Summer 2022 Fellow: Ayesha Rahman, ’24
Office Description
The Center for Peace Diplomacy (CPD) is an independent non-partisan mediation strategy non-profit (official 501(c)3 status pending) located in New Orleans, Louisiana. We help mediators and peace negotiators identify pathways to peaceful settlement through strategic problem solving. We work both as a partner for peace negotiators, mediators and communities seeking to strengthen their peacemaking strategies, as well as a facilitator and convener of our own mediation processes. CPD’s key area of expertise is the nexus between geopolitics and intrastate conflict. CPD operates in both dimensions simultaneously, drawing on our extensive experience of intrastate and geopolitical negotiations. We pride ourselves on our ability to employ a rigorous model of analysis that captures and synthesizes data that is as diverse as the parties to our mediation processes. Substantively, CPD has an affinity to conflict files that are ambiguous, complex, and have often faded from the front page.
Potential Projects
Interns and fellows at the Center for Peace Diplomacy (CPD) are viewed as integral members of the team. Potential responsibilities include:
- Collect and organize open source intelligence in support of CPD’s weekly situation brief.
- Prepare analytical products that support and inform CPD’s active mediation files.
- Brief CPD staff and partners on individual research and observed trends.
- Conduct special research projects on topics deemed a priority by CPD.
- Based on CPD’s operational needs at the time of the internship/fellowship, the above specific nature of the duties may shift to ensure a mutually valuable experience.
Desired Skills
A confident, organized, self-motivated individual with experience and/or prior exposure to: international relations, politics, journalism, psychology, project management, international security policy, and/or international conflict resolution.
An interest in developing an understanding of international conflict mediation strategy and practice.
Strong research, writing, and analytical skills — with a strong emphasis on the ability to synthesize diverse sets of information.
Fluency in English is required, working knowledge of Russian, Arabic, or French is advantageous.
Experience with Python and web scraping is advantageous.
