POST:Researcher on the Horn of Africa/Kenya HRW

F/T Position Available:
RESEARCHER ON THE HORN OF AFRICA/KENYA
Africa Division
Deadline for applications: January 31, 2010

Human Rights Watch ("HRW") is seeking highly qualified applicants for the position of Researcher on the Horn of Africa/Kenya.



Description: Under the guidance of the Team Leader for the Horn of Africa/Kenya, the Researcher will support the work of HRW staff in implementing a human rights research and advocacy agenda focusing on the Horn of Africa (Ethiopia, Eritrea and Somalia) and Kenya.

Responsibilities will include, but are not limited to: curbing abuses of human rights and humanitarian law in the Horn of Africa and Kenya through monitoring, investigating and documenting violations; writing and publicizing concise and accurate reports, briefing papers, letters, press releases, op-eds and submissions to international bodies as needed, with a quick turnaround time; developing and implementing local, regional and international strategies to bring violations to the attention of the government and the international community and change abusive laws, policies and practices; effectively advocating for the improvement of human rights with regional governments, the African Union, the United States, the European Union and intergovernmental organizations; monitoring related legislative and/or policy developments; responding to inquiries from the press, public and colleagues in the human rights community; and other tasks as may be assigned. Travel to the region will be required.

The Researcher may be based in one of HRW's global offices or in another location, but in any case must be prepared to spend significant periods of time in HRW's New York headquarters and Washington, DC office, particularly in the first year of employment for purposes of orientation, training, integration into the organization and thereafter for regular consultation.

Qualifications: The successful candidate will be scrupulously objective, able to investigate and report on abuses without prejudice or favor, in contexts that are often highly charged politically. The individual in this position must be flexible and able to respond quickly to crises as they may occur, producing excellent written material in English under tight deadlines. The position combines elements of research, writing and advocacy, and requires an individual who has solid judgment and initiative, strong interpersonal skills, and excellent research and writing skills.

An advanced (graduate) degree in international relations, journalism, law, and history and/or the social sciences as well as solid field research and documentation skills are required. S/he will have experience working in or on one or more countries in the region. Excellent oral and written communications skills in English are required; fluency in one or more regional languages is strongly preferred.

S/he must be able to travel domestically and overseas for three or more weeks at a time, several times a year. The ideal candidate will be highly self-motivated, well organized, collegial and able to work quickly and well under pressure both independently and as a member of a team. S/he must have a demonstrated commitment to international human rights.

Salary and Benefits: HRW seeks exceptional applicants and offers competitive compensation and employer-paid benefits. HRW will pay reasonable relocation expenses and will assist employees in obtaining necessary work authorization, if required; citizens of all nationalities are encouraged to apply.

PLEASE APPLY IMMEDIATELY by emailing in a single submission: a letter of interest describing your experience, your resume, names or letters of reference, and a brief writing sample (unedited by others) no later than January 31, 2010 to pricem@hrw.org. Please use "Researcher on Horn of Africa Ref: AFR-10-1001-A" as the subject of your email. Only complete applications will be reviewed. It is preferred that all materials be submitted via email. If emailing is not possible, send materials (please do not split a submission between email and regular post) to:

Human Rights Watch
Attn: Search Committee (Researcher on Horn of Africa Ref: AFR-10-1001-A)
1630 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 500
Washington, DC 20009 USA
Fax: +1 (202) 612-4333

Human Rights Watch is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate in its hiring practices and, in order to build the strongest possible workforce, actively seeks a diverse applicant pool.

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Human Rights Watch is an international human rights monitoring and advocacy organization known for its in-depth investigations, its incisive and timely reporting, its innovative and high-profile advocacy campaigns, and its success in changing the human rights-related policies and practices of influential governments and international institutions.