About this role

IWRAW Asia Pacific Programme Officer: Capacity Building – Remote Opportunity for Human Rights Professionals

International Women’s Rights Action Watch Asia Pacific (IWRAW Asia Pacific) is inviting applications from experienced professionals for the position of Programme Officer: Capacity Building. This opportunity is aimed at individuals with strong backgrounds in women’s rights, feminist advocacy, human rights education, grassroots mobilisation and movement building.

The successful candidate will contribute to strengthening the capacity of women’s rights organisations, grassroots movements and partner organisations across different countries and communities. The role will focus on supporting the use of international human rights frameworks, particularly the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), to advance gender equality and accountability.

The position offers a flexible working arrangement, with candidates able to work remotely or from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. However, remote employees must maintain core working hours aligned with Malaysia Standard Time (UTC+8), and periodic international travel will be required.

The organisation is particularly encouraging applications from candidates based in Southeast Asia and the Pacific region, especially those from Global South countries.

The application deadline is 22 November 2026.

IWRAW Asia Pacific is a feminist, Global South women’s human rights organisation working to advance substantive equality, justice and the full realisation of human rights for all.

For more than three decades, the organisation has partnered with movements, civil society organisations and communities to challenge systems that perpetuate discrimination and inequality.

Its work connects grassroots experiences with international human rights mechanisms, helping women and gender-diverse people understand, claim and exercise their rights.

The organisation is guided by feminist principles, inclusion, equity, integrity and respect for diverse experiences. It also seeks to create a supportive working environment where employees can contribute meaningfully to its mission.

About the Programme Officer: Capacity Building Position

The Programme Officer will contribute to developing and implementing IWRAW Asia Pacific’s capacity-strengthening programme as part of its broader partnership strategy.

The role will involve supporting grassroots organisations, partners and social movements at local, national and subregional levels to strengthen their understanding and application of women’s human rights.

A central responsibility will be helping organisations use CEDAW and other international human rights standards to promote accountability, influence policies and advance structural change towards gender equality.

The programme will also strengthen collaboration between different movements and constituencies while developing accessible learning resources and knowledge-sharing opportunities.

The successful candidate will contribute to three major thematic areas: People, Power and Rights; Climate and Environmental Justice; and Feminist Economic Justice.

Key Responsibilities

1. Capacity Strengthening and Learning Support
The Programme Officer will coordinate and implement national, regional and international training programmes, learning initiatives and capacity-building activities.
They will provide technical assistance to partner organisations and women’s rights groups, helping them understand and apply CEDAW and international human rights frameworks in their advocacy and accountability work.
The role will also involve monitoring developments in women’s rights, providing advisory support, facilitating knowledge exchange and coordinating learning spaces such as institutes, policy dialogues and thematic meetings.
1. Knowledge and Resource Development
The successful candidate will work with IWRAW Asia Pacific’s programmes team and resource persons to develop and deliver training materials, learning resources and technical assistance.
All learning approaches will be grounded in feminist and participatory principles, ensuring that resources are accessible, practical and relevant to the experiences of different communities.
The Programme Officer will also support the organisation’s knowledge development activities across its key thematic areas, helping partners and movements strengthen their advocacy strategies.
1. Movement Building and Partner Support
Another important responsibility will involve strengthening collaboration among women’s rights organisations, grassroots movements and different social constituencies.
The Programme Officer will contribute to initiatives that encourage shared learning, collective action and cross-thematic cooperation.
This work will support movements in developing the knowledge and practical skills needed to influence human rights policies and promote lasting social change.
1. Documentation and Reporting
The successful candidate will coordinate the preparation of reports, evaluations and documentation relating to capacity-building activities.
Responsibilities will include writing, editing, managing project timelines and coordinating logistical requirements with internal teams and external stakeholders.
The role will also require ensuring that donor reports, project deliverables and annual reporting requirements are completed accurately and within established deadlines.
1. Collaboration and Representation
The Programme Officer will work closely with colleagues across the programmes team to integrate capacity strengthening into the organisation’s wider partnership and advocacy strategies.
They may also represent IWRAW Asia Pacific at relevant regional and international forums, contributing to discussions on women’s rights, feminism and human rights accountability.

Qualifications and

Experience

Required
IWRAW Asia Pacific is seeking candidates with substantial professional experience in women’s rights, feminist advocacy, movement building and capacity development.
Applicants should possess a Master’s degree in Social Sciences, Development Studies, Human Rights or another relevant discipline from a recognised university. Comparable professional qualifications may also be considered.
Candidates should have 5–8 years of professional experience working on women’s rights, grassroots mobilisation, feminist advocacy, movement building and collaboration. At least three years of demonstrable experience leading and developing learning agendas, training programmes and capacity-building initiatives is required.

Other essential requirements include:

Direct experience working with marginalised and underserved populations at grassroots and national levels.
Strong understanding of feminist, participatory and practical training methodologies.
Experience designing and facilitating in-person and virtual meetings, workshops and events.
Excellent written and spoken English communication skills.
Strong knowledge of CEDAW, international human rights instruments, international law and multilateral processes.
Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
Familiarity with collaborative tools such as Canva, Miro and Padlet.
Ability to coordinate multiple stakeholders, manage competing deadlines and adapt to changing priorities.
Knowledge of additional languages is an advantage but is not compulsory.
The ideal candidate should also demonstrate independence, teamwork, flexibility and a strong understanding of women’s rights and structural inequalities affecting communities across the Global South.
Experience in human rights education and developing or adapt

Programme Officer: Capacity Building