West Africa Civil Society Institute wacsi.org

Job Vacancy: Research and Documentation Officer for WACSI

The West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI) was established by the Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA) to build the institutional and operational capacity of civil society in West Africa, through research, training and policy engagement facilitation. WACSI seeks committed, motivated and dynamic persons to join its team to contribute to enhancing civil society’s professionalism, efficiency and effectiveness in West Africa.

Applications are hereby invited from suitably qualified persons for the under listed position:

RESEARCH & DOCUMENTATION OFFICER

General Description:
Under the direct supervision of the Executive Director, the Research and Documentation Officer will serve as an active member of the senior management team working closely with the Training and Capacity Building, and Policy Advocacy Officers. S/he will have primary responsibility of WACSI’s research network, capacity and product development, monitoring and evaluation, and implement WACSI’s research and documentation strategy.

Responsibilities:
•Provide visionary and innovative intellectual and administrative leadership in WACSI’s research and documentation department;
•Facilitate the production of, and contribute to academically rigorous publications and policy research on the activities and issues of concern to civil society in West Africa;
•Build partnerships with research organizations and think tanks in the region;
•Develop and build a team of WACSI researchers;
•Organize in collaboration with the Policy Advocacy unit, policy dialogue seminars and forums for civil society, policy makers, and other key stakeholders;
•Liaise with the Training and Capacity Building unit to provide relevant training for research teams and CSOs in general;
•Develop WACSI’s M&E plans in collaboration with other units and supervise the implementation of those plans.

Educational Qualification & Experience:
•An MPhil or higher in international relations, political science or other relevant social science;
•10 years post qualification with relevant work experience in the Non-Governmental sector, at least 5 of which must be related to doing research and documentation; program planning and development;
•Commensurate experience in project monitoring and evaluation;
•Fluency in English and French

Key Requirements:
•Strong research background;
•Good working knowledge in English and French;
•Outstanding knowledge of and established links with researchers within West Africa and beyond;
•Applicant must have published several peer reviewed articles on any of the following areas; democracy and governance, peace and security, policy advocacy;
•Excellent strategic programming skills;
•Strong project management and supervisory skills;
•Strong monitoring and evaluation skills;
•Knowledge management expertise;
•Deep understanding of West Africa’s socio-political context;
•Dynamic, self-motivated and be able to work independently;
•Excellent team builder and player.

Application Process:

1.Interested applicants must submit a published research paper or writing sample on a relevant topic, letter of motivation and Curriculum Vitae/Resume, to admin@wacsi.org .
2.Deadline for submission of application is Saturday, 30th June, 2012.

Note: Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.

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