CSA&G

Call for Applications: Early-Career Research Exchange

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Call for Applications: Youth Exchange Against Anti-rights

Exciting opportunity! The Centre for Sexualities, AIDS and Gender is looking to recruit two
early-career researchers with a genuine interest in social justice to join a one-year international
exchange project focused on countering anti-rights forces impacting historically marginalised
communities in different contexts.

This exchange offers a unique opportunity to conduct impactful research and build advocacy
skills within an international framework. Successful candidates will be expected, with the
support of academic and activist mentors, to develop and complete a self-developed research
project that speaks to the overarching theme(s) of the project, resulting in a research paper,
policy briefs, toolkit, or other appropriate output. Participants will also attend advocacy and
research communication training and contribute to the advocacy strategies of organisations
involved in the project.

For this project, the CSA&G is partnering with Colors Rainbow (CRB), a leading Myanmar LGBTQIA+
rights organisation, and SAIH in Norway. Starting in January 2026, each of the three partner organisations will send two participants on the exchange, who will spend their time between South Africa, Norway, and Thailand.

This is a one-year paid engagement. The successful applicants are expected to be fully
committed and participate in all parts of the exchange. Participants will receive a stipend of
R16,000 per month when in South Africa and Thailand, and R41,500 per month when in
Norway. All costs relating to accommodation, travel, and activities for the project will be
covered by the project.

The project is funded by NOREC.

For more details on the project background, timeline and activities, see the project’s concept
note here.

 

Application Requirements:

  • Be a young professional or recent graduate (preferably master’s and/or PhD), under 35, and must
    have finished studies by the time the exchange starts;
  • Have studied in a field relevant to the project, e.g. gender studies, development studies,
    human rights, environmental studies, anthropology, sociology, human geography or
    related;
  • Have a particular interest in or knowledge of authoritarianism, anti-gender and/or anti-
    environmentalism;
  • Availability to fully participate in the year-long programme, including international travel;
  • Must have research experience and be familiar with quantitative or qualitative research methods.
  • Must be a South African citizen or have a work visa valid throughout 2026;
  • Have a genuine passion for promoting human rights, campaigns and advocacy work.

 

Desired:
• Have a background in activism from the CSA&G’s Just Leaders or other organisations;
• Research experience is preferable;
• Has intercultural experience.
Personal qualities:
• Curious, analytical and committed to human rights and social justice;
• Culturally sensitive and able to work well across differences;
• Adaptable, resilient and solutions-oriented – to changes that may arise in different
contexts and in the project itself;
• Strong communicator;
• Organised, reliable and able to work independently as well as in a team;

• Motivated to link research with advocacy and action.

Why Apply?

This programme is more than an academic opportunity—it is a chance to:

  • Shape global conversations on human rights and democracy.
    • Build a career trajectory in academia, civil society, or policy spaces.
    • Gain international experience across three continents.
    • Join a network of young researchers and activists committed to advancing social justice.

To apply, please complete this Google Form, and submit your CV and motivational letter
by Tuesday, 30 September 2025. We aim to carry out interviews the following week and
finalise the selection process shortly after.

For any questions about the project or application process, please contact info@justleaders.org.