Research & Admin Fellowship (MENA)

Front Line Defenders invites applications for a Research & Admin Fellowship to support its work in Middle East & North Africa. The candidate will work in close coordination with the Protection Coordinators for the Middle East & North Africa region, and will provide support to other relevant staff across other programme areas as required. The Research & Admin Fellowship will be for 9 months (extendable for up to 1 year) and based in Front Line Defenders’ office in Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland.

The fellowship is designed to provide training and practical work experience in an international organisation to recent graduates seeking a career in human rights. The fellow will learn about Human Rights Defenders; the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders; the mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur; the role of Front Line Defenders and other national and international organisations in the support and protection of human rights defenders; the specific situation and challenges facing human rights defenders in the region and advocacy at the EU level. They will be expected to participate in induction, periodic reviews, weekly team and case meetings, and relevant out-of-hours events.

The successful candidate will be able to draft well and have good analytical skills. They will have some knowledge of the UN system, the EU system and international and human rights law. They must be able to work in both English and Arabic. Ability to communicate in additional languages used in Middle East & North Africa is a plus. Please note that we cannot make exceptions to the language requirement.

They will be able to work on own initiative and as a member of a team. They will have good oral and written communication skills and be computer literate. They will be flexible, have good interpersonal skills, good stress management skills and be cooperative. An ability to multitask and prioritize is a must. Previous work experience with organisations working in the field of human rights is desirable.

Basic terms of reference:

• Provide support to the Protection Coordinators working on Middle East & North Africa, including dealing with routine queries and correspondence with human rights defenders;
• Input HRD-related information on the Front Line Defenders’ database and ensure that it is kept up to date;
• Undertake research on human rights defenders in countries in the two regions;
• Compile and draft as requested briefings, country summaries, input to reports, urgent appeals, , or other materials;
• Provide support to other relevant staff across other programme areas in relation to activities carried out in the two regions, including in particular the organisation of and follow-up on trainings;
• Carry out administrative tasks as requested, including the taking of minutes in meetings, as well as translating administrative documents from Arabic/English and English/Arabic;
• Provide Arabic-language support as necessary, including simultaneous translation for human rights defenders;
• Work on other specific projects and tasks relating to human rights defenders as requested;
• Provide flexible support to the Rest and Respite programme, including, but not limited to, accompanying human rights defenders to events and translating.

Front Line Defenders is able to provide a contribution to living costs of €1469 per month. Front Line Defenders will reimburse the successful candidate the cost of their flights to and from Dublin. Please note that the cost of living in Dublin is high and that you may need additional funds to sustain your stay in Ireland. This is a Dublin-based role working from the FLD office for the full length of the fellowship. Front Line Defenders will assist with the Irish visa application process if relevant.

Front Line Defenders is an Equal Opportunities Employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community.

In providing protection and support to human rights defenders, Front Line Defenders and its staff are committed to:

• focus on the primacy and centrality of defenders;
• demonstrate profound respect and empathy for defenders;
• meet the needs expressed by the defenders in a fast, flexible and relentless manner;
• achieve tangible impact;
• act with independence, impartiality and integrity;
• perform with dedication, professionalism and accountability;
• show transparency and openness;
• develop participative and cooperative relations.