Background
IPSS aspires to be a premier Institute for peace and security studies in Africa. Its mission is to promote peace and security in Ethiopia and Africa at large through education, research, and outreach. The Institute produces skilled professionals in conflict prevention, management and resolution as well as in peacebuilding, and promotes the values of a democratic and peaceful society. It works at the national, regional as well as continental level.
As part of its continental activities, the IPSS was mandated by the African Union’s (AU) Executive Council to take up the intellectual challenge of finding African-led solutions to peace and security in Africa which led to the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the AU Peace and Security Department (PSD) to serve as a research and policy think-tank. The primary purpose of the Research Unit, is, therefore, to generate analytic ideas, policy options, policy proposals, as well as to conduct research studies that can be considered by the AU or the Regional Economic Communities (RECs)/Regional Mechanisms (RMs) and Ethiopian institutions. To this end, IPSS is looking for a professional with relevant expertise who can coordinate the Research and related activities at the Institute.
Objective
The IPSS Research unit intends to make a substantive contribution to the contemporary discourse on peace and security on the African continent, and, more specifically, to assist the African Union (AU) and Regional Economic Communities (RECs)/Regional Mechanisms (RMs) in the development of evidence-based and actionable policy options. In this respect, the IPSS Research unit complements and supports other IPSS activities.
Number of positions needed
One
Duration of the contract
The position is a One Year renewable contract.
Salary and Benefits
Negotiable
Tasks and Deliverables
The main tasks will include:
- Undertaking policy analysis and coordinate the research activities of African Solutions (AFSOL) for African problems
- Coordinating and supervising the African Peace and Security Architecture impact assessment activities.
- Supervising and guiding the production of the report on the State of Peace and Security in Africa.
Detailed tasks include:
· Generating up-to-date ideas, policy options, and policy proposals related to peace and security issues across the African continent;
· Analyzing future trends of peace and security issues of Africa and make recommendations accordingly;
· Briefing relevant stakeholders, if necessary.
· Guiding the on-going research studies, develop and maintain the programme communication, and monitor the project implementation;
· Guiding the publication process of the research studies;
· Identifying areas of potential research activities on current and/or future trends/issues;
· Developing and implementing a research strategy on “African-centred solutions”;
· Developing funding proposals for research activities;
· Defining quality standards for the research team and its work in collaboration with the Institute’s Management,
· Reporting directly to the APSP Director;
· Involving in the research activities of other units or departments of the Institute.
· Administration of Research unit with budget responsibility;
· Management and appraisal of staff of the Unit.
· Providing relevant input to Management meetings, when needed.
· Liaising with relevant stakeholders and especially engage the AU, RECs, and RMs;
· Facilitating the establishment of partnerships between the Institute and think tanks across Africa;
· Representing IPSS at conferences and meetings when delegated by his/her immediate superior.
Qualifications
· A Ph.D. degree in International Relations, Political Sciences, Peace and Security, public policy, or any other relevant social sciences fields;
· At least 8 years work experience in relevant research coordination, including at least 5 years work experience in peace and security in Africa;
· A reasonable number of years of academic teaching and managerial experience.
· Demonstrate knowledge of, preferably experience in working with, the AU, RECs/RMs and other relevant networks;
· Ability to work with different policy areas across the African continent
· Ability to innovate and implement cutting edge solutions in applied research, excellent research and drafting skills, including the ability to assimilate and summarize large volumes of material, and to draft high-quality papers on matters relating to public policy.
· Ability to work under pressure and tight deadlines;
· Ability to produce objective and balanced work which is unaffected by the writer’s own political or other views;
· Strong communication skills, including presentation skills;
· Excellent command of English (both written and oral
· Good IT skills;
· Experience in working in a multicultural environment;
· Be an African national.