Researcher - East Africa (Kampala based)

7 May 2008

Salary: Under review
Contract Duration: Permanent contract
Office Hours: 35 hours per week
Reference: AFR/08/04
Closing Date: 28 May 2008

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You will play a leading role in defining our strategy in the Africa region, assessing where we will have an impact and how we can make a difference. You will engage with people on the ground, government officials and other relevant national and international organisations.

You will have worked or lived in the area and have a broad understanding of the political and social factors affecting the region. Your finely tuned research skills have been honed either in the field, academically or from a journalistic background. Fully signed up to our aims, you will combine your research experience with proven leadership, diplomatic and communication skills.

Job Description

Title: Researcher

Unit: Africa Regional Program

Cluster: Regional

Location: Kampala, Uganda

Reports to: Africa Programme Director on areas of substantive work and Head of Office for day to day line management and to ensure smooth running of the Africa Regional Office.

Responsible for: The collective coordination of the Africa Regional Office and the supervision of temporary staff and volunteers as appropriate.

Job Purpose:

As AI’s lead expert on specific countries or other geographical or thematic areas, to lead on the development and implementation of overarching research and campaigning strategies to deliver impact in relation to agreed priorities, providing research expertise, research management, political judgment and analytical, communication and representational skills.

Main responsibilities:

To lead on the development and implementation of overarching research and campaigning strategies to deliver impact in relation to agreed priorities on specific countries or other geographical or thematic areas, including strategies to identify the most effective ways to address human rights concerns; and to lead on designing specific projects and producing, implementing, monitoring and evaluating plans for both these and initiatives originated by others;
To monitor, research, investigate and analyze human rights-related developments in order to provide timely, accurate, independent and impartial assessments and expert advice on the human rights situation in the relevant countries or other geographical or thematic areas;
To organize, take part in and lead, where agreed, field research and other missions, leading specifically on information-gathering, fact-finding, analysis and assessment of human rights concerns, including in response to crisis situations; prepare, where necessary, security assessments, political and other briefings in relation to the mission for IS management, mission participants and internal or external stakeholders; and represent AI in the field;
To represent AI to external stakeholders, including in governmental, inter-governmental and various public forums, as well as to all forms of news media, civil society organizations and political, economic and other actors; and to communicate AI’s concerns, positions and, where relevant, campaign strategies to external and internal stakeholders;
To develop and maintain effective constituencies of public and confidential contacts and partners in and outside the organization - such as human rights activists, members of legal and other professions, UN agencies and governmental representatives - to optimize information gathering and verification and the development and implementation of effective strategies and plans;
To write reports and other materials for publication and internal use and contribute to and provide expert advice in relation to written and other materials produced by other programmes;
To manage research, oversee the research work carried out by the team and others and, as appropriate, to contribute to the selection of external consultants and supervise, support, coordinate and provide expert advice on their work;
To contribute to the development and maintenance of an effective information management system;
To contribute to the development of programme-wide strategies and plans for research and campaigning and provide input into internal discussions on the AI mission, policy, organizational and other issues in order to increase the effectiveness of AI’s work;
In consultation with management, to participate in the coordination of the work of the team, including through setting priorities, preparing work plans, monitoring their progress and contributing to maintaining basic budgets;
To contribute to the overall flexibility of resource use and provide cover for other programme staff as agreed with management;
To perform all necessary administrative tasks to ensure effective self-servicing, participate in the recruitment and induction of new staff and consultants and perform other corporate tasks as appropriate.

Person Specification

SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

Proven experience of undertaking research on human rights or related issues;
Specialist knowledge of human rights in armed conflict and first hand experience of carrying out research in countries in Africa experiencing conflict; an in-depth understanding of the nature of key human rights concerns, as well as political, social, legal, economic, cultural, ethnic, racial and gender issues in them;
Knowledge and experience of East Africa, specifically Kenya, Somalia or Sudan;
Experience of, and willingness to work in hostile environments;
Ability to exercise good political judgment, thorough analysis and diplomacy;
Ability to develop effective strategies to impact on human rights in the region;
Ability to represent AI to external stakeholders; and to communicate AI’s concerns, positions and, where relevant, strategies to external and internal stakeholders;
Proven experience of writing research materials for a variety of audiences;
Ability to understand and express ideas in English and French and, where applicable, other relevant languages, in a fluent, clear and concise way, both orally and in writing; draft text in a variety of styles, e.g. documents such as substantial reports, government correspondence and media and action materials. Knowledge of Arabic would be an asset;
Ability to deal in a sensitive and understanding manner with a variety of people, including survivors of human rights violations and others who may be distressed;
Experience of working in a team and understanding of the importance of efficient communications for the coordination and effective functioning of teams;
Demonstrated commitment to human rights, e.g. through previous work, membership of an organization, involvement in advocacy of human rights, etc.;
Experience of managing conflicting demands, meeting deadlines and adjusting priorities;
Ability and willingness to undertake personal administrative tasks in accordance with AI’s guidelines on self-servicing;
Understanding of equal opportunities, cultural diversity and gender issues as well as a commitment to apply relevant policies;

CONFLICT OF INTEREST/DISQUALIFIER

A public or other activity, affiliation to, or support for, any group or organization, personal association or other factor that may generate a real or perceived conflict with AI’s principles (specifically, its independence and impartiality) or raise a security concern or otherwise prevent the candidate from carrying out the functions of the specific post would disqualify the candidate from appointment.

Main terms and conditions

Holidays: Full time staff receive 27 days per annum plus one Amnesty International grace day and statutory and national public holidays .
Relocation: Relocation assistance will be available for staff members (and their dependents) recruited from over 80 km/50 miles from the International Secretariat office in which the post is based.
Life insurance: 4 x gross salary
Pension: You are encouraged to join the Amnesty
International Superannuation Scheme. This is a defined contribution to
which Amnesty International contributes 6% of gross salary.
Travel loan: Interest free travel loan for bus, underground, or rail travel to work (no qualifying period)
Cultural Diversity: All staff will work collectively and individually to promote a constructive and sensitive approach to others from a variety of backgrounds, where the work of others is valued and respected.
Health and Safety: All staff are required to comply with Amnesty International's policy and rules relating to Health and Safety and its security regulations at work.