FULL-TIME JOB VACANCY
RESEARCHER, DEMOCRACTIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO
Africa Division
Kinshasa
Application Deadline: 18 August 2024

The Africa Division of Human Rights Watch (HRW) is seeking applicants for the position of Africa Researcher covering the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Africa Division is part of the Program Department, which consists of 15 regional and thematic divisions. The Africa Division works to advance human rights in 25 African countries and conducts a wide range of activities, including investigation, report writing, advocacy, and media work. This position reports to the Africa Deputy Director based in Washington DC, the US, and will be based in Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The successful candidate will work remotely from Kinshasa. We aim to be as flexible and supportive as possible in both the recruitment and onboarding of this position.

Responsibilities:

1. Develop and implement a research and advocacy agenda that focuses on improving respect for human rights, both civil and political and social and economic rights, in the Democratic Republic of Congo;
2. Research, monitor, and document human rights abuses by collecting and analyzing information from a wide variety of sources including governments, local media, NGOs, victims, witnesses, journalists, diplomats, public security institutions, and others in the field;
3. Regularly write and publicize reports, briefing papers, letters, news releases, op-eds, and submissions to regional and international bodies based on research findings;
4. Develop recommendations for rights improvements in the country; devise and implement national, regional, and international advocacy strategies to change abusive laws, policies, and practices;
5. Place abuses within the broader political, social, economic, and historical contexts and present human rights concerns to government officials, opinion leaders, inter-governmental agencies, and the media;

1. Respond promptly to queries from the media, public, and colleagues in the human rights community and take initiative to project concerns in public debate;
2. Work closely with NGOs and national human rights organizations to ensure that HRW’s work complements and enhances their own work;
3. Liaise effectively with HRW staff in multiple locations throughout the world to ensure effective coordination and delivery of activities;

1. Assist the Executive Director, Africa Division, and HRW’s Development and Global Initiatives Department in conducting fundraising;
2. Be prepared and willing to work flexible hours to accommodate developing and urgent events;
3. Travel domestically and overseas, as required, to conduct field work and advocacy meetings, when necessary;
4. Deliver outputs in a timely manner and be consistent with the agreed strategy and priorities of the Africa division and wider Program Department; and
5. Perform other tasks, as may be required.

Qualifications:

Education: An advanced (graduate) degree in international relations, journalism, law, African studies, history, or social sciences or equivalent work experience is required.

Experience: A minimum of three years of relevant experience working in human rights research is required.

Required Skills and Knowledge:

1. Demonstrated ability to identify, research, analyze, and effectively communicate important human rights developments in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the broader Central Africa region is required.
2. Demonstrated ability and sensitivity to conduct interviews with a wide range of people, including victims, survivors, and witnesses are required.
3. Knowledge of and experience working in international human rights and familiarity with international and African human rights law is required, particularly as it relates to the Democratic Republic of Congo and neighboring countries, with a particular attention to Rwanda, Burundi, and Uganda.
4. Knowledge of and experience working on rights issues relating to the Congolese context, including civil and political rights, social and economic rights, including business and human rights the rule of law, and crises and conflicts is required.
5. Excellent oral and written communication skills in both English and French, including dynamic public speaking skills and the ability to write accurate, persuasive, well-organized, analytical, and timely documents, are required. Proficiency in at least one language other than French and English and relevant to the DRC research is highly desirable.
6. Ability to build and sustain partnerships with human rights, community, and regional organizations on shared goals and objectives is required.
7. Interpersonal skills in order to work positively and collaboratively within HRW as well as with national partners, government officials, media, and other external partners from diverse backgrounds environment is required.
8. Demonstrated ability to think strategically about the global and national media and policy environments and how to use the media and electronic media to further advocacy goals is desirable.
9. Ability to maintain contacts and meet with officials and experts addressing human rights in Central Africa and in countries covered by the research is required.
10. Ability to multi-task effectively, including having good planning and organizing skills and ability to work under pressure are required.
11. Ability to make sound decisions consistent with functions is required.

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

How to Apply: Please apply immediately or by 18 August 2024 by visiting our online job portal at https://www.hrw.org/careers and attaching a letter of interest and resume or CV, preferably as PDF files. No calls or email inquiries, please. Only complete applications will be reviewed and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

If you are experiencing technical difficulties with your application submission, or if you require a disability-related accommodation to submit your application, please email [email protected]. Due to the large response, application submissions via email will not be accepted and inquiries regarding the status of applications will go unanswered.

Human Rights Watch is strong because it is diverse. We do not discriminate in hiring practices and actively seek a diverse applicant pool. We encourage candidates of all abilities, ages, gender identities and expressions, national origins, races and ethnicities, religious beliefs, and sexual orientations, to apply. We welcome all kinds of diversity. Our employees include people who are parents and nonparents, the self-taught and university educated, and from a wide span of socio-economic backgrounds and perspectives on the world. Human Rights Watch is an equal opportunity employer.

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.