Research Assistant, Libya and Tunisia

FULL-TIME JOB VACANCY
RESEARCH ASSISTANT, LIBYA AND TUNISIA
Middle East and North Africa Division
Tunis Office
Application Deadline: 1 December 2025

The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Division of Human Rights Watch (HRW) is seeking a Research Assistant to provide research and administrative support to the North Africa team. This role will report to the MENA researchers covering Tunisia and Libya will work closely with the Deputy Director of the MENA Division.

This is a full-time position that will be based in HRW’s Tunis office.

Responsibilities:

1. Provide research, advocacy, and administrative assistance to the Tunisia and Libya teams.
2. Liaise, advise, and maintain effective communication and working relationships with staff across the organization and external project stakeholders.
3. Under the supervision of the Tunisia and Libya researchers, conduct in-person and remote interviews for various projects and draft and prepare documents and other materials for internal or external use.
4. Organize and ensure the completion of logistics, preparations, and production for divisional research trips and other projects.
5. Actively monitor developments in Tunisia and Libya, and provide summaries as needed.
6. Translate materials as needed for research.
7. In collaboration with country researchers and the MENA deputy director, identify opportunities, contribute to divisional efforts and strategy discussions, and monitor divisional goals and progress.
8. Perform administrative tasks as needed.
9. Carry out other duties as required.

Qualifications:

Education: A bachelor’s degree, or equivalent work experience, in human rights, international relations, law, social science or a related field is required. 

Experience: A minimum of one year of relevant work experience is required. Previous work, internship, or volunteer experience related to Tunisia, Libya, and human rights is highly desirable.

Related Skills and Knowledge: 

1. Fluency in English is required. Excellent oral and written communication skills in Arabic and French are required.
2. Exceptional interpersonal skills in order to work collegially and collaboratively within the team and across HRW, as well as with external partners, are required.
3. The ability to self-motivate, prioritize between multiple tasks under pressure, and work efficiently is required.
4. The ability to work independently as well as function as a member of a team with staff in multiple locations globally is required.
5. The ability to make sound decisions, complete tasks and responsibilities in a timely manner, and maintain confidentiality as needed is required.
6. Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications is required.
7. Exceptional organizational skills with meticulous attention to detail are required.
8. Deep interest in the Middle East and North Africa and human rights is required.

Salary and Benefits: HRW seeks exceptional applicants and offers comprehensive compensation and benefits. The salary range for this position is USD 43,000 - 48,000 plus benefits.

How to Apply: Please apply immediately or by 1 December, 2025, by visiting our online job portal at careers.hrw.org and attaching a cover letter, resume, and a brief writing sample (unedited by others), preferably as PDF files. No calls or email inquiries, please. Only complete applications will be reviewed and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

If you are experiencing technical difficulties with your application submission, please email recruitment@hrw.org. Due to the large response, application submissions via email will not be accepted and inquiries regarding the status of applications will go unanswered.

Human Rights Watch is strong because it is diverse. We do not discriminate in hiring practices and actively seek a diverse applicant pool. We encourage candidates of all abilities, ages, gender identities and expressions, national origins, races and ethnicities, religious beliefs, sexual orientations, and those with criminal records to apply. We welcome all kinds of diversity. Our employees include people who are parents and nonparents, the self-taught and university educated, and from a wide span of socio-economic backgrounds and perspectives on the world. Human Rights Watch is an equal opportunity employer.

Human Rights Watch is an international human rights monitoring and advocacy organization known for its in-depth investigations, its incisive and timely reporting, its innovative and high-profile advocacy campaigns, and its success in changing the human rights-related policies and practices of influential governments and international institutions.