Research Fellow/ Assistant - Abu Dis

Job title: Research Fellow/ assistant

Project title: Palestinian Bedouin at risk of forced displacement: IHL vulnerabilities, ICC possibilities

Location: Al Quds Human Rights Clinic, Al Quds University-main campus (Abu Dis)

Duration: 12 months, from September 2021, (full time or part time)

Job purpose

Al-Quds University Human Rights Clinic is seeking to appoint a Research Fellow for the project titled “Palestinian Bedouin at risk of forced displacement: IHL vulnerabilities, ICC possibilities” funded by AHRC-DfID Collaborative Humanitarian Protection Research Programme and led by Queen’s University Belfast (Northern Ireland).

Details of the project can be accessed here: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=AH%2FT007540%2F1 ,In close collaboration with the rest of the team, the Researcher will play a key role in ensuring the overall research objectives of the project are met, and in particular she/he will conduct research on the humanitarian impact of continued forcible transfer of the Bedouin communities living in E1, Jerusalem, and how impunity for violations of international law contributes to the deterioration of humanitarian vulnerabilities.

About Al-Quds Human Rights Clinic

Al-Quds Human Rights Clinic (the Clinic) is a unit based in the faculty of law at Al-Quds University in Jerusalem that aims at teaching human rights defense skills through theory and practice. Through the work of its staff and students, the Clinic documents human rights and international humanitarian law violations in the occupied Palestinian territory (hereinafter oPt) focusing on the southeastern suburbs of Jerusalem. The Clinic is also involved in research and publication on issues related to its documentation activities.

Project overview

The Clinic, in collaboration with colleagues at Queen’s University Belfast, Trinity College Dublin, and Liverpool John Moores University, will be involved in a two-year project that seeks:

1. To better understand the humanitarian vulnerabilities of Palestinian Bedouin at risk of forced displacement in 'E1', an area of the West Bank allocated for the expansion of Israeli settlements (considered illegal under international law)
2. To ascertain the effects of impunity for International Humanitarian Law (IHL) violations driving protection risks in E1;

iii. To analyse the International Criminal Court (ICC) role in improving humanitarian protection outcomes for the Bedouin communities in E1 through accountability for past abuses and in deterring future violations.

Major Duties (Job Description)

Under the day-to-day supervision of the Clinic Director and in close collaboration with other team members, the successful candidate will focus on the following tasks, including (but not limited to): 

1. In close collaboration with other team members, contribute to the design and implementation of research activities, and actively participate in the successful delivery of project objectives. 
2. Desk-based research of legal sources, academic writing, policy reports and other materials pertaining to violations of human rights, international law, international humanitarian law relating to Bedouin communities located in E1, within the broader Palestinian context.
3. Conduct primary research and other fact-finding work on the international law violations and humanitarian vulnerabilities affecting the Bedouin communities, in close collaboration with other team members. 
4. Contribute to other research and project tasks in collaboration with the team. 
5. Draft academic output (articles in peer-reviewed journals, book chapters), dissemination materials (e.g. blog posts) and policy reports together with the team. 
6. Proactively identify opportunities to present research findings to academic and policy audiences in Palestine and internationally. 
7. Collaborate closely and constructively with the teams of professionals involved in the project, including legal professionals, students in the Clinic, volunteers and interns. 
8. Engage with project team to ensure appropriate project visibility, e.g. through the project website and social media. 
9. Present regular progress reports (monthly) on the research to the Clinic Director (Dr Nuseibah) and the Principal Investigator (Dr Panepinto) and members of the research group.  
10. Contribute to routine administrative tasks to ensure the project is delivered on time and to budget. 
11. Any other relevant task as agreed by the project team, under the direction of the Clinic Director (Dr Nuseibah) and Principal Investigator (Dr Panepinto). 

جميع الحقوق محفوظة لموقع جوبس.

Essential Criteria (Personal Requirements)

1- Good Undergraduate degree in Law or related field covering Human Rights, International Humanitarian Law and/or International Criminal Law.

2- A B.A. or a Masters degree in Law (LLM or M.A.) or related field covering Human Rights, International Humanitarian Law and/or International Criminal Law

4- At least 3 years of relevant research experience in academia and/or civil society, demonstrating analytical skills and ability to communicate research to different audiences.

5- Demonstrable knowledge of key issues in Human Rights, International Humanitarian Law and/or International Criminal Law in Palestine.

6- Proven interest in Bedouin / herder communities in Palestine.

7- Proven ability to write high quality academic and / or policy outputs for international audiences.

8- Ability to work individually and as part of a team juggling competing demands and deadlines.

9- Ability to build and develop professional relationships and participate in internal and external networks.

10- Ability to contribute to broader management and administrative processes as part of the team.

11- Demonstrable commitment to human rights standards, equality and diversity, and ability to embed those standards throughout all aspects of their work.

12- Demonstrable high level of intercultural sensitivity.

13- Full professional proficiency in English and Arabic (written and spoken).

14- Good Hebrew language skills (desirable).

15- Experience of conducing fieldwork and / or interviews and related research ethics (desirable).

16- Experience of conference organization (desirable).

Candidates are requested to apply via e-mail to [email protected] by August 18th, 2021.

The application must include the following documents (in English):

1- A resume/ CV (max 4 pages)

2- A list of publications

3- A sample of one publication in English

4- 2 reference letters, preferably touching upon the skills required for this job

5- A covering letter (max 2 pages) illustrating how you meet the essential criteria and what you would bring to the team.

It is envisaged that interviews will take place via video conference in the week beginning August 21st ,2021

Please direct informal enquiries (in English) to the Clinic via the following email: [email protected]