Communities Fellow | Asia

Position

Accountability Counsel is seeking a one-year, paid Communities Fellow as part of Accountability Counsel’s Communities program. The Fellow will be supporting our Asia-based team and reporting to the Asia Director.

About Accountability Counsel

We amplify the voices of communities to protect their human rights and environment. Our team of world-class attorneys works directly with communities challenging abuses financed from abroad. We do not litigate in courts, but instead specialize in the non-judicial accountability offices that have been created to address these abuses. Our team of policy advocates works to ensure that those accountability offices are transparent, independent, fair, accessible, and effective. We conduct research to track global complaints and expose patterns in data that can be used to prevent harm. We also convene a global network of advocates to foster a movement for accountability in international finance. We have been recognized as a high impact social enterprise by Echoing Green and the Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation.

In the ten years since our founding, our team has partnered with nearly 40 communities to defend their rights, demand justice, and achieve historic victories. We support communities from all over the world, and have achieved significant success and tangible impact in our cases. We have improved accountability policy at every multilateral development bank, at three United States agencies, and within international institutions. Our advocacy has led to the creation of several new accountability offices, and we have a new groundbreaking initiative on impact investing. Our research is, for the first time, exposing patterns in the global system of accountability that show advocates, policy-makers, financial institutions, and the accountability offices themselves best practice and where improvement is needed most. Our approach employs respect-based methods to ensure that marginalized people, particularly women and girls, are included as full participants in community strategies seeking accountability.

Specific Responsibilities

A. Communities Program (80%)

The Communities Fellow is responsible for working closely with Accountability Counsel’s Asia team on the achievement of Accountability Counsel’s organizational mission and Communities program strategy.

Main responsibilities include:

  • supporting communities to access justice using accountability offices through all aspects of the complaint process, in particular, through document reviews, legal and technical analysis, consultation with experts, field investigations, and other research, including quantitative research, and tracking investment and supply chains;
  • drafting written materials for internal and external use, including letters, memos, blogs and other materials; and
  • attending and participating in internal and external meetings and conferences to further Communities program goals.

B. Other (20%)

Additional duties include:

  • providing logistical, and administrative support to the program; and
  • supporting Accountability Counsel’s knowledge-sharing and capacity-building efforts.

This position may require occasional travel within Asia.

Qualifications

The Communities Fellow must have the following qualifications:

  • graduate degree in law or master’s degree in a related field such as development studies;
  • demonstrated commitment to social justice;
  • positive attitude and excellent interpersonal skills, including a high degree of empathy, patience, and ability to work in a multicultural environment;
  • excellent written, verbal, research, and analytical skills, including the ability to review and evaluate highly technical information related to internationally-financed projects;
  • ability to work under pressure, organize, and prioritize workload, and meet multiple and often tight deadlines;
  • ability to take initiative, work independently, and execute work efficiently and with exceptional quality;
  • good judgment and the ability to think strategically in a fast-paced environment;
  • fluency in English required and fluency in Hindi, Nepali, or other major South Asian language strongly preferred; and
  • ability to legally work in Asia.

The following qualifications are highly valued:

  • experience working with or for NGOs / civil society collectives;
  • direct experience in local community settings;
  • experience related to international financial institution and corporate accountability, human rights law and/or environmental law; and
  • knowledge of, or experience with, accountability offices.

Compensation

Accountability Counsel offers competitive compensation commensurate with experience.

Application Process

To apply, please complete the application form below. Your application should include:

  • resume;
  • cover letter stating your qualifications; and
  • short writing sample (no more than 5 pages).

Applications will be received and reviewed until April 30. Position to be filled as soon as possible. Due to the expected high volume of response, only shortlisted applicants will be contacted regarding next steps in the application process.

Accountability Counsel is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, disability, gender, nationality, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or other prohibited category. We strongly encourage people of color, LGBTQIA+ individuals, people with disabilities, and all qualified persons to apply for this position.

Application Form