Researcher

Who we are

CIHRS is a unique non-governmental organization that has demonstrated its credibility in the field of human rights since its inception in 1993. It advocates for human rights, democracy, and accountability across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.

As a regional organization deeply embedded within the human rights movement in the MENA region, CIHRS fosters strong connections with civil society organizations on the ground while effectively engaging with major players in the international community. The organization operates mainly through its offices in Tunis, Brussels, and Geneva. It combines international advocacy campaigns, research and monitoring, human rights education, and capacity-building to strengthen and elevate the voices of local human rights actors, and in doing so contributes to the building of sustainable, prosperous, and peaceful societies.

Position description

The purpose of this position is to provide the Director of the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (CIHRS) with research, coordination and networking work to facilitate the carrying out of his/her planned activities and goals.

Responsibilities

1. Research

· Follow and monitor developments that impact human rights conditions in a target country in the MENA region.

· Produce research and analysis on human rights conditions in a target country.

· Participate in relevant organizational meetings.

2. Coordination

· Monitor local, regional and international news and provide the Director with takeaway points, including on political and institutional issues, as well as human rights situations and/or violations.

· Follow up on relevant academic and expert literature in Arabic and English and prepare briefs for the Director, with an emphasis on connecting local human rights violations in the MENA region to global security and stability concerns.

· Research regional and thematic issues as requested.

· Coordinate the Director’s internal and external communications (limited to non-confidential communications) by drafting speeches, interventions, papers and briefing notes ahead of conferences and meetings in coordination with concerned CIHRS’ officers.

· Collect and classify non-confidential files and contacts.

· Draft timely reports on the Director’s activities and impact aimed at donors.

· Arrange the Director’s travel and schedule.

· Perform administrative tasks for the Director as requested.

3. Networking

· Coordinate the organization of events as requested by the Director, including CIHRS’ Regional Forum and disseminate papers, press releases, and web briefings produced in connection to these events, including the Forum’s conclusions and papers.

· Identify researchers and experts who could contribute to CIHRS’ Regional Forum or other events as requested, assign papers to these researchers in close coordination with the Director, and oversee the production of papers with these experts, including papers contributing to CIHRS Regional Forum’s themes. The Researcher will ensure the timely production of these papers, review and edit them, and prepare them for publication in CIHRS Rowaq Arabi’s review or in the form of digital books, in coordination with the mandated staff from the organization.

· Write articles or chapters for CIHRS’ public reports or digital books as requested, including for the Regional Forum’s end publication (conclusion chapter summarizing the main conclusions, findings and policy recommendations of the event).

Qualifications

The required qualifications of the Researcher are:

· An advanced university degree in a relevant social science field (e.g., Middle Eastern Studies, Political Science, History, International Relations, etc.).

· 5 years of relevant experience working on human rights in the MENA region.

· Extensive academic knowledge of regional and international politics, as well as regional and global trends pertaining to stability, human rights, democracy, and security.

· Excellent research and writing skills.

· Excellent communication skills.

· Excellent interpersonal skills and knowledge of appropriate decorum and protocol when engaging with high-level officials.

· Fluent Arabic and English (reading, writing, speaking). French is an asset.

· Previous experience in reviewing, editing, and publishing academic-level papers in Arabic and English.

· Previous experience in drafting academic-level articles, reports, chapters of books in Arabic and English.

· Proven ability to perform effective administrative and logistical duties in a timely and efficient manner.

· Strong commitment to the principles of human rights.

· High levels of integrity and trustworthiness.

· Knowledge of civil society actors in the MENA region.

Commitment to Equality:

CIHRS is committed to ensuring equality and non-discrimination on grounds of sex, race, religion or belief in its hiring process. CIHRS is a multicultural environment that celebrates diversity. All employees are expected to promote and act in a manner that ensures a non-discriminatory, open and sensitive approach to others from different backgrounds and cultures.