Volunteer researcher MENA team

Become part of a global team of human rights researchers

Unpaid Volunteering Position

Asylos is looking for a researcher for its MENA research team. The volunteer researcher will conduct research into human rights abuses to support asylum seekers coming from the MENA region. This entails looking into political and security situations, human rights violations, and any other facts that will support an asylum seeker in proving his/her need for protection. The researcher will be expected to commit at least 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 global 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 help lawyers and caseworkers 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 experience in academic research (or in country-of-origin information research);

• A strong demonstrable interest in the MENA region and preferably a network on the ground;

• Fluent in English or French with a high level of the other;

• The ability to read and speak Arabic; knowledge of another national or minority language of the region will be an asset;

• An interest in leveraging social media for research;

• Ability 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, international relations and related fields are excellent preparation.

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;

• Regular COI research training, incl. in using social media, conducting interviews, and other research techniques;

• Participation in Asylos’ annual network meeting.