Regional Adviser (Southern Africa) (closes 12 October)
Minority Rights Group
Posted on Sep 6, 2025
This post is part of a broader effort to strengthen MRG’s outreach towards local minority and indigenous communities and to assist in the collection and dissemination of information concerning minority and indigenous issues around the world. The regional adviser will act as MRG’s eyes and ears in Southern Africa, keeping track of new developments that affect the rights of minorities and indigenous peoples and being aware of key players (whether minority or indigenous and/or decision makers). The regional adviser will support MRG through outreach to minority and indigenous community activists in her/his region, seeking opportunities for collaboration and joint programmatic work.
Purpose of the role
Every year, MRG’s World Directory of Minorities and Indigenous Peoples receives approximately one million unique visits; it is widely used by activists, journalists, researchers, and government and agency officials. Our other resources, including our reports, are widely used and cited as well. Given this degree of usage, we need to ensure that our materials are as accurate, up to date and comprehensive as possible. As part of our on-going work to combat structural racism, we must also ensure that our materials reflect local cultural sensitivities and the self-identification of minority, indigenous and other marginalised groups.
In addition, MRG is regularly consulted by UN and other human rights mechanisms for advice and information concerning minority and indigenous communities. Our current networks are strong in those countries and regions where we are present / active through programmes or partners. In response to growing need, we seek to broaden our networks to ensure greater efficacy in supporting minority and indigenous peoples’ advocacy, including at UN and other human rights mechanisms.
The regional adviser will therefore also act as MRG’s correspondent in helping the organization update the relevant entries of its online World Directory of Minorities and Indigenous Peoples. S/he will update MRG’s communications colleagues on urgent developments concerning minorities and indigenous peoples in Southern Africa, while providing advice on content, strategy and follow-up. S/he will also assist MRG’s representatives to UN and other human rights mechanisms, in responding to queries regarding developments concerning minority and indigenous rights issues in this region.
Main duties and responsibilities
The main responsibilities of the regional adviser will be:
- Inform the organization about the situation of minorities and indigenous peoples in Southern Africa, especially urgent developments (for instance by preparing quarterly internal updates, sharing media outputs and participating in staff webinars).
- Assist colleagues in obtaining accurate, impartial and credible information as well as contacts with affected community representatives who may (if security permits) be available as resource persons.
- Revise and update at least three country entries in the World Directory per year (number to be agreed).
- Respond promptly to requests for updated information from UN and other human rights mechanisms concerning minorities and indigenous peoples in Southern Africa.
- Proactively map out and establish contacts with minority and indigenous communities and minority / indigenous human rights defenders and investigate possible areas of collaboration.
- Advise colleagues on intervention design, possible donors, potentially participate in designing programmes.
- Contribute to and/or facilitate baseline studies in the region.
- Advise the communications team when there are media queries concerning minorities and indigenous peoples in Southern Africa, by providing talking points, content for blogs and press releases, and other advice.
The selected consultant will have:
- A university degree in a relevant field.
- At least five years’ experience in the field of minority and/or indigenous peoples’ rights in Southern Africa.
- Good knowledge of the current social and political contexts of the countries in the region, including the situations and needs of minority and indigenous communities.
- Excellent research, analytical and writing skills.
- A proven record in documenting and reporting on violations and abuses of minority and indigenous rights.
- Wide range of contacts among civil society across their region.
- Excellent written and spoken English.
- Excellent research, analytical and writing skills.
- Proven ability to prioritise work and meet deadlines.
- Proven ability to use own initiative to investigate and analyse developments, reach out and establish contacts with marginalised communities.
- Proven ability to stay calm under pressure and to assess and absorb information quickly.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality.
- Ability to gain the confidence of members of minority and indigenous communities.
- Computer literacy and knowledge of Word for Windows, Excel, the Internet and email packages.
- Ability to maintain on-going and productive contact with remote team members.
- Commitment to the aims and objectives of MRG.
- Commitment to gender equality and willingness to implement MRG’s gender policy.
- Enthusiasm about working in a multicultural environment.
- Commitment to anti-racist practice and equal opportunities.
They will probably also have:
- Knowledge of international human rights law and indigenous peoples and minority rights law.
- Understanding of and experience reporting on intersectional discrimination affecting marginalised groups within minority and indigenous communities.
- Knowledge of regional or country specific organizations working in the field of minorities and indigenous peoples or related fields in the Gulf States.
- Practical advocacy experience of UN and other human rights mechanisms.
- Personal experience as a member of a marginalised minority or indigenous community.
- Excellent knowledge of another local or regional language; indigenous language knowledge particularly welcome.
- Excellent oral presentation skills.