Advocacy Officer
As an Advocacy Officer with RFK Partners for Human Rights, Jeffrey Smith manages the RFK Center’s partnership with 2009 Human Rights Award Laureates Magodonga Mahlangu and Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA), which is a grassroots movement of over 80,000 citizens that has been at the forefront of the democratic struggle in Zimbabwe since 2003. Mr. Smith assists WOZA with domestic and international advocacy efforts, strategy development, and capacity building. Mr. Smith works closely with civil society leaders and human rights defenders throughout Zimbabwe to actively promote respect for human rights and advocate for a peaceful democratic transition.
Mr. Smith has a decade of experience in human rights and democracy promotion work, including prior positions at Freedom House, the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), the Institute for Democracy in South Africa (IDASA), and the United Nations Economic, Social, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Mr. Smith most recently worked at Freedom House where he implemented cutting edge voter and civic mobilization programs and provided direct support to civic activists throughout Southern, Central, and West Africa. He also has conducted human rights assessment missions in several African countries, including Zimbabwe, Zambia, Cote d’Ivoire, and Kenya.
Mr. Smith is a 2003 graduate of the University of Connecticut, where he also received a master’s degree in international relations and was the university’s first recipient of its distinguished Human Rights Graduate Certificate. Mr. Smith also serves on the Advisory Board of the Center for Faith and Human Rights, which works with nongovernmental organizations, churches, and government officials to both promote and ensure social justice in Zimbabwe.
Jeffrey Smith
1300 19th St, NW Suite 750
Washington, D.C. 20036
Tel: (202) 463-7575
Fax: (202) 463-6606
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Twitter: @Smith_RFKennedy
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