Aidsfonds- Soa Aids Nederland: Advocacy and communications traineeship

38 hours per week

(paid traineeship , 6 months)

About Aidsfonds

At Aidsfonds – Soa Aids Nederland, we envision a world free from AIDS-related deaths, where everyone enjoys good sexual health and the freedom to love without fear. We work in close collaboration with those most affected by HIV, STIs, discrimination, and exclusion, amplifying their voices and providing them with information, knowledge, and funding. For us, love is at the heart of everything we do. Our efforts span the Netherlands and 10 countries worldwide.

This position is located in Aidsfonds’ international department, which  leads initiatives to fund community-driven actions aimed at improving access to health and rights. It also drives global advocacy efforts to achieve these goals, with a focus on influencing policies in Brussels and the Netherlands. This traineeship position is based in Brussels, where you will work directly with our EU representative. Currently, the office is focused on two main objectives: securing a successful replenishment of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, and shaping the negotiations of the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) with an emphasis on Official Development Assistance (ODA). As part of our MFF efforts, Aidsfonds runs the MFF Hub, together with PAN, ONE and Global Citizen.

About the opportunity

The Advocacy and Communications trainee will work with our Brussels representative to support our advocacy-related activities.  The internship will be for six  months in duration, beginning in Feb-March 2024.  The intern will work from our office in Brussels and will report to the EU representative. It is a full time paid internship (€2,184.00/month). In addition, we offer:

• Full reimbursement of public transport for work-related travel.
• Meal vouchers.
• Hybrid working: you will work at our office in Brussels and/or partly from home.
• You have 208 hours of leave on a full-time basis (38 hours).

Main tasks and responsibilities

• Contribute to the implementation of our advocacy strategy.
• Schedule, prepare and attend meetings and events, taking notes and reporting back to the EU Representative.
• Support in the organization or events.
• Support in the drafting of advocacy briefs and policy papers.
• Provide research on policy and advocacy issues as required.
• Monitor EU policy and political processes focusing on external action and funding.
• Draft content for Aidsfonds’ social media channels & website as required.
• Support the development of communication tools and resources.

About you

• Right to work in Belgium, Brussels-based.
• Recent graduate in International Development, Economics, Politics, Social Science, or the equivalent.
• Excellent written and verbal English communication skills.
• Excellent analytical and organizational capacities.
• Knowledge of EU institutions and good understanding of EU policies, in particular international cooperation.
• Prior experience in advocacy is desirable.
• Passion for social change, quick-learner with positive energy, can-do attitude.
• You have the ability to view issues from diverse perspectives and establish meaningful connections with the communities we work with—people living with HIV, young people, children, LGBTQ+ individuals, sex workers, and drug users—because you can draw on your own experiences or have engaged closely with members of these communities.

Application process

Please apply by 17th of January 2025 by sharing your motivation letter and curriculum vitae to Lynn Werlich, Director of International Programmes via the online portal: Apply directly at Aidsfonds – Soa Aids Nederland for Advocacy and communications traineeship