Volunteer Status & Contributor Terms

The Aldrenor Global Contributor & Intelligence Fellowship is a voluntary contributor programme, not employment.

Aldrenor is committed to building a credible, ethical and legally careful contributor network. This page explains the voluntary nature of the Aldrenor Global Contributor & Intelligence Fellowship, what contributors can expect, and what Aldrenor expects from contributors.

1. Voluntary Contributor Programme

The Aldrenor Global Contributor & Intelligence Fellowship is a voluntary contributor programme. It does not constitute employment, paid internship, worker status, agency engagement, consultancy or a paid staff role.

Contributors participate voluntarily. They may choose whether to accept contribution opportunities and may stop participating in the programme at any time by informing Aldrenor.

Aldrenor is not obliged to provide assignments, publication opportunities, paid work or future engagement. Contributors are not obliged to accept any assignment or contribution opportunity.

2. No Salary, Wage or Guaranteed Paid Work

The programme is unpaid. Contributors are not paid a salary, wage, stipend or automatic fee for participation.

Aldrenor may consider future freelance, project-based or paid opportunities where available, but such opportunities are not guaranteed and would be subject to separate formal engagement terms.

Participation in the fellowship does not create a right or expectation of future paid work.

3. Expenses

Aldrenor may reimburse reasonable pre-approved expenses where applicable.

Expenses must be agreed in advance and may relate to specific approved contribution activity. Aldrenor will not reimburse unauthorised expenses.

Expense reimbursement does not convert the programme into paid employment or a paid staff role.

4. Contributor Independence and Flexibility

Contributors are not required to work fixed hours.

Contributors are not required to accept assignments.

Contributors are not penalised for declining contribution opportunities.

Contributors are expected to act professionally when they voluntarily accept a contribution, submit content, attend a programme session, represent Aldrenor at an approved event or communicate with Aldrenor’s team.

5. Publication Is Not Guaranteed

Submission of content does not guarantee publication.

Aldrenor may accept, edit, decline, delay or request revisions to submitted work based on editorial standards, quality, relevance, accuracy, originality, legal risk, reputational risk or publication priorities.

Aldrenor reserves the right not to publish any contribution that does not meet its standards.

6. Contributor Recognition

Where appropriate, Aldrenor may recognise contributors through:

Bylines
Contributor profiles
Editorial acknowledgement
Certificates of participation
Contributor features
Portfolio links
Event recognition
Recommendation letters based on actual contribution

Recognition is discretionary and does not constitute payment, employment or a promise of future paid work.

7. Editorial Standards and Conduct

All contributors must follow Aldrenor’s editorial standards.

This includes:

Accuracy
Originality
Proper sourcing
Fact-checking
Professional tone
Conflict-of-interest disclosure
AI-use disclosure
Respect for copyright
Avoidance of plagiarism
Respectful communication
Clear separation between opinion, reporting and sponsored content

Aldrenor may remove a contributor from the programme if their conduct, content or behaviour creates legal, ethical, reputational or operational risk.

8. Conflicts of Interest

Contributors must disclose any financial, political, commercial, employment, institutional or personal interest that may affect their contribution.

Examples include:

Working for an organisation being covered
Holding shares or financial interest in a company being discussed
Acting for a political party or public official
Receiving payment from a subject of coverage
Having family or personal relationships with people being profiled
Using Aldrenor access for private commercial advantage

Disclosure does not automatically disqualify a contributor, but it allows Aldrenor to manage transparency and editorial integrity.

9. AI Use and Originality

Contributors may use AI tools only where permitted by Aldrenor’s editorial standards and must disclose material use of AI in content creation.

AI-generated material must not be submitted as original reporting. Contributors remain responsible for accuracy, originality, sourcing and factual integrity.

Plagiarism, fabricated quotes, fake sources, undisclosed AI-generated reporting, manipulated evidence or misleading content may lead to removal from the programme.

10. Copyright and Publication Rights

Contributors must submit only work they have the right to submit.

By submitting content, contributors grant Aldrenor permission to review, edit, publish, distribute, archive and promote the contribution across Aldrenor’s platforms, newsletters, social media, events, research products and related channels.

Where a separate copyright or commissioning agreement is required, Aldrenor may request one before publication.

11. Representation of Aldrenor

Contributors must not represent themselves as employees, directors, officers, agents or authorised representatives of Aldrenor unless specifically approved in writing.

Contributors must not use Aldrenor’s name, brand, logo, email identity or platform access for unauthorised commercial, political or personal activity.

12. Confidentiality

Contributors may receive access to unpublished information, internal editorial discussions, interview materials, research notes, event plans, contacts or strategic information.

Such information must be treated confidentially and must not be shared outside approved Aldrenor channels.

13. Safeguarding, Respect and Anti-Harassment

Aldrenor expects contributors to act respectfully toward applicants, contributors, staff, interviewees, guests, speakers, partners and members of the public.

Harassment, discrimination, abuse, intimidation, misrepresentation, exploitation, hate speech or unethical conduct will not be tolerated

14. Removal from the Programme

Aldrenor may remove a contributor from the programme if there is:

Breach of editorial standards
Plagiarism
Misrepresentation
Confidentiality breach
Harassment or misconduct
Conflict-of-interest abuse
Legal or reputational risk
Repeated poor-quality submissions
Unauthorised representation of Aldrenor
Any conduct inconsistent with Aldrenor’s mission and standards

15. Confirmation Before Applying

Before applying, applicants should confirm that they understand:

The programme is voluntary.
It is not employment or a paid internship.
Participation does not guarantee publication.
Participation does not guarantee future paid work.
Contributors may choose whether to accept opportunities.
Aldrenor may decline or edit submitted work.
All contributors must follow Aldrenor’s editorial standards and contributor terms.