Location: Home-based / Remote

Timeframe: March 7 – May 15, 2022 (10 weeks)

The mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights is looking for a research assistant to assist in the preparation of a thematic report focusing on the “Job Guarantee” as a way for the State to fulfil its role in guaranteeing full employment.

Description: The position will consist in conducting research on key topics related to public works programmes and in reviewing proposals for a job guarantee. Prospective applicants will conduct independent research guided by a supervisor through written feedback and regular meetings. Expected outputs include a research memorandum of 20 to 30 pages focusing on a specific topic jointly decided in advance and polished after a series of revisions. Other outputs may include media roundups, contact lists, and other assistance as appropriate.

The research assistant can expect to learn about the work of the Special Rapporteur (and by extension the UN Special Procedures and the UN Human Rights system as a whole) through working closely with his team; hone in their writing skills; acquire knowledge about cutting-edge policy issues relevant to the eradication of poverty around the world; and learn how we use human rights to deliver on their promise of social justice.

Qualifications: graduate student in law, public policy, or related discipline; good knowledge of social policy and/or labor rights; experience conducting critical and message-focused literature reviews; ideally some knowledge of international law and human rights, including socio-economic rights.

Languages: English required; French and/or Spanish an asset.

Workload and compensation: Applicants should be available to devote a minimum of 10hrs/week to this position over the course of 10 weeks. Compensation has been set at $15/hr (against timesheet).

How to apply: Please send your CV, a cover letter describing your interest and qualifications, and a short unedited writing sample in English (ideally relevant to the abovementioned topics) to jobs@srpoverty.org before February 27. Please send these documents attached as three separate files named with the format “LAST NAME, Name – CV/Cover letter/Writing sample”. You may send any questions to paula.fernandez-wulff@srpoverty.org.

For more information about the mandate of the Special Rapporteur, please visit: