Volunteer Researcher

Asylos is looking for a volunteer researcher for its MENA, Africa & Russia/CIS teams

• Only required to choose one team

Asylos is looking for a researcher for its MENA (Middle East and North Africa), Africa and Russia/CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States) research teams. The volunteer researcher will conduct research to support asylum seekers coming from one or more of these regions. This entails looking into security situation, human rights violations and any other facts that will support an asylum seeker in proving his/her need for protection. The researcher will have to commit up to two hours per week and will work in close cooperation with the other team members and team coordinators, sharing best practices and feedback.

Asylos is a network of volunteer researchers providing on demand background research to support asylum claims. The research concerns the situation in the country of origin of the asylum seeker or other facts relating to an individual asylum claim. In many countries, legal aid provided for asylum seekers is limited. Lawyers can’t devote sufficient time to researching information which may substantiate asylum requests in court. Asylos volunteers look for information that can help to establish whether forcing a refugee to return to his/her country of origin or transit would threaten his/her life or deny fundamental human and civil rights.

Your profile:

• Strong research skills and an experience in academic research (or in country-of-origin information research)
• An interest in leveraging social media for research
• A willingness to use online collaboration tools
• A strong commitment to meet tight deadlines
• At least three years of university‐level studies or equivalent professional experience; law, politics or international relations are excellent preparation.
• If you are interested in the MENA Team:
  • A strong interest in the MENA region and preferably a network on the ground
  • Native level of English or French; preferably a good knowledge of the other
  • The ability to read and speak Arabic; knowledge of another national or minority language of the region will be an asset
• If you are interested in the Africa Team:
  • A strong demonstrable interest in the sub-Saharan Africa region and preferably a network on the ground
  • Fluent in English or French with a high level of the other
  • Knowledge of another national or minority language of the region is an asset
• If you are interested in the Russia/CIS:
  • A strong interest in the Russia/CIS region and possibly also a network on the ground
  • Very good knowledge of English and/or French (required)
  • The ability to read and speak Russian and/or another language of the CIS region (national but also minority languages of the region are a strong asset)

What we offer:

• An opportunity to help change the lives of asylum seekers and get involved in a dynamic project with a small but fast-growing organisation
• An international network of highly qualified and motivated volunteers with meetings in Amsterdam, London, Berlin, Brussels and Paris
• An inclusive working atmosphere with room for taking initiative and proposing new projects
• Training in using social media analysis and other research techniques
• Participation in Asylos’ annual network meeting