Researcher, Alternatives for Conflict Transformation in Somalia Programme (ACTS)

Closing date: June 24, 201 1 — 16.30 EAT

Contract duration: 18 months, or until December 31 , 2012.

Location: Nairobi, with travel in Somalia.

The Life & Peace Institute (LPI) is an international and ecumenical centre that supports and promotes non-violent approaches to conflict transformation through a combination of research and action that entails the strengthening of existing local capacities and enhancing the preconditions for building peace.

LPI’s Somalia Programme 2010-2012 aims at activating and sustaining processes of non-violent conflict transformation which are centred on local sustainable structures in South-Central Somalia and are complimented by policy advocacy at the national, regional and international level.

The Alternatives for Conflict Transformation in Somalia Project (ACTS) will parallel a participatory action research and a policy advocacy process.

The research process will first clarify the political objectives and plans of key stakeholders both inside and outside South-Central Somalia through primary data collection in the field, and then identify the convergences and divergences between them.

The Project will involve a range of political actors both from inside and outside Somalia and establish reference groups that will engage in the research process, feeding their perspectives and expectations into the design and data collection.

The reference groups are expected to generate and solidify a political commitment to progress from the research results to the re-examination of the respective political agendas.

LPI seeks applications for the position of “Researcher - ACTS Project” within the Somalia Programme.

Essential tasks and responsibilities:

Overall responsibility for planning, design and management of the Project, including design of the research protocol, methodology and tools for data collection and analysis as well as policy advocacy process and outcomes.
Technical support, training and coaching of the Project staff in Kenya and Somalia, and coordination with LPI’s Research Adviser in the Head Office.
Coordination and supervision of data collection and analysis.
Development of a system for the secure management of data, including the protection of sources and ensuring that both the internal and public documents produced do not contain actionable information.
Overall responsibility for the production of research reports.
Developing, in co-operation with relevant staff, new areas for research relevant to the project and funding applications for new projects.

Desired characteristics and qualifications of the candidate:

Possession of a postgraduate degree in a relevant discipline (including but not limited to sociology, political science, international relations and Islamic studies) or equivalent level of in-depth knowledge and understanding of relevant subjects. In possession of, or near completion of, a PhD in a relevant discipline is a desirable plus.
Highly skilled and experienced on qualitative methodologies of data collection and analysis, and able to work with substantial volumes of data. The candidate should be willing to learn new methodologies and tools. Previous experience in participatory action research and/or research in conflict transformation frameworks and contexts, are considered a plus.
Experience in policy analysis (public policy, instruments, ideas) and in developing effective communication for an audience of policy makers.
Ability to write fluently at both an academic level and for an audience of policy makers in English language. A track record of publications in both peer-reviewed journals and policy advocacy frameworks is a plus.
A demonstrated expertise and an interest ¡n working on issues related to Islamic activism and/or Somalia.
Good computer skills, including use of word processing and spreadsheet packages, research software packages such as SPSS and NVIVO, as well as strong capacity to use the Internet to find and access sources of information.
Ability to implement a large scope of tools for scientific investigation (e.g. immersion, participatory observation, interview, media analysis, questionnaire, archives, biographical summary, focus groups).
Ability to work in team, notably in an inter-cultural context. Ability to communicate knowledge to specialist and non-specialist audiences as well as co-workers.

Contract period and location: Beginning preferably 1 July 2011 , or as soon as possible thereafter and not later than 1 September 2011; until 31 December 2012.

This is an international position, it will be based in Nairobi and will include travel to Somalia.

Applications: A one-page letter detailing the applicant’s qualifications and interests in the subject area and a full CV with information about educational background, relevant experience, skills, major publications and three referees. Please state “Researcher — ACTS Project” as a reference in your letter of application.

Applications should be sent to lpi.nairobi.applications@gmail.com,

or at

Life & Peace Institute,
Off Waiyaki Way,
AACC Commercial Building, 5th floor,
P.O Box 64495-00620,
Nairobi, Kenya

For further information about the position, contact Michele Cesari, Resident presentative in Nairobi, at phone +254(0)20 444 04 31/2 or Malin Brenk, Programme Adviser, at phone +46(0)18 660 130.