Nairobi Internship At Physicians for Human Rights

Location: This position is usually located in our Nairobi, Kenya office, but is remote while offices remain closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Classification: Unpaid Internship.

Work Authorization: Applicants must be authorized to work in Kenya.

Organization Description

For more than 30 years, Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) has used science and medicine to document and call attention to mass atrocities and severe human rights violations. We investigate and document abuses, give voice to survivors and witnesses, and plant seeds of reconciliation by ensuring that perpetrators can be held accountable for their crimes. PHR uses our core disciplines – science, medicine, forensics, and public health – to inform our research and investigations and to strengthen the skills of frontline human rights defenders. We work closely with hundreds of partners around the world, using facts to wage effective advocacy and campaigning and providing critical scientific evidence so that survivors can seek justice.

PHR, which shared in the 1997 Nobel Peace Prize for our work to end the scourge of landmines, is poised for even greater growth and impact. As part of that strategy, we are seeking committed activists with a passion for human rights

The internship under the Program on Sexual Violence in Conflict Zones (SVCZ) in Nairobi is ideal for a student looking for a career in international affairs or public health. The intern will have the opportunity to research, learn and write about key areas of interest to the program, such as effectiveness of standard practices for care and documentation, use of technology in human rights documentation, and strategic impact litigation.

The intern will attend departmental and staff meetings, as well as attend learning and social events with other interns and staff from PHR to round out the learning experience and complement PHR- provided career mentoring.

PHR internships are unpaid. However, students may be able to arrange academic credit and should check with their individual academic institutions for requirements.

Reports to: Program Officer, Kenya

Responsibilities

· Researching and analyzing relevant legal, medical, public health, and human rights materials on sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, and elsewhere.

· Assist with the logistics, preparation, and facilitation for trainings, conferences, and other program events.

· Help develop, code and maintain program data(bases), including monitoring and evaluation (M&E) data, training participants, contacts, photographs, media coverage, and relevant literature.

· Carry out editorial tasks such as drafting blog posts for the PHR website and proofreading and footnotes for program publications.

· Monitor developments relating to sexual violence and creating weekly news digests for PHR staff and consultants.

Qualifications and Experience

· Current enrollment in or recent graduate of an undergraduate or graduate program; course of study in international development/relations, public policy, law, human rights, or related field preferred, but not required.

· Written and/or oral proficiency in French and/or Spanish is an asset.

· Proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint)

· Ability to maintain confidentiality while working with sensitive human rights data is a must.

· Excellent communications skills

· Resourceful in performing research on the internet and through other channels.

· Well organized, detail-oriented, and able to exercise discretion.

Location and Hours

· The intern will be based entirely remote due to PHR’s ongoing evaluation of coronavirus health risks. If partially in person, the intern will be asked to report to the PHR Kenya office in Nairobi.

· Hours can be flexible to accommodate different types of schedules.

· The internship will commence in August with at least a 12-week commitment.