International Service for Human Rights (ISHR) Africa Programme Fellowship 2024

International Service for Human Rights (ISHR) is an independent, non-profit organisation with offices in Geneva and New York. This fellowship offers a unique opportunity to view the international and regional human rights systems at work. It provides hands-on experience working for an international non-governmental organisation (NGO) as well as the opportunity to contribute to our work supporting human rights defenders, strengthening human rights systems, legal frameworks, building and leading human rights coalitions, and responding to significant and systemic human rights concerns.

ISHR seeks to host a postgraduate Fellow to support the work within the Africa Programme.Working in a small team, the Fellow will have the opportunity to learn at close hand what it means to work for an international human rights advocacy organization.

The Fellow will also have the opportunity to collaborate with ISHR staff in all locations. In a year’s work with ISHR, the Fellow will gain experience monitoring a number of deliberations and negotiations of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) and lobbying and advocating in those fora in line with ISHR’s mandate and priorities. The Fellow will gain hands-on experience on the application of international and regional human rights law in a multilateral human rights system, including advocacy on normative and policy advances for the protection of human rights defenders in Africa.

• Table of Content
• About International Service for Human Rights (ISHR)
• Africa Programme Fellowship
• Aim and Benefits of Africa Programme Fellowship
• Requirements for Africa Programme Fellowship Qualification
• Application Deadline
• How to Apply

About International Service for Human Rights (ISHR)

The International Service for Human Rights is an independent, non-profit organisation promoting and protecting human rights. Founded in 1984, ISHR has offices in Geneva (Switzerland) and New York (United States), as well as a permanent presence on Abidjan (Côte d'Ivoire). 

Africa Programme Fellowship

Aim and Benefits of Africa Programme Fellowship

• The Fellowship is expected to be a full-time (37.5 hours per week) position and will take place remotely / in Abidjan (if eligible) for a duration of a year.
• Remuneration: 1000-2000€ / month (depending on location, qualifications and experience).

Requirements for Africa Programme Fellowship Qualification

The successful Fellow must:

• Be a recent Master or LL.M graduate in human rights law, international public law or equivalent. Recent graduates from other relevant graduate-level programs will be considered as well;
• Have working knowledge of international and regional human rights law;
• Demonstrate familiarity with the African Union and the ACHPR mechanisms, as well as issues faced by human rights defenders in Africa; familiarity with the UN system is also an advantage.
• Have strong drafting and research skills;
• Be able to report thoroughly and accurately on meetings;
• Be flexible and self-motivated;  Be able to work as a member of an international and multicultural team and willing to participate in a variety of tasks, as required;
• Ability to effectively work remotely and independently;
• Have excellent written and oral communication skills in French and English, both languages being mandatory for this position;
• Knowledge of official ACHPR languages, especially Arabic and Portuguese is an advantage.

Application Deadline

How to Apply

• Please submit your application by filling out this form and attaching a cover letter, a CV (maximum 2 pages with no profile photo), 1 relevant writing sample (no more than 5 pages including bibliographies).
• In their cover letter, candidates should demonstrate their commitment to human rights and social change.

For more details, visit ISHR website.