Research Officer Liason Consulting Nairobi, Kenya

VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT: Research Officer

Our client is a Pan-African initiative established in 2007 and a member of the global Tax Justice Network that seeks to promote socially just, democratic and progressive taxation systems in Africa. Our client advocates for pro-poor tax regimes and the strengthening of tax regimes to promote domestic resource mobilization. The organisation aims to challenge harmful tax policies and practices that favour the wealthy and aggravate and perpetuate inequality. The main goal is to mainstream tax justice in the discourse of African civil society. The organisation provides a platform dedicated to enabling African researchers, campaigners, civil society organizations, policy makers, and investigative media to cooperate in the struggle against illicit financial flows, tax evasion, tax competition and other harmful trends in tax policy and practice.

Position Title: Research Officer, Reports to: Policy & Advocacy Manager

Duty Station: Nairobi, Kenya.

Overall Purpose: The Research Officer will lead in planning, developing and executing research projects including conducting, managing and coordinating high quality and tax policy relevant research and supporting project partners in developing and implementing research activities.

Key Responsibilities

1. Identify Members and project partners, research capacity gaps and develop strategies and tools for training and capacity enhancement.

2. Identify priorities and areas of need for primary quantitative and qualitative research to explore current and emerging issues.

3. Develop a comprehensive research agenda

4. Monitor trends and development in tax research relevant to Africa and provide advice on implications to organisation programme work

5. Provide specific technical inputs to the research agenda such as literature review, interviews, data analysis and preparing reports and participate in writing and contributing to research papers, reports, policy briefs and other documents

6. Undertake strategic analysis of research and capacity needs and demands of members and project partners and make recommendations that can inform the strategic actions required by the organisation to meet those needs including carrying out capacity building of members and partners

7. Plan and execute fund raising strategies to support research and related activities.

8. Develop a comprehensive research profile/database of researches and case studies that have been conducted on and in Africa related to tax justice.

9. Manage dissemination of research on Tax Justice undertaken by the organisation and its affiliates and by other independent institutions or researchers

10.Monitor and evaluate implementation of the tax policy through tracking of specific performance indicators and compiling comprehensive reports on policy process at national and regional levels in Africa.

Qualifications and Key Skills

i. A minimum of a Masters degree in Social sciences or business related degrees from recognised institutions of higher learning

ii. Post graduate qualifications in research is an added advantage

iii. Professional qualifications in accountancy is an added advantage

iv. Minimum of 3 years of experience in Research programs in the NGO sector and social movement with international NGOs or institutions;

v. Relevant experience in undertaking policy related research

vi. Experience in undertaking and coordinating quality research work

vii. Experience in using statistical software’s of analysing research data and information

viii. Fluency in spoken and written French and English is an added advantage

Applicants from both French and English speaking African countries are eligible to apply

Please submit your application and current CV detailing your experience for the post, current email and phone contacts to: recruitment@liaisonconsultants.co.ke with subject “VA – TJN-A Research Officer” not later than June 11^th 2011. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.