Afghanistan Advocacy Fellow (1 Year Fixed Term)

Amnesty International USA (AIUSA) is the global organization’s presence in the United States. We engage people in the U.S. to fight injustice all around the world, while we also work to protect people’s human rights here in the U.S. Amnesty International USA has more than one million members and activists in all 50 states, who are part of a larger global movement of 10 million people in 150 countries. We are a democratically governed, grassroots membership organization, which means that our members vote on key policy issues and elect our Board of Directors. Some of our members are experts on specific human rights issues, parts of the world, or advocacy areas, and they serve as volunteer leaders. Others are volunteer leaders of local or student groups in towns, universities, states, or regions of the country. Amnesty International USA’s elected Board members, staff, and members work together to lead the organization.

DEADLINE TO APPLY: October 15, 2023  5:00PM EST

AIUSA’s Government Relations (GR) and Advocacy team educates, advises, and lobbies U.S. government (USG) officials on human rights issues around the world. Leveraging Amnesty’s research and grassroots power, GR creates and implements advocacy strategies to push for U.S. government policies that contribute to positive human rights outcomes. We build and maintain close relationships with policymakers in Congress and across the federal government. GR identifies influential stakeholders in the USG, including potential supporters and opponents, and takes advantage of political opportunities to push forward organizational goals. 

Fellows at AIUSA gain experience in human rights research and advocacy including but not limited to developing and implementing advocacy strategies and materials, contact with governmental bodies and officials, conducting legislative research, drafting memoranda and blogs, managing databases, analyzing emerging areas of relevant law and government policy, tracking the progress of legislation in the United States Congress, and learning about the international human rights framework. Fellows will also be responsible for researching and documenting issues related to U.S. foreign policy and human rights in their area of focus, as well as attending and summarizing briefings, hearings, and other NGO events.

The Afghanistan Advocacy Fellow will have the opportunity to work on federal and congressional advocacy on human rights issues in the Washington, D.C. office of AIUSA. The Fellowship is full-time, fixed-term of 1 year, position, starting December 2023 and will focus on human rights issues and US foreign policy related to Afghanistan and its relationship with the US government.

The Fellow will support AIUSA’s advocacy efforts with respect to Afghanistan. Core issue areas will include raising policymakers’ awareness of human rights abuses in Afghanistan, advocating alongside coalition partners for the US to relocate, and support the resettlement of at-risk Afghans, and lobbying for a pathway to citizenship for recent arrivals from Afghanistan.

The Fellow will support multiple AIUSA Afghanistan advocacy priorities, including by liaising with Amnesty International researchers and subject matter experts, leveraging AIUSA grassroots capacity, overseeing administrative support efforts in service of the Government Relations Team, participating in meetings with policy makers, organizing senior-level engagements for AIUSA leadership, conducting stakeholder mappings, arranging and participating in consultations with impacted communities, and developing strategies for platforming Afghan American activists and advocates.

The ideal candidate will have:

• strong written and analytical skills, experience working on human rights issues related to the Afghanistan or other areas experiencing conflict, a background developing and nurturing partnerships with civil society and grassroots organizations from the region, understands the Washington policy environment regarding Afghanistan, and can work to advance a human rights-first approach to United States government policy;
• knowledge of international human rights and humanitarian law, United States law and institutions related to foreign policy and human rights, and key regional and country-level laws and legal frameworks.

Essential Responsibilities

• Collaborate closely with the Europe and Central Asia Advocacy Director and other Amnesty International staff on issues related to human rights in the Afghanistan and the fair treatment of Afghans in third countries and in the United States
• Provide administrative support for ongoing advocacy work including by preparing briefing materials, drafting backgrounders, and taking meeting minutes, thereby ensuring internal and external stakeholders and partners remain on deadline and on task
• Participate in, strengthen, and nurture key coalitions of trusted partners including human rights monitors, women’s rights activists, faith-based leaders, veterans’ groups, and refugee organizations, including by organizing senior-level engagements with policy makers
• Help build coherent human rights strategies to push the US government on its human rights policy related to Afghanistan
• Develop and sustain opportunities for members of affected communities including Afghan-Americans and veterans groups to shape and amplify advocacy efforts pressing the U.S. government to prioritize human rights in its Afghanistan policies
• Build and sustain contacts with key U.S. Government partners in the Executive and Legislative Branches
• Work with the Europe and Central Asia Advocacy Director to implement strategies for AIUSA engagement with the US government to advance a consistent human rights agenda on related to Afghanistan
• Conduct legislative research, drafts memoranda and blogs, analyzing emerging areas of relevant law and government policy
• Track the progress of relevant legislation in the United States
• Participate and represent AIUSA in coalitions and advance advocacy strategies with coalition partners.
• Under the guidance of the Europe and Central Advocacy Director, liaise with other NGOs working on related issues
• Independently engage with Members of Congress and administrative agencies as needed and appropriate

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities

• Legal and policy research and analytical skills, with the ability to digest and summarize data and policy related to human rights, foreign policy, and political and economic affairs and history related to Afghanistan
• Facility with administrative tasks, including taking minutes, developing briefing materials, organizing virtual and in-person meetings and events, etc.
• Demonstrated familiarity with human rights and US foreign policy in Afghanistan
• Proven ability to write comprehensive legal and policy memos, issue briefs, and other advocacy and human rights documents
• Documented history of cultural sensitivity and a demonstrated record of dealing effectively with members of effected communities and survivors of conflict
• Experience in presenting human rights topics and analyses to diverse audiences
• Experience working on issues related to Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility (IDEA)
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to inspire and motivate staff and partners.
• Demonstrable ability to initiate, develop and sustain positive working relationships over long periods of time with a wide range of individuals and groups, including those from different cultural backgrounds
• Ability to prioritize and manage multiple and detailed tasks and produce high-quality work under short and fixed deadlines
• Ability to objectively assess situations to determine action-oriented solutions
• Must live near, and be able to attend meetings, in Washington D.C.
• Potential, but minimal travel
• Some weeknight and weekend work may be required
• The Fellowship is full-time, fixed-term of 1 year, position, starting December 2023

Education and Experience

• B.A./ B.S. and 3-5 years of relevant experience
• Law and public affairs graduates encouraged to apply
• Experience working in hybrid/remote organizations preferred
• Experience with grassroots organizations a plus, particularly those working on Afghanistan
• Experience working in a collaborative environment and with a team desired
• Proficiency in Afghan languages (especially including Pashto and Dari) is highly preferred but not required

We recognize the valuable skills that can be gained through internships, fellowships, volunteer work, and non-traditional work experience. This experience helps build competencies and knowledge that may translate to our job openings. We seek a diversity of experience and skills for our workplace and encourage people from all backgrounds to apply to our openings.

HOW TO APPLY AND OUR EEO STATEMENT

DEADLINE TO APPLY: October 15, 2023  - 5:00pm PM EST

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS: Please submit the following documents as a single combined PDF

1. A statement of interest indicating your interest in this Fellowship listing relevant qualifications and experience
2. Resume
3. Writing sample (no more than 5 pages) via the Paycom portal

All applications must be completed online, and we do not accept paper submissions. Please visit the AIUSA Careers Page to review all current job postings.  You must complete the entire online application, and electronically sign, for an application to be considered “complete.” We send emails via Paycom so please check your spam folders for any updates. Please email talentacquisition@aiusa.org for technical difficulties ONLY. 

Amnesty International USA is an equal opportunity employer. AIUSA encourages applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status and record of arrest or conviction, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Black people, Indigenous people, people of color; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex people; women; people with disabilities, protected veterans, and formerly incarcerated individuals are all strongly encouraged to apply.

OUR COMMITMENT AS AN ANTI-RACIST ORGANIZATION AND TO INCLUSION, DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND ACCESSIBILITY (IDEA)

Dismantling white supremacy is central to the fight for human rights in the United States and around the world. As we mobilize staff and activists and work with partners to help transform the multiple systems where oppression operates in the world around us as part of our human rights mandate, anti-racism must be integral to our work. What does that mean for Amnesty International in the United States? It means using our people power to fight injustice and centering the voices and experiences of those most impacted by racist structures, beliefs, and laws. Fundamentally, it means doing our human rights work differently than it has been done before, because we know that who we work with, how we work, the work we do, and ultimately who we are, are all interconnected.

As an international, intercultural, intergenerational and intersectional movement of activists committed to protecting and advancing human rights for all, Amnesty is deeply committed to Inclusion, Diversity, Equity & Accessibility (IDEA). To learn more about how we integrate IDEA into our programs and workplace, visit: https://www.amnestyusa.org/idea/

Remote and Hybrid Workplace Policy

Because the health and safety of our employees and candidates are a top priority, we are currently conducting our hiring process virtually.