GIZ is now hiring a Legal Trainee in the Human Rights Sector Project
Deadline : October 31, 2026
Location : Bonn, Germany
Brief Background about GIZ
For more than 50 years, the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ), as a federal government company, has been supporting the global implementation of development policy goals.
Brief Background about the Position
GIZ is looking for Legal trainees to support the implementation of the human rights approach in development cooperation. The human rights sector project advises the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) on the implementation of a human rights approach in bilateral and multilateral development cooperation. The aim is to implement human rights standards and principles in all areas of development policy and practice and thus make an effective contribution to reducing the structural causes of poverty in the partner countries. The focus of the activity includes supporting the BMZ in its international positioning and strategic-conceptual work on the subject of human rights. In addition, the state implementing organizations are advised on strengthening the human rights approach in development policy practice.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Support on legal issues of human rights, including the rights of indigenous peoples, freedom of religion and belief, flight and migration, climate and environment, economic, social and cultural rights and development banks
- Participation in comments and human rights reviews for the Human Rights, Equality and Inclusion Department of the BMZ
- Supporting the mainstreaming of human rights in the implementing organizations (e.g. through presentations)
- Support in knowledge management within GIZ
- Analysis of current international law studies and publications
Required Qualifications, Skills and Expereinces
- You can only apply if you are in the legal preparatory service and have the job title “legal trainee”.
- Necessary prerequisites are also legal knowledge of the system for the protection of human rights at the regional level and within the United Nations, for example through the choice of focus of study.
- In addition, conceptual and analytical skills as well as business fluency in German and English are required.
- Practical experience in the field of human rights and/or development cooperation is an advantage.
- Applicants should have quick comprehension skills and be open to dealing with current political issues.
- You should have good, politically sensitive communication skills in written and oral form as well as the ability to present complex contexts in an understandable manner.
- Knowledge of French and/or Spanish is also desirable.
The position was created specifically for legal trainees in the elective station and can only be filled by them. If you are not currently employed as a legal trainee at a German court as your regular position, we kindly ask you not to apply. In this context, reference may be made to the regular advertisements for internship positions.
We are looking for applicants all year round. Please let us know the exact period of deployment in your cover letter.
Please send your application documents by email to Mr. Fjodor Winkelmann.
If you have any questions regarding the content, please contact Mr. Winkelmann (fjodor.winkelmann@giz.de).
