Featured Opportunity

Job Description:

Principal purpose of role
PBI-Nepal provides accompaniment and international solidarity for human rights defenders and nonviolent civil society activists whose lives and work are threatened by political violence. By creating safe space for local activists to carry out their work, PBI contributes to conflict transformation and helps build durable peace and human rights in Nepal. PBI is an independent, egalitarian, volunteer-based organization not affiliated to any religious or political institution.

PBI field volunteers protect threatened local non-governmental organisations through their physical presence, lobbying and information distribution.

Successful candidates are intended to serve 11-15 months as a field volunteer.

Main duties, tasks and responsibilities:

Working with civil society/human rights organisations
• Develop and maintain positive working relationships with Nepali civil society/human rights organizations.
• Provide international protective presence for accompanied human rights organizations.
• At all times work in a non-partisan manner.
• Collect, monitor and evaluate information to ensure that the objectives and activities of PBI Nepal are being met and that this is reported frequently to relevant staff members/committees in the PBI Nepal Project.
• Work and function in highly stressful and potentially threatening situations

Team work
• Work and live as part of a multi/inter cultural team.
• Actively contribute to the maintenance of proactive communication mechanisms within the volunteer team including attendance at team meetings, providing input to team decisions, security protocols and political analysis.
• Prepare meeting agenda’s, facilitate team meetings and note decisions.
• Undertake to work in a non-hierarchical group that makes decisions by consensus.
• Track the news/political/human rights situation in Nepal.
• In line with PBI Nepal strategic objectives, research the human rights situation in Nepal and produce reports as required.
• Participate in and contribute to Project Committee and sub committee work, including attending PC and sub committee conference calls.

Advocacy
• In coordination with the field volunteer team and In-Country Coordinator, represent PBI Nepal at networking/lobbying meetings with diplomats and key politicians, NGOs, UN institutions, and governmental and civil employees in order to dissuade any potential violence or threat.
• In conjunction with the Communications Officer assist with the production and writing of PBI Nepal communication materials for internal and external use.

Administration
• Prepare written reports and updates of field volunteer activities as appropriate for distribution amongst Project members.
• Write team notes, reports and develop resource materials and historical knowledge of field volunteer activities.
• Undertake day to day office tasks, including responding to emails, telephone enquiries, filing, maintaining and updating of records and databases.

Other duties:
• Undertake such duties according to the philosophy of nonviolence, within the framework of international norms of human rights.
• Undertake such other duties as may reasonably be allocated, which may involve providing assistance in any area of the Project as may be required from time to time.
• Undertake all duties in accordance with PBI Nepal policies and procedures, in particular those relating to Harassment and Equal Opportunities.
• Promote PBI Nepal positively at all times.

***What will PBI-Nepal provide?
6-8 weeks Nepali language school and homestay. Volunteers are requested to contribute 200 euros towards the cost of this.
Travel to Nepal
Health insurance
Modest monthly stipend and work-related expenses
Modest repatriation at end of volunteer service