Desk research on civic space in Benin, Cote d’Ivoire, Senegal and Togo

Conduct desk research on civic freedoms and rights in West Africa.

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OHCHR - Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights

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Volunteering

Application deadline 4 months ago: Monday 4 May 2026 at 00:00 UTC

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Overview

Conduct desk research on civic freedoms and rights in West Africa.

You have:

At least 2 years of working experience in legal matters
Demonstrated experience in the West African region, especially the identified priority countries is desirable.
Strong research and analytical skills.
A degree in social sciences, human rights, law, international relations, or in a related field is an asset.

Contract

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Details

This task supports research on the rule of law and civic space in Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Senegal, and Togo. Online Volunteers will conduct desk research, media monitoring, and legislation mapping to inform detailed country profiles and concise two-page summaries. The findings will guide our advocacy and programming, contributing to SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions) by promoting transparent, inclusive, and rights-based governance in West Africa. Volunteers’ contributions will provide critical evidence for our efforts to strengthen civic space and the rule of law in the region.

We are looking for 1 Online Volunteer who have experience in research with excellent writing skills to undertake research to evaluate the status and evolutions of civic freedoms — specifically, the rights to freedom of association, peaceful assembly, and expression. This involves analyzing recent legislation, draft laws, and government practices that affect civic space, as well as documenting the experiences of civil society organizations (CSOs) and human rights defenders in these countries.

The task will include the following responsibilities:

Discuss and determine parameters for the desk research civic space in the respective countries.
Media monitoring: tracking, collecting, and analyzing media content—across print, broadcast, and digital platforms—to assess how issues related to civic space are reported, discussed, and perceived in society.
Legislation mapping: Collect and catalogue all legal instruments—such as constitutions, statutes, regulations, administrative directives, and codes of conduct—that affect civic space. This includes both legislation and jurisprudence.
Develop 4 country profiles based on the findings of the desk research.
Develop one-pagers summarizing the country profiles.

Candidates should have : - At least 2 years of working experience in legal matters - Demonstrated experience in the West African region, especially the identified priority countries is desirable. - strong research and analytical skills. - A degree in social sciences, human rights, law, international relations, or in a related field is an asset.

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Potential interview questions

Can you describe your experience with conducting desk research in civic space issues?	The interviewer wants to understand your practical experience relevant to the research focus of the role.	Highlight specific projects or roles where you conducted similar research.
How do you assess the impact of legislation on civic freedoms?	This question assesses your ability to analyze legal texts and their implications.	Pro members can see the explanation.
What methods do you use for media monitoring and analysis?	Pro members can see the explanation.	Pro members can see the explanation.
Can you provide an example of how your research contributed to advocacy efforts?	Pro members can see the explanation.	Pro members can see the explanation.
What challenges have you faced while researching civic space in West Africa, and how did you overcome them?	Pro members can see the explanation.	Pro members can see the explanation.
How do you ensure accuracy and reliability in your desk research findings?	Pro members can see the explanation.	Pro members can see the explanation.
Describe your experience working with civil society organizations (CSOs) in the region.	Pro members can see the explanation.	Pro members can see the explanation.
What is your approach to synthesizing research findings into concise summaries?	Pro members can see the explanation.	Pro members can see the explanation.