Post-Doc for the project Making Politics Safer focusing on Kenya

Job Description
The job role is within a 3-year VR (Swedish Research Council) funded project (‘Making Politics Safer – Gendered Violence and Electoral Temporalities in Africa’) (2023-2025). The project covers three focal countries: Ghana, Kenya and Zimbabwe. The focus for the post-doctoral position is on violence against women in politics, gender, intersectionality and transformative change in women’s political representation within these country contexts. Brief information on the project is here:

Under the leadership of senior researcher Diana H. Madsen at the Nordic Africa Institute, and working with gender researchers / project participants from different African country contexts, you will be responsible for: 


• Collection of qualitative data in Kenya on the topic of the project.
• Organising of project and stakeholder meetings in Kenya in cooperation with the project leader.
• Working closely with gender specialists to address gender dynamics of electoral violence, women’s political empowerment and coping strategies.
• Contributing to the production of academic and policy outputs.
• Working with specialists on policy communication around gender equality, with special attention to policy engagement in the African project countries and the Nordic region.
• Facilitating inputs from the project into candidate training programmes.

This is a full-time research position for a period of two years. You will be based in Uppsala, Sweden, with periodic short-term travel to the focus countries Ghana, Kenya and Zimbabwe. You are expected to run your duties independently and you have the freedom to develop your ideas within the overall framework of the project but under the supervision of senior researcher Diana H. Madsen.

Requirements

• PhD degree in a social science discipline (e.g. gender studies, development studies or political science) or interdisciplinary with social science focus. This position is targeted at those who have obtained a PhD degree no more than three years prior to the application deadline. 
• Good qualitative methodological skills for undertaking field-based empirical social research, with a demonstrated record of conducting research in Africa. Particular knowledge of Kenya will be an advantage.
• Good social analysis skills with thematic understanding relevant to gender issues, intersectionality, electoral violence and political representation with ability to demonstrate how these issues relate to local contexts. 
• Demonstrated knowledge of scholarly and policy thinking on gender / political representation / electoral violence and empowerment an advantage.
• Good communication skills and ability to work in a team-based multi-cultural environment.
• Excellent knowledge of spoken and written English. Knowledge of Kiswahili an advantage.
• Capacity to travel is essential for undertaking empirical field research and attending international project meetings.

Application
The application should contain:


• Complete CV with a list of scientific publications where it is clearly indicated which publications are peer-reviewed.
• Up to three selected academic publications in electronic form.
• Optional - up to three examples of policy engagement (e.g. policy brief, event, blog).
• Contact information for two references.
• A personal letter in which you justify why you are applying for this position, address how you fit the listed requirements, and state the earliest possible starting date (max. 2 pages).

About the employment
The employment is a temporary position of 2 years. Scope of employment 100 %. Starting date as soon as possible 2023 (dependent on work permit/visa process). Placement: Uppsala. Salary range 35,000 – 37,000 SEK monthly, subject to skills and experience.

About the Nordic Africa Institute (NAI)
The Nordic Africa Institute (NAI) was founded in 1962 and since then has provided knowledge in the form of high-quality research, timely information and extensive documentation on Africa.  Over a period of half a century, NAI has remained committed to academic and policy research, information dissemination and documentation on African issues. NAI has followed the trends and development of Africa studies in the Nordic region and in African continent, and also actively initiated new ideas and forms of engagement to fulfil its mission as the main center for African knowledge in the Nordic countries and to serve its stakeholders in the Nordic countries and globally.

NAI is a Swedish government agency under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (not a university) and research staff combine commitment to high quality scholarly outputs with science-policy outreach to decision makers based in the Nordics and Africa. NAI has a new institutional strategy for the 2022-2026 period whose mission is to ensure Nordic decision makers and associated change makers have a deeper understanding of modern African perspectives and societal dynamics.

NAI is a value-based organization.  We have a joint foundation in the national common values for all Swedish governmental agencies and add our own core values of involvement, communication, trust and transparency. We sustain a culture of equality, diversity and inclusion. Everyone has the right to equality in the workplace, to balance his or her career and family life, and to work in a respectful fashion with others without fear of discrimination.

NAI offers a stimulating intellectual environment, an interdisciplinary research orientation, a team of researchers from different social and natural scientific backgrounds, a professional communications unit, and a library with modern facilities. In addition, the institute is linked to an extensive network of research institutions in Africa and the Nordic countries.

Contact persons:
Diana H. Madsen, senior gender researcher (for inquiries about the position); Dan Åkhagen, Human Resources Officer. Trade Union representative: Henrik Alfredsson (Saco-S). All can be reached at +46 18 471 52 00 or through nai@nai.uu.se.

More information about the institute’s ongoing research activities, grants, library services and publications is available on the Institute’s website: www.nai.uu.se.

How to apply:
Apply through our online recruitment system, link below.

Closing Date for applications: 15 February 2023.

The Institute promotes equal opportunities for all, and good representation of African regions. Women are particularly encouraged to apply.