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Human Rights intern

GIZ Rwanda

The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH has been working in Rwanda for more than 40 years.

Rwanda is a country with a turbulent and, at times, tragic history, and the impact of the 1994 genocide is still felt today. Nevertheless, Rwanda has achieved progress at a number of levels since 2000. Stability, security, steady economic growth and low corruption are some of the key successes. The country is also regarded as a pioneer in Africa in environmental protection, digitalisation and gender equality.

Despite these encouraging developments, however, Rwanda is still a very poor country that continues to rely on international support. This support is in virtually all sectors and is coordinated by the Rwandan Government. As a reliable partner in an efficient task-sharing system, GIZ works in three priority areas on behalf of the German Government:

  • Economic development and employment
  • Governance and democracy
  • Digitalisation
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2 Internship Positions

Position:

2 Internship opportunities

Salary Band:

Internship

Organisational Unit:

GIZ / Strengthening the Human Rights-Based Approach in Civil Society Organisations Project

Place of Assignment:

Kigali, Rwanda

Initial Contract Period:

1st September 2025- 28th February 2026

Application Deadline:

7th July 2025

About GIZ and the Project

The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH is a federally owned international csooperation enterprise for sustainable development with worldwide operations. The GIZ Office in Kigali covers GIZ’s portfolio in Rwanda and Burundi. GIZ Rwanda/Burundi implements projects on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, the European Union and other commissioning authorities in the following priority areas: Sustainable Economic Development; Good Governance; Climate, Energy and Sustainable Urban Development; Digital Transformation and Digital Economy; and regional projects in the Great Lakes Region.

The project Strengthening the Rights-Based Approach in Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) promotes the human rights of vulnerable groups on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). On the one hand, civil society organizations are empowered with appropriate human and technical resources to carry out their mandate to implement the human rights-based approach. On the other hand, the project aims at improving the legal and political framework conditions for the protection of human rights and for the work of civil society organizations.

GIZ is recruiting candidates for the position of human rights intern.

The Interns perform the following responsibilities and tasks:

Responsibilities

The interns assist the project team in advising CSOs on their activities monitoring and implementing national human rights mechanisms established in Rwanda in their focus areas and the involvement of third parties (i.e. local and/ or national government actors and the private sector). Further, the interns help prepare the logistics and materials needed for the training of self-advocacy groups on various capacity development measures, such as training on the registration process for CSOs, and support the preparation and documentation of serialized capacity development measures for CSOs on topics relevant to human rights work.

Tasks

Under the overall guidance of the technical project team, the interns perform the following tasks:

  • Participate in weekly team meetings and workshops with partners
  • Read project documents to gain more skills and knowledge
  • Visit other GIZ Rwanda Good Governance cluster projects and produce reports on the visits
  • Assist project manager with communication and project management tasks
  • Write a final report on the internship
  • Support the technical project team with the drafting and editing of training materials, reports, and presentations
  • Assist the project team in coordinating with partners and stakeholders
  • Provide logistical support to activities, such as organizing and reporting of conferences, events, training courses, etc.
  • Perform other duties and tasks at the request of management

Other duties/additional tasks

  • Perform other duties and tasks at the request of management

Required Qualifications, Competences and Experience

Qualifications and professional experience

  • Completed undergraduate program (bachelor’s degree) from a recognized institution in Development Studies, Law, Public Health/ Health Science/ SRHR, Social Sciences, Gender Studies, or related fields. Exceptions can be made for students in the process of finishing a bachelor’s degree, with other relevant qualifications.
  • Having worked or volunteered with Non-Governmental Organizations supporting vulnerable groups and proven experience in the inclusion of people with disabilities will be considered an asset.

Other knowledge and additional competences

  • Demonstrable skills in analytical thinking, communication, data collection, and report writing
  • IT competence, command of the main office software, internet communication, social media and research skills
  • Strong organizational, communication and interpersonal skills within an international setting.
  • Ability to work in a multi-cultural environment and in a multi-professional team
  • Strong team working capacity
  • Ability to plan and organize him-/herself
  • Initiative, enthusiasm, self-paced in learning
  • Commitment to GIZ mission, vision, and values
  • Excellent knowledge of Kinyarwanda
  • Fluency in English

How to apply

Interested candidates should submit their application (motivation letter, updated CV, certificates and references) via our electronic job portal by using the button “Apply until 7th July, 2025, at 4.00 pm. All attachments should be put together in one PDF file not larger than 2 MB.

GIZ is a signatory of the Diversity Charter. Recognition, appreciation, and inclusion of diversity in the company are important to us. All employees shall be valued - regardless of gender and gender identity, nationality, ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, social background, age, or sexual orientation. We support equal opportunities and welcome applications from people with disabilities.

This includes the provision of reasonable accommodation, if needed, to participate in the job application and interview process and to perform essential job functions. Please let us know if you have any requirements should you be invited for an assessment/interview that you wish us to consider.

Women and persons with disabilities are particularly encouraged to apply.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for tests and interviews.

GIZ Office Rwanda

KN 41 St. / Nr.17, Kiyovu

P.O. Box 59, Kigali,

Rwanda

GIZ reserves all rights!

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