Human rights fellow – Nairobi

  • Full Time
  • Nairobi

Location: Nairobi

Position: Human rights fellow

Starting Date: September 2026

Job type: Full-time

Contract Duration: 6 months

Salary: Monthly stipend.

About the Organization

The Committee for Justice (CFJ) is an independent association dedicated to the defense of human rights, based in Geneva, Switzerland. Established in 2015 by a diverse group of human rights advocates, CFJ is committed to supporting victims and human rights defenders who are vulnerable to violations.

CFJ strives to provide a credible assessment of the human rights situation to the international community, civil society organizations, and knowledge hubs. Our work focuses on empowering victims and human rights defenders while enhancing the overall human rights landscape through monitoring, documentation, and the presentation of violations and developments in policy and practice in regions where such information is scarce.

Through its initiatives, CFJ aspires to contribute to efforts aimed at securing reparations and justice for victims, as well as countering impunity for perpetrators of human rights violations.

In 2023, CFJ was granted consultative status by the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), following the recommendation of the Non-Governmental Organizations Committee, which consists of 19 member states.

About the Role

Job purpose:

Our Human Rights Fellowship is designed for individuals under 35 years old, who are committed to advancing human rights through expanding their knowledge and practice in human rights work in the areas of monitoring and documenting human rights violations, research, and advocacy engagement with regional and international human rights mechanisms (African commission and UN mechanisms).

Fellows will work closely with our team on walking through the technical practices of daily human rights work in CFJ to address issues related to documenting human rights violations, gender equality, detainees’ rights, freedom of expression, and many other political and civil rights, as well as social and economic rights within different countries and contexts. Through their journey they will contribute to ongoing projects at CFJ and participating in the implementation of its activities.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

As a Human Rights Fellow, you will:

  • Conduct research on specific human rights issues and compile findings
  • Support advocacy efforts, including drafting reports and briefing papers
  • Engage with communities and partners to promote awareness and outreach
  • Assist in organizing events, workshops, or campaigns related to human rights awareness

Candidate Requirements

Qualifications:

We welcome applications from individuals who are:

  • Passionate about human rights, social justice, and equality
  • Skilled in research, writing, and/or community organizing
  • Have relevant background education or professional experience in social sciences, law, international law, human rights, etc.

Key Competencies:

  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English. French is a plus.
  • Strong time management and organizational abilities.
  • Capacity to document meetings and events with an understanding of diverse contexts.
  • Demonstrated commitment to human rights and confidentiality.
  • Flexibility to travel frequentlyand adapt to changing priorities.
  • Team-oriented with a high degree of self-motivation and independence.
  • Ability to thrive in multicultural environments.
  • Willingness to embrace new challenges and tasks.
  • Proficiencyin Microsoft Office and other relevant software.

CFJ is committed to ensuring equality and non-discrimination based on sex, race, religion, or belief throughout its hiring process. As a multicultural organization that celebrates diversity, CFJ expects all employees to foster a non-discriminatory, inclusive, and respectful approach toward colleagues and stakeholders from diverse backgrounds and cultures.

Working conditions

The role consists of approximately 70% office-based tasks and 30% travel for events, or meetings. In the event of weekend work, compensatory days off will be provided to ensure a balanced work schedule.

How to Apply

Potential candidates should submit the following documents here by 15th of August 2024

Updated resume with details of work experience and language skills.

Applications should be submitted here with title “Human rights fellow”

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