and a monthly visa allowance of THB 13,000 on a cash-in-hand basis (THB 24,000 net per month). 
• Be able to claim reimbursement to a maximum THB 500 /month for health expenditures (subject to production of receipts for allowed expenditure – medical, dental, medicines, vitamins, contraception, and therapeutic massage). Unused health allowance can accumulate and be claimed for larger bills incurred. Receive THB 3,000 every 6 months as a contribution to health insurance.
• Have their job description upgraded to “Women of Burma Trainer”.

Respect for and adherence to the security precautions and policies of the ALTSEAN-Burma Secretariat is essential. The Secretariat team is made up of people from a broad range of backgrounds; therefore, cultural sensitivity is a priority. The ALTSEAN-Burma Secretariat is a non-smoking workplace.

HOW TO APPLY:

Fill in the application form and upload your CV by 17 November (11:59pm Bangkok Time) at https://bit.ly/4hrEobM

Interviews will be conducted on Sat 23 November. 

Short-listed candidates will be required to submit a written assignment provided by ALTSEAN-Burma prior to the interview. The interview may also include a written test.