Internship Opportunity – Shared Futures Programme
Location: Utrecht, the Netherlands (hybrid work possible)
Duration: Minimum of 6 months (by mutual agreement)
Hours per week: 24–32
Are you passionate about international development and (inter-religious) peacebuilding? Kerk in Actie is offering you an internship in an international setting where you can find the opportunity to strengthen your skills and work towards a shared goal.
About Kerk in Actie
Kerk in Actie is part of the Protestant Church in the Netherlands. We believe that all people are created in God’s image. From this conviction, we work together for a world of justice, dignity, and hope.
About the Shared Futures Programme
One of Kerk in Actie’s international initiatives is Shared Futures – a program connecting interfaith understanding to socio-economic cooperation to contribute to peaceful co-existence.
Shared Futures is a program that connects interfaith understanding to socio-economic cooperation to contribute to peaceful co-existence. The program takes place in areas (see below) with tensions/conflicts in which religion is one of the root causes of the conflict. With the goal of peaceful coexistence between groups of different backgrounds, the Shared Futures program supports young people to enhance their employment prospects, thereby fostering social cohesion within their communities. This holistic approach not only alleviates economic hardships but also bridges religious divides, cultivating mutual understanding and cooperation.
The program is currently active in Pakistan, Ghana, Egypt, and Cameroon, and is being developed in Bangladesh, Lebanon, and the Netherlands. For the policy period 2025–2027, Shared Futures will further strengthen international cooperation, knowledge sharing, and evidence-based learning.
Internship Assignment
During this internship, you will support the Shared Futures Programme Coordinator and contribute to the preparation and organization of an international face-to-face partner meeting (F2F), scheduled to take place in 2026. This meeting will be a key moment for learning, exchange, and vision development with local partners from Africa, Asia, and Europe.
You will also play an important role in strengthening connections with academic institutions to promote knowledge building, exchange, and reflection. This includes supporting the setup of a round table or expert meeting on Shared Futures, contributing to learning materials, and connecting practice with research and education.
Your Key Tasks
- Support the organisation of the international F2F meeting (logistics, coordination, programme content, follow-up)
- Coordinate with international partners, translate and process their input
- Support the development of communication and knowledge products (e.g. reports, visuals, learning outputs) which can be used for Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) and lobby and advocacy purposes
- Identify trends and learning points in peacebuilding, interfaith dialogue, and social cohesion
- Strengthen collaboration with academic institutions and support the organisation of a Shared Futures round table or expert meeting
Your Profile
- Enrolled in a Master’s programme related to international development, peace studies, religious studies, social sciences, or a comparable field
- Strong interest in interfaith cooperation, social cohesion, and knowledge exchange
- Well-organised and able to manage multiple tasks independently
- Strong writing and communication skills in English (Dutch is an advantage)
- Comfortable working in an international and intercultural environment
- Enjoys building bridges between practice, policy, and academia
What We Offer
- A meaningful internship in an organisation that contributes to global justice and peace
- Hands-on experience with international programme coordination and knowledge sharing
- The opportunity to work in a dynamic, faith-based international network
- Guidance and mentoring from experienced professionals
- Hybrid work options (office and remote)
- An allowance in accordance with Kerk in Actie’s internship policy
Interested?
Are you interested in this internship please share a motivation letter and CV before 10 November. The starting date of the internship can be discussed, however ideally this is in January 2026.
For more information, please contact:
Ms. Adriana de Fijter
📧 a.defijter@protestantsekerk.nl
📞 +31 6 8689 9005
