International Advocacy & Research Internship

Time period:  Winter/Spring 2022-2023

Compensation:  $17.00/hour

Duration:  Approximately 8-15 hours per week for 2-4 months (with flexibility), for a maximum of 140 hours of work.

Location:  Primarily remote with option for in-person meetings with staff in Seattle or Berkeley

This unique internship opportunity at Pesticide Action Network North America (PANNA) includes two potential project components. Depending on the Intern’s skills, capacity and interests, and the duration of the internship, the Intern could focus on one or both of the projects.

About PAN

Pesticide Action Network was founded in 1982 as part of a global movement to advance a socially just and environmentally sound food and farming system. PAN North America is part of the global network that makes up PAN International. We work with farmers, farmworker and rural community groups, social justice advocates, and other allies to challenge historic and ongoing racism and other forms of structural oppression, in order to create the comprehensive change needed to build such a system. Our work takes place in key agricultural states of CA, IA, MN, and HI, as well as at the national and international level. www.panna.org

Project Descriptions

Stop the FAO-CropLife #ToxicAlliance Campaign

In 2020, the UN Food & Agriculture Organization (FAO) signed a letter of intent to partner with CropLife International (CLI), the global trade association for the pesticide industry. FAO is mandated to promote sustainable food and agriculture systems worldwide. A formal alliance with CLI ties the FAO to an industry that is devastating people and the planet, and threatens FAO’s integrity, credibility and impartiality as well as its priority of reducing pesticide impacts and promoting agroecology.

PAN International responded by launching a campaign to stop this “toxic alliance” and end the partnership between the FAO and CropLife. Read more about the campaign here. Now two years into the campaign, PAN is continuing to build on the momentum and launching new tactics toward our goals.

Working with organizing co-director Simone Adler, the Intern will support the campaign and its coalition of 11 civil society and Indigenous Peoples organizations with the following projects:

  • Research and organize an internal database of FAO Member State Representatives and contacts, as well as our network relationships to support strategic outreach/influence.
  • Draft content to update our campaign webpage; organize campaign letters, press statements, blogs and resources for consolidation on the campaign’s webpage.
  • Collaborate with the team on creative social media graphics to illustrate campaign messaging in support of advocacy (TBD based on moment of campaign). Design graphics in Canva based on Intern’s interest/experience.
  • Organize campaign supporter lists (sign-ons from organizations around the world).

Research and promote agroecological alternatives to highly hazardous pesticides

The PAN International Agroecology Workgroup is developing case studies and issue briefs on ecological alternatives to Highly Hazardous Pesticides, such as the neurotoxic insecticide, chlorpyrifos, which is widely used in many export-oriented crop production systems around the world. These materials will support PAN and partners’ advocacy in UN pesticide policy processes, by providing policymakers with evidence of the viability and benefits of ecological alternatives to these pesticides.

Working with senior scientist Marcia Ishii, the Intern will:

  • Research agroecological practices that can effectively manage insect pests in key crops in countries where chlorpyrifos use has been high.
  • Prepare advocacy materials (case studies, issue briefs) to present the evidence of successful ecological pest management practices, including the economic as well as health and ecological benefits of those practices and systems.

The Intern will have the opportunity to join monthly zoom calls of the PAN Intl Agroecology Workgroup which includes partners from Argentina, Benin, India, Malaysia, Senegal and the UK.

About PAN Internships

Internships are crucial to PAN’s goal of building a generation of leaders for our movements who are rooted in communities of color and communities most affected by the injustices promulgated by the dominant model of industrial agriculture. PAN seeks people who:

  • enjoy collaborating with diverse groups;
  • demonstrate cultural humility;
  • are committed to principles of racial and social justice;
  • have an interest in food systems, agriculture, climate justice, and social movements; and
  • are able to work independently.

Other desired qualifications:

  • Familiarity with Google Drive Suite tools (google docs, spreadsheets)
  • Writing and research skills
  • Spanish or French language skills are a plus.

People of color, working class people and those from frontline and directly impacted communities are especially encouraged to apply.

Expectations:

  • PAN does not provide computers for this internship. Interns are expected to use their own computers.
  • Interns are provided with ample support from their supervisor(s) for individual projects, but are expected to do most of their day-to-day work independently.
  • PAN supports its interns with a substantial investment of time, energy and resources and seeks those willing and able to invest similarly:
    • to commit to challenging themselves;
    • to do their utmost to leverage this opportunity to develop their skills; and,
    • most importantly, to bring their full selves to their work at PAN.
  • Interns are expected to commit to the completion of the internship projects during the duration of the internship, and to regularly communicate with their supervisor(s) regarding their schedule, project progress, and any issues.

Benefits to Interns:

We work to ensure that an individual workplan is crafted to meet both the intern’s and PAN’s goals. Some benefits of the internship include:

  • Deepening skills with research, writing and development of policy and advocacy materials;
  • Growing knowledge of food systems and pesticide issues;
  • Developing sense of leadership and self-direction through working independently and collaboratively;
  • Opportunities to connect to an international network of social movement organizations, meet with PAN partners and colleagues; and
  • Learn about organizing strategies and the role of grassroots science in advocacy campaigns.

Remote work during the pandemic:

This internship is remotely-based. PAN holds meetings via zoom and uses Slack to communicate throughout the day. Interns will be provided with access to PAN’s communication systems (email, slack, google drive, and our online security platform).

While working hours are generally quite flexible, interns are expected to coordinate check-ins with the timezones of their supervisor. Some partner meetings may take place outside of standard business hours.

PAN has offices based in Berkeley, CA and Minneapolis, MN, with some staff working from other locations (including Seattle, WA). If the Intern is located in Seattle, WA and supervised by the organizing co-director, in-person meetings can be arranged. If located in the Bay Area: in-person meetings can be arranged with PANNA staff in Berkeley. Interns are expected to comply with PAN’s current COVID office policy, which will be shared ahead of time.

Accessibility & Work Culture:

The Berkeley office is on the 2nd floor and wheelchair accessible via elevator. On Zoom, closed captioning can be activated.  Applicants are encouraged to contact us to discuss any additional health, safety or access needs, so that we can maintain as supportive a working environment as possible.

PAN has staff across racial, class and gender identities and a culture of inclusion and commitment to anti-oppression. Interns are encouraged to share their gender pronouns with staff. Read more about PAN’s values here and our commitment to our core constituencies here.

PAN does not discriminate against applicants or employees for reasons of race, color, disability, religion or creed, national origin or ancestry, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, prior convictions, incarceration or age.

Compensation

PAN provides compensation at the hourly rate of $17.00 up to a maximum of 140 hours. The precise distribution of hours per week (and per semester if relevant) depends in part on the timeline and needs of the project and on the availability of the intern. This will be agreed between the supervisor and the Intern before the start of the internship.

How to apply

Please submit a cover letter, resume or CV, and two short writing samples to intern_coordinator@panna.org(link sends e-mail). Please include your name in the subject of your email. In your cover letter, please include your specific goals for your internship, the projects you are interested in, your desired start and end dates, and your availability (number of hours available per week and preferred days & times of the week).