Support for international policymaking through news monitoring of the conflicts in Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo and Myanmar
Jessica Olney, Executive Director
International Studies, Institute of
Open. Apprentices needed for the fall semester. Enter your application online beginning August 21st. The deadline to apply is Monday, August 31st, 4pm.
This project engages students in research that supports the Berkeley Institute of International Studies (IIS) and its collaborator, the human rights organization PAEMA (Preventing And Ending Mass Atrocities). The Berkeley lead researcher is Jessica Olney, IIS Executive Director.
URAP students will contribute to PAEMA's Conflict News Monitoring Program, which tracks daily conflict and political developments in the three countries where PAEMA works: Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Myanmar.
Each month, PAEMA summarizes the news in concise bulletins disseminated across its networks in the US government (including the House Foreign Affairs Committee, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and the State Department), the UN Security Council, the offices of UN member states, and various other stakeholders and subscribers. Samples of recent news monitors are available on PAEMA.ngo.
Since February 2026, undergraduate students affiliated with IIS have been contributing to the PAEMA news monitors. This fall, we hope to engage 27 students, who will each be assigned one conflict-related topic and country of focus.
This URAP opportunity gives students first-hand experience of time-urgent qualitative research, similar to that performed by staffers across government offices, UN agencies, and policy-adjacent NGOs. This experience will be of interest for students interested in professional careers in policy and advocacy.
Role: URAP participants will attend two-hour weekly workshops held in person in the IIS conference room (223 Philosophy Hall) and facilitated by Jessica Olney. They will also complete additional research tasks independently and in country-focused teams.
Learning outcomes:
Participants will develop systematic media monitoring skills, including source identification and cross-referencing of materials to build knowledge of conflict dynamics, humanitarian response, and international policymaking in Sudan, DRC, and Myanmar.
They will also learn to synthesize complex information into concise, policy-grade written products. They will gain an understanding of how human rights and atrocity prevention organizations operate and interface with governments and multilateral bodies.
The specific tasks include:
1. Participation in weekly workshops
Each week, the students will learn about international policymaking to address conflict, humanitarian response, and human rights, with a focus on the three countries where PAEMA works. Guest speakers from the target locations will join virtually to provide firsthand insight. IIS and PAEMA will also deliver short lectures on the thematic areas of focus.
2. Weekly independent research tasks
Outside of the workshop, the students will monitor the news by reviewing local, regional, and international media, situation updates, and operational reports from humanitarian organizations to source information on armed conflict and political developments.
3. Preparation of monthly news monitors
Students will work in three country-focused teams (nine students each) to prepare concise bullet points summarizing their desk research. These bullet points will be incorporated in PAEMA's monthly news monitors about each country. (News monitors will be edited/finalized by PAEMA prior to publication.)
4. Country briefing paper
Each student team will also prepare a five-page briefing paper about the current conflict situation in each country, also for dissemination in PAEMA's networks.
Qualifications: Required:
-Prior coursework in international relations, political science, history, human rights, or a related field
-Strong interest in international affairs, human rights, or foreign policy, evidenced by coursework, extracurricular involvement, or prior experience
-Academic writing skills and ability to synthesize information concisely (students will be producing policy-grade written products on tight timelines)
-Reliability and commitment to weekly in-person attendance — the project is time-sensitive and team-based, so consistent participation is essential
Preferred but not required:
-Comfort working with English-language news sources and reports from international organizations (UN situation reports, NGO operational updates, etc.)
-Familiarity with one or more of the three focus regions (Sudan, DRC, Myanmar) through coursework, personal background, personal interest, or self-directed study
-Reading proficiency in a relevant language (Arabic, French, Burmese, or others spoken in the target regions), which is useful for accessing local news sources
-Prior experience with research, journalism, policy writing, or media monitoring in any context
-Familiarity with humanitarian or human rights organizations and how they operate
Day-to-day supervisor for this project: Susan Hyde, Staff Researcher
Hours: 6-8 hrs
Related website: https://iis.berkeley.edu
Related website: https://paema.ngo