Student Research Assistants for Afghanistan Programme, Lund

About RWI and the Afghanistan Programme

The Raoul Wallenberg Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law (RWI) has worked for nearly forty years to promote respect for human rights through research, education and capacity development. We believe that by supporting practitioners and bringing people together around human rights, on the basis of new knowledge and tools developed, connecting theory and practice, we contribute to lasting human rights change. If you, like us, are passionate about achieving human rights change and want to work in a dynamic international environment, this position may be for you.

RWI is an independent academic institution established at Lund University in Sweden in 1984. We combine multi-disciplinary human rights research with education, capacity building, and outreach to contribute to a wider understanding of, and respect for, human rights and humanitarian law. We work with four thematic areas within human rights: ‘access to justice’, ‘non-discrimination and inclusion’, ‘human rights and the environment’ and ‘business and human rights’. Since the early 1990s, we have cooperated with a wide range of institutions and organisations in Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Middle East, to advance the practical application of human rights around the world. Our cooperation is characterised by mutual trust, long-term commitment, and achievement of common objectives. Currently, we have offices in Harare, Jakarta, Lund, Nairobi, Phnom Penh, and Yerevan.

RWI’s Afghanistan programme is managed from Lund since 2021, and currently entails three components: The hosting of and support to the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan; the hosting of/support to Afghan Research Fellows in Lund and online; and roundtables and conferences. For more information, see https://rwi.lu.se/afghanistan-programme/

Starting 2024, the programme will also include trainings for Afghan human rights defenders, among other new components, as well as an overall expansion in scope, which includes activities in Asia. 

Main areas of work

Provide research assistance to RWI’s Afghan research fellows, as agreed individually with each fellow and with the mentor, to ensure that they all successfully conclude their respective research projects with RWI, between January and December 2024.

Support in conducting literature reviews and in searching RWI’s online library resources will be part of research assistant tasks, particularly for fellows that are not be based in Lund/Sweden. 

The research assistants are also expected to support logistics of conferences, seminars, roundtables, and/or other events in the Afghanistan programme. 

It is a part time contract approx. 20-25 % for 2024 with a probation period.

Qualifications

You are currently enrolled in any of the human rights related master’s programmes at Lund University, or in other relevant academic programmes with commuting distance to Lund.

You can work in a multidisciplinary setting and have an open mind to diverse theories and methodologies. You can work both independently and in teams, have great attention to detail, find it easy to collaborate and are reliable, curious, and proactive. You can communicate fluently in English both spoken and written. You have a valid work permit in the EU.

Cultural sensitivity is a requirement.

Application process

If you are interested in the position, please submit your CV and a brief (less than 500 words) letter of interest through the “Apply” button below.

The deadline for applications is 12 January 2024, please note that applications sent by email will not be registered. 

For any questions about the position, please contact Helena Olsson at Helena.olsson@rwi.lu.se .

The Raoul Wallenberg Institute promotes diversity and welcomes applications from all qualified persons, regardless of race, colour, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, nationality, age, disability, or other protected status under the law.

We look forward to receiving your application!