The Pan African University (PAU) is a continental academic and research institution created by the African Union, that is based on the following guiding principles: academic freedom, autonomy, accountability, quality assurance, strengthening existing African institutions at the graduate and post-graduate levels to enable them to serve the whole continent, excellence and international partnerships in academic and research activities, gender parity and equality at all levels and in all university functions. The PAU also aims at the promotion of African integration through the mobility of students, academic and administrative staff, collaborative research linked to the challenges faced by African countries, the institution of an appropriate framework to enable the African Diaspora to contribute towards the development of higher education and research in Africa, promotion of inter-disciplinary and multidisciplinary research programmes linked to policy making processes, promotion of productive linkages with the industrial sector for innovation and dissemination of new knowledge, full use of Information and Communication Technologies for pedagogy, research and management. The PAU takes into account the basic principles of the United Nations Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
JOB STATION
The duty station will be the AUC headquarters at Addis Ababa, Ethiopia for a period of one year.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
This is a senior position within the Pan African University’s interim Management structure. Reporting to the PAU Coordinator, the holder of this position will be responsible for the strategic development of research and knowledge transfer policies and mechanisms, build regional global and international partnerships and collaborations, and set quality benchmarks and standards that would enable the PAU Institutes and Centres entrench themselves, and gain international recognition as hubs of research and scholarly excellence, contributing to Africa’s knowledge-based economic development. She/he shall specifically be in charge of the following:
i. Develop a framework for the overall direction, organization and administration of research programmes at the University;
ii. Develop mechanisms for promoting and coordinating research, scientific publications, innovation, extension and technology transfer to stakeholders;
iii. Develop modalities for mobilizing and soliciting financial and logistical support for research, knowledge transfer and extension through fundraising activities from development partners and agencies, industry, business community and other research and academic institutions;
iv. Coordinate the development of quality benchmarks and performance standards and initiatives that improve outcomes of student and staff research and overall postgraduate education in Africa;
v. Assist the Institutes and Centres in developing research action plans that align with the University Research Policy;
vi. Develop modalities for the establishment of partnerships, collaboration and linkages with both local and international institutions of higher learning for academic research, innovation, knowledge transfer and extension programmes ;
vii. Identify national, regional, continental and international grant opportunities for research and set mechanisms for the coordination and planning of grant applications;
viii. Assist in development of research centers and special research programs;
ix. Promote cooperative multi- and trans-disciplinary proposals among PAU Institutes and Centres, and assist with the development of international research agreements;
x. Develop mechanisms for ensuring that research activities are undertaken in accordance with the governance, policy and regulatory frameworks of the University;
xi. Oversee development and management of campus research space and facilities within the campuses;
xii. Perform other related tasks and related responsibilities as assigned by the Coordinator.
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African Peacebuilding Network Research Grants Competition, The Social Science Research Council
The African Peacebuilding Network (APN) of the Social Science Research Council (SSRC) invites research grant applications from African researchers, policy analysts, and practitioners working on conflict and peacebuilding at universities and research institutions or regional governmental and non-governmental organizations in Africa.
About the African Peacebuilding Network
The APN promotes independent African research and analysis on peacebuilding in or near countries and regions affected by violent conflict in Sub-Saharan Africa.
About the APN Research Grants Program
A core component of the APN, the Research Grants program is a vehicle for enhancing the quality and visibility of African peacebuilding research regionally and globally and for making such knowledge accessible to key policymakers and research centers of excellence in Africa and around the world.
Substantial support is available for research and analysis on issues such as:
– Conflict prevention, mediation, management, resolution, and transformation
– Environmental change and conflict
– Post-conflict democratization, governance, and reconstruction
– The relationship between peacebuilding and statebuilding, including state-society relations and state reconstruction
– Transitional justice, reconciliation, social and economic justice
– Peacekeeping and peace support operations
– Disarmament, demobilization, and reinsertion
– Security sector reform
– The role of the media and civil society
– Peace partnerships involving the UN, the AU, and Regional Economic Communities
– Gender, youth, identity, and culture
– International actors and peace interventions
Grants are awarded on a competitive, peer-reviewed basis and are intended to support six to seven months of research. Up to fifteen grants of a maximum of $15,000 will be awarded.
All grantees are required to participate in two Africa-based workshops that will provide opportunities to refine research focus and methodologies, present findings, explore ways to make work accessible to multiple peacebuilding constituencies, and develop constructive working relationships with other grantees, senior academics, and practitioner facilitators.
Research Grant Proposals
The APN is interested in innovative projects that demonstrate strong potential for producing high-quality research and analysis that can lead to practical action on peacebuilding and/or facilitate inter-regional collaboration and networking among African researchers and practitioners.
Proposals should clearly describe research objectives and significance (with a clear alignment between research design/method and research questions and goals), demonstrate knowledge of the research subject and relevant literature, and address the feasibility of proposed research activities, including a time frame for project completion. Applicants should also discuss the likely relevance of the proposed research to existing knowledge on peacebuilding practice and policy. Individual and joint proposals are welcome.
Eligibility
Applicants must be African citizens currently residing in a Sub-Saharan African country. For interested applicants outside of Africa, please refer to our Frequently Asked Questions page by following the link below.
Academics must hold a faculty or research position at an African university or research organization and have either a PhD or a master’s and at least two years of research experience.
Policy analysts and practitioners must be based in Africa at a regional or sub-regional institution, a government agency, or a non-governmental, media, or civil society organization and have a master’s with at least two years of work experience.
Application Process
The APN strongly prefers that applications be uploaded through our online portal. Alternately, completed applications can be e-mailed or delivered by post or courier service.
DEADLINE: Applications are due by 9 p.m. EDT, June 15, 2012.
Additional Information: If you have further questions, please contact APN program staff by telephone at (212) 377-2000 or by e-mail at apn@ssrc.org.
Program Director: Cyril Obi
Research Coordinator: Kiran Bains
The African Peacebuilding Network is funded by Carnegie Corporation of New York.