Fellowship Programme of the UN Human Rights Office – Humanitarian Funds 2022 – 2023
The United Nations Human Rights Office
manages two Humanitarian Funds: the United
Nations Voluntary Trust Fund on Contemporary
Forms of Slavery and the United Nations
Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture. Each Fund
is mandated to channel direct assistance to
victims of these human rights violations, through
grants to civil society organizations.
The Humanitarian Funds run a fellowship
programme, which aims to give young
professionals with experience working for human
rights organizations, notably on issues related to
contemporary forms of slavery and/ or torture,
the opportunity to gain first-hand knowledge and
skills of these issues within the United Nations
system.
Through this programme, fellows will gain
working-level experience with the United Nations
human rights system in the field of slavery and
torture, including the evaluation and
management of grants. Upon completion of the
programme, fellows will bring back acquired
capacity and skills to their community and/or
organization.
This call for applications (open from 15
February to 15 March 2022) is for two
fellowship positions, assigned to the
Humanitarian Funds Secretariat, within
the United Nations Human Rights Office,
based in Geneva, Switzerland.
The fellowship position is offered from 1
August to 31 December 2022 (with a
probationary period of two months). An
extension up to a maximum of two years
may be possible, pending availability of
funding and taking into account the
interest, motivation and performance of
the incumbent.
Requirements:
At least two years of professional experience
in human rights and/or a related field, with a
particular focus on contemporary forms of
slavery and/or torture; knowledge of the
United Nations system is an asset.
Fluency in spoken and written English is
required. Knowledge of another United
Nations language, in particular Arabic, French
or Spanish is an asset.
Experience in fundraising, project
management and/or forms of direct
assistance (including legal, medical,
psychological and social services to victims of
human rights violations) is also an asset.
Qualified candidates working with
organizations which received or receive
funding from the Humanitarian Funds, as well
as survivors of slavery or torture, are strongly
encouraged to apply and will be given priority.
Selected candidates are encouraged to share
the knowledge and experience obtained
during their fellowship with their organization.
Selection process for 2022:
Candidates should submit their application in an electronic format directly to the Humanitarian Funds Secretariat no later than 15 March 2022 by e-mail: Philippe Tissier (philippe.tissier@un.org). The application should contain the following:
- a fully completed and signed application form and;
- a letter of recommendation from the human rights organization where the applicant works/ed.
The Secretariat of the UN Humanitarian Funds will undertake the selection process. The evaluation of qualified candidates may include a written exam and an interview. The Secretariat’s recommendations will be shared with the Funds’ Boards of Trustees, and all candidates will be notified of the decision by e-mail no later than 1st May 2022.
