BY SIMONE WEICHENRIEDER
Simone Weichenrieder is a second-year International Development student focusing on Development Finance and ERE with a strong drive for Asia. She holds a double BSc. in International Business from Sun Yat sen University, China and the University of Ingolstadt-Eichstätt, Germany as well as a postgraduate Diploma in International Affairs from the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna.
Perspectives: Where did you intern this summer?
SW: I interned for three months at the International Development Law Organization (IDLO) in Rome with the Eastern Europe, and Central Asia (EECA) Department. IDLO is the only intergovernmental organization devoted to promoting the rule of law and sustainable development in close to 90 countries worldwide with various legal systems and diverse projects on the rule of law and governance. IDLO was established as an intergovernmental organization in 1988 and has had United Nations Observer Status since 2001. Overall, the internship was an exciting opportunity to learn about the work of the IDLO. In addition, I was getting an intense look into development work related to governance, especially anti-corruption efforts in eastern Europe and domestic violence in Mongolia.
Perspectives: How did you find this internship, and what was the hiring process?
SW: The hiring process was similar to other previous internships. After handing in an application with a cover letter and the SAIS-formatted resume via Handshake, I received the invitation to an interview with IDLO’s Mongolian program coordinator over Zoom. During the interview, she asked about my understanding regarding the rule of law, diverse program and monitoring strategies, and potential governance issues in developing countries.
Perspectives: What were your primary responsibilities? Please describe the projects you worked on.
SW: My primary responsibilities ranged from researching legal, political, and other aspects of current regional developments, especially in Moldova, Ukraine, and Mongolia to using legal resources to research trends and best practices in Rule of Law. In the framework of Results-Based Management, I assisted with monitoring and evaluation tools for the projects of gender-based violence in Mongolia. Additionally, I provided support in developing internal briefs, internal monthly progress reports and weekly team tasks.
Perspectives: Was there previous coursework or work experience that you found especially useful during the internship or the application process?
SW: Yes, in my first year, I wrote a MAIA Master´s thesis about the disputed notion that only “good and democratic” governance can lead to economic growth in developing countries. The measurement of governance and its relation to a country´s economic and social welfare were the main topics within this work. The rule of law is incomplete in broad fields, for example, actions and support programs regarding domestic violence against women in Mongolia are missing in the country’s legal framework. The IDLO implements projects to inform and improve the legal situations with, for example, the organization of pieces of training of legal actors in consulting the government on necessary policy and judicial changes.
Perspectives: What were some of your key takeaways from this internship for your academic and professional interests?
SW: I was excited about the huge working opportunities an organization like the IDLO offers its employees in a professional sense. Over the summer, the EECA team decided to focus on anti-corruption work and drive this topic forward. The unique chance for single departments to bring in their projects and ideas and take care of financing options was surprising. Overall, I learned a lot about project development and implementation.
Perspectives: What should future SAIS students interested in this internship know?
SW: All the team members work on a variety of projects and regions. Overall, interest in and understanding of the political system of the region are inevitable. An interest in the rule of law and its role in governance is also motivating.
PHOTO CREDIT: Simone Weichenrieder