International Development & Legal Research

Tanzania

Join a research and resource mobilisation placement with an African lawyer's union, conducting donor research & mapping, proposal development, human rights, justice, civic space, and rule of law work across the continent.

This is a placement exclusive to Medi Trip with limited placements at this association per month.

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ABOUT THIS PLACEMENT

Age requirement: 18 years +

Requirements: Degree/University/College level minimum second year Ideal for international development, law, human rights, public policy, governance, and African studies students or graduates.

This placement may be suitable for:

International development students or graduates
Law students with an interest in human rights, governance, rule of law, or African legal systems
Public policy or political science students
African studies students
Human rights, peacebuilding, or civic space researchers
Applicants interested in NGO funding, donor strategy, proposal writing, and institutional development

Professional Volunteers with related study or experience are welcome.

Number of volunteers: Solo individuals, Groups are welcome

Duration: From 4 weeks to 6 months.

Start date: No specific start date, start at any time during the year.

Fees:

$250 registration fee or Group fee if applying as a group
Book between 4 weeks and 6 months (see exact fees)
- Includes accommodation
- Placement preparation, facilitation & coordination
- Airport pick up + drop off
- Placement coordinator - daily work mentor with 15+ years Public Health experience in Tanzania

Program Overview

This African lawyers union is the premier continental forum of and for lawyers and lawyers’ associations in Africa. Established in 2002, they bring together regional and national lawyers’ associations across the continent, as well as over 1,000 individual lawyers. Their work is rooted in the vision of a united, just, and prosperous Africa built on the rule of law and good governance.

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Behind every human rights campaign, legal reform project, or rule of law programme, there is a huge amount of research, writing, strategy, and funding work that most people never see. This placement gives you a place inside that process. Based with a Lawyers Union’s Resource Mobilisation team, you will help research donor priorities, identify funding opportunities, build powerful cross-organisational relationships, prepare background briefs, support concept notes and proposals, and contribute legal or development research linked to justice, civic space, peace, human rights, and legal development. It is ideal for applicants who want practical exposure to how continental advocacy work is planned, justified, funded, and communicated across Africa.

What this looks like in practice

You may spend your week reviewing donor briefs, summarising funding opportunities, researching human rights or governance priorities, helping draft a concept note, preparing a legal or policy background brief, or supporting proposal sections such as the problem statement, theory of change, outcomes, and project rationale.

Your Role

Donor mapping and analysis linked to justice, peace, civic space, legal development, and human rights priorities
Research on global development trends and donor priorities
Drafting background briefs, concept notes, and proposal sections
Supporting problem statements, theories of change, and log frames
Identifying bilateral and multilateral funding opportunities
Monitoring global development calls for proposals and summarising opportunities for the resource mobilisation team

For the right applicant, this is a rare opportunity to gain insight into continental legal advocacy, institutional development, donor engagement, and policy-oriented legal work in Africa.

Legal research for proposals involving justice, human rights, civic space, advocacy, or legal development
Summaries of legal frameworks, regional standards, or relevant case law
Policy briefs and advocacy documents for strategic donor engagement
Research support for litigation-related funding proposals
Clarifying project objectives, outcomes, and links to international human rights standards

Because this is a relationship-building, research, writing, and resource mobilisation placement, applicants should commit to a minimum of 4 weeks and be open to up to 6 months if possible.

Shorter placements are usually not suitable because meaningful proposal work, donor research, policy writing, and institutional learning require time, context, and consistency.

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Where will you stay?

You will stay in a volunteer house. where we provide safe, clean and comfortable accommodation, comfortable bedding, breakfast and dinner (dinner's Monday to Friday) and housekeeping. This will be a quiet and friendly neighbourhood 15 minutes from the main hustle and bustle of town. You will have wifi, hot showers, 24 hour gated security, a domestic/cook (who will happily do your laundry for a small fee) and a coordinator who will ensure you settle in quickly and comfortably into your new town. This is a shared home where you will be staying with other volunteers from across the world, so you will never be on your own in your new environment. The house is impeccably clean, well kept, modern and spacious.

Important VISA & Permit Information

You will be required to pay a for a VISA for voluntary work assignment. Please enquire for details.

Where do my fees go?

All of your fees are spent locally. Fees ensure you have above standard accommodation, that you have a personal coordinator picking you up at the airport, orientating you and you have a coordinator day to day and your program is planned and facilitated specifically for you, to match your skills and get you to provide the very best to those that need you.

Is Africa safe for me to travel alone? Do I need to be with other volunteers?

Regardless of whether you're volunteering on a clinical mission, you're still a tourist. Forward planning is key to protecting yourself from risk as you would anywhere in the world. As a group or a solo traveller from abroad, you will attract attention but, you will also have a great support system in your volunteer coordinators, fellow travellers/volunteers and supervisors. It's important to try and be conscientious of your new surroundings and respect and follow local customs as much as possible and insure yourself from any possible risks.

Africa is a large continent with every country varying greatly in local culture, customs, rules and regulations. Research your destination as much as possible and ask as many questions as possible. We would never place you at risk or in harm's way, however it is important you take ownership of your journey and behave responsibly.