Research Intern - Middle East and North Africa (MENA)

Founded in 2000, Free the Slaves (FTS) is a pioneer and leader in the global effort to eradicate slavery. Our mission is to liberate those in slavery and change the conditions that allow slavery to persist. Free the Slaves works at the grassroots level to empower vulnerable individuals and communities to achieve freedom from slavery and develop resistance to slavery. We work with and through local partners to build national capacity to combat slavery and trafficking. We advocate for policies and laws that help in the fight against slavery. We are committed to rigorous assessment of our work and scrupulous integrity in the use of donor funds. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., with programs in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Latin America and the Middle East, Free the Slaves has a diverse and expert staff and a highly engaged and supportive board of directors. For more information, see: www.freetheslaves.net.

The Free the Slaves internship program is a formal effort to develop and train future leaders of the anti-slavery movement. We seek to provide each participant with training and hands-on experience in various facets of anti-slavery programming. We encourage students to arrange academic credit as Free the Slaves internships offer direct exposure to the workings of an international human rights organization and close supervision by FTS staff. Students should check with their individual academic institutions for requirements. In addition, interns are provided with a one-time stipend after the end of their internship.

This position reports directly to the Research Program Coordinator, based in Washington, D.C. The Research Intern will support programming in the Middle East and North Africa region through research. This role involves strategic thinking, passion for the FTS mission, and the ability to thoroughly research complex and interconnected themes. The internship can take place remotely and can be full-time or part-time.

Key Responsibilities

• Collect secondary research on the state of modern slavery in the Middle East and North Africa region, focusing on prevalence, challenges, gaps, and opportunities to strengthen the response in the region.
• Create databases hosting secondary data and clean and organize the data collected.
• Analyze secondary data into relevant themes and identify key recommendations and reflections.
• Design tools for the organization and visualization of research findings.
• Write literature reviews, concept notes, blog posts, or other outputs.
• Present research findings to the Research Program Coordinator and the MENA Regional Manager.
• Participate in brainstorming sessions with members of the team.

The ideal candidate will:

• Be either currently enrolled in, or a recent graduate of, an accredited college or university as a degree-seeking student.
• Have a demonstrated history of excellence in their studies and will be in pursuit of, or a recipient of, a degree within the following fields: law, public policy, international relations or affairs, international development, human rights or another relevant field.
• Be fluent in English and Arabic, both written and spoken.
• Have a demonstrated history of interest and/or involvement in the anti-slavery or human rights movement.
• Be familiar with and possess prior experience engaging with research methodologies, particularly collecting, analyzing, and consolidating secondary data.
• Possess excellent written and oral communication skills, as well as a functioning knowledge of word processing with Microsoft Word.
• Be well organized, self-motivated, and reliable and should be able to work well both independently and as a part of a team. Successful candidates will demonstrate a history of accepting direction, taking initiative, and working well with both supervisors and peers.
• Demonstrate an ability to engage cross-culturally and collaborate with global staff at a professional level.

How to Apply

Please send completed applications to careers @ freetheslaves.net with “Research Internship - MENA” in the subject line. Applications should include a:

1. Cover letter that outlines how your interest, skills and experience meet the qualifications for the position,
2. Resume,
3. List of two references, and
4. Research writing sample in English (5-10 pages).

Please submit your application by February 17, 2023. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Free the Slaves is an equal-opportunity organization. Qualified applicants are considered without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, or veteran status.