SAHA is looking for up to two dedicated and dynamic individuals interested in learning more about building a career in human rights advocacy, to join its Freedom of Information Programme (FOIP) for a 6 - 12 month internship starting from March 2014.
About SAHA
The South African History Archive (SAHA) is an independent human rights archive committed to documenting and raising awareness of past struggles against apartheid, as well as ongoing struggles in the making of democracy in South Africa. In line with this central mission, the Freedom of Information Programme (FOIP) at SAHA is dedicated to using South Africa's Promotion of Access to Information Act, 2000 (PAIA) to extend the boundaries of access to information in South Africa.
To learn more about SAHA’s Freedom of Information Programme, visit http://foip.saha.org.za
Summary of key responsibilities
In the course of the internship, interns are expected to support the work of the FOIP team through:
• Submitting and tracking requests made of public and private bodies under PAIA
• Assisting in the delivery of SAHA’s PAIA training to NGOs and CBOs
• Conducting research, as directed, into national and regional use of access to information
• Supporting a retrospective analysis of PAIA requests submitted by SAHA from 2001 to 2011, in particular through data collation and analysis.
Skills and qualifications
• Degree in law, political science, public administration, journalism or other relevant field
• Demonstrable commitment to social justice
• Ability to plan, prioritize work, and meet deadlines
• Ability to show initiative within a collaborative working environment
• Strong written communication skills
• Competency with Microsoft Office software.
All SAHA internships are based at the SAHA offices at Constitution Hill in Johannesburg. Internships are on a full-time basis, last for at least 6 months (up to a maximum of 12 months) and interns will receive a modest monthly stipend for the duration of the internship. FOIP interns report to the FOIP Advocacy and Training Outreach Officer.
How to apply
To apply, please prepare a one-page letter of motivation (no more than 500 words) that addresses the following questions:
• What is the purpose of Promotion of Access to Information Act, 2000 (PAIA)?
• What were the motivating factors behind the development of PAIA?
• Provide an example of how you think PAIA could be used to support struggles for justice in South Africa.
Submit this letter of motivation with your CV (no longer than 3 pages) and the contact details for at least 2 professional referees by email to Kathryn@saha.org.za by 5pm Monday 17 February 2014.
Late applications will not be accepted. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
