Research Assistant for the Conflict, Security and Resilience Programme

ECDPM - European Centre for Development Policy Management

Maastricht, Netherlands

Job announcement for the function of a Research Assistant for the Conflict, Security and Resilience Programme

The European Centre for Development Policy Management (ECDPM) in Maastricht (in the South of the Netherlands) is looking for an entrepreneurial professional for a 36 month-assignment combining research, policy dialogue and knowledge networking. 

ECDPM is a “think and do tank”. Our main goal is to broker effective partnerships between the European Union and the developing world, especially Africa. It promotes inclusive forms of development and cooperates with public and private sector organisations to better manage international relations. It also supports the reform of policies and institutions in both Europe and the developing world. One of ECDPM’s key strengths is its extensive network of relations in developing countries, including emerging economies. Its partners embrace multilateral institutions, international centres of excellence and a broad range of state and non-state organisations. ECDPM was established in 1986 as an independent foundation. 

Your expertise will allow you to assist in the research and execution of activities of the centre’s Conflict, Security and Resilience Programme. 

Language requirements: Fluency in English (speaking and writing) and good working knowledge of French.

ECDPM activities

Building upon twenty-five years of experience as an independent foundation, ECDPM’s strategy is implemented through 5 programmes:

• Strengthening European external action;
• Conflict, security and resilience;
• Economic transformation;
• Africa’s changing dynamics;
• Food security.

ECDPM’s Conflict, Security and Resilience Programme supports actors and institutions in Europe and Africa to consolidate their policy responses to conflict, fragility, resilience and development. We analyse how these could be designed in a more integrated and coherent way, and how they could better reinforce each other. 

ECDPM seeks to appoint a full-time staff member as Research Assistant to the Conflict, Security and Resilience Programme to further develop and implement its work in this area. The incumbent will primarily work on the implementation of the research and policy-dialogue project “CAERUS: Bridging the Gap – Evidence based policy for post-crisis transition”. The focus will be on EU policies and approaches to bridge gaps between providing relief, supporting resilience and promoting stability and development. Particular attention will be given to health and education as entrance points for addressing conflict transition as well as post-disaster processes for stability and development more effectively. The project is executed with six other partners from academic institutions, policy institutes and non-governmental organisations. The incumbent will work as part of a team implementing this project.

Conditions

ECDPM offers a lively and attractive working environment, space for autonomy and personal growth. The staff member will be based in Maastricht, a small city in the South of the Netherlands 90 minutes from Brussels. Short-listed candidates for this vacancy will be required to undergo an interview and a written exercise, and provide three references one of which should be the candidate’s last supervisor in a position of employment or traineeship. 

Since the research assistant position is regarded as an extended traineeship aimed at providing initial working experience in the international arena for development policy, the initial appointment is for six months. The gross monthly salary is based on the Dutch minimum wage (Euro 1,669.63 gross/month). The appointment provides a generous package of (compensation) leave (9+ weeks on annual fulltime basis) and other benefits such as pension scheme and training budget. 

Applicants should fill in the application form that can be found here. Applications should be submitted electronically to the email address kg@ecdpm.org, to the attn. of Mrs. Karen Gielen, Corporate Officer Human Resources as soon as possible (with the deadline of Tuesday May 13 2014). They should note: “Application for RA: Conflict, Security and Resilience” in the subject line. Applications without an application form (i.e. just a CV) will not be taken into consideration. 

We have scheduled Thursday May 22, 2014 for the interviews.

Terms of reference

Key commitments of the Research Assistant

• To proactively contribute to assigned team work;
• To help deliver on assigned projects and/or policy facilitation activities;
• To assist in content development and publication, through desk research, information assembly, documentation, reporting and brokering knowledge.

Positioning and responsibilities of the Research Assistant

• Formally reports to and receives coaching from assigned Senior Executive, i.e. the Head of Programme Conflict, Security and Resilience;
• Performs desk and/or field research to analyse (impact of) well-specified policy strands responding quickly to external demands or stakeholders;
• Prepares and supports research and facilitation work by more senior colleagues;
• Networking: helps maintain good contact with stakeholders and identify niches and added-values for the Centre;
• Proactively contributes to advancing the assigned policy process(es), the policy choices involved and their implementation;
• Contributes to and/or (co-) publishes media content on policy strands to enhance stakeholder insights and knowledge-sharing as well as the Centre’s knowledge brokerage position;
• Contributes to and/or (co-) organises web-based discussion groups that stimulate dialogue and enhance knowledge and insights of stakeholders;
• Assists in the preparation and organisation of stakeholder events, workshops and meetings; takes minutes, reports and debriefs on these;
• Provides hands-on collegial support to ECDPM Executive, Policy, Corporate and Knowledge Management staff upon request as well as on own initiative;
• Proactively seeks advice and collegial mentoring from other (Senior) Policy staff at the Centre.

Knowledge, experience, skills and characteristics

• A Master degree or equivalent in a relevant discipline, e.g. development economics, international relations and/or social sciences;
• Up to one year of relevant work experience;
• Proven ability to undertake policy research and proven exposure to academic research environment;
• Exposure to conceptual issues and practical aspects pertaining to international cooperation, with a particular focus on humanitarian response, security, post-crisis transition and development;
• Ability to collect and analyse economic data and financial flows;
• Initial work experiences in a project or an organisation working in post-crisis transition situations (preferably in Africa);
• Proven interest in European international cooperation and institutional development;
• Ability to travel outside Europe for limited field work;
• Analytical mind with an interest in systems thinking and complexity;
• Good English writing skills, proven by reports/publications and written test;
• Fluency in (academic) English and good working knowledge in French (reading and speaking, only); other languages are an asset;
• Interest in the development of project-management and organisational skills, including multi-tasking, communication in a multicultural environment, project and time management, minutes-taking and reporting;
• Ability to deliver on assignments in an autonomous manner; pro-active in seeking guidance if and when required (mature personality).