1. Background

IPSS is a premier institute for peace and security studies in Africa. Its mission is to promote peace and security in Ethiopia and Africa at large through education, research and professional development. The Institute produces skilled professionals in conflict prevention, management and resolution as well as in peace building, and promotes the values of a democratic and peaceful society. The African Peace and Security Programme (APSP) is a joint collaboration between the IPSS and the African Union (AU).

The Journal on African-led Solutions in Peace and Security (AfSol Journal) is an initiative of the Institute for Peace and Security Studies at Addis Ababa University, led by the Africa Peace and Security Programme of the Institute. The Journal is an inter-disciplinary African studies journal, focusing broadly on the fields of peace and security in Africa. It covers the interface between ‘academia and practice’ and ‘theory and policy’ in African security and governance issues that have implications on the management of peace and security in the continent.

The Journal publishes articles from broad fields of study with at least one of the following criteria:

• Original empirical data collected and presented through acceptable scientific methods.
• Already existing data and with a unique or advanced theory.
• Practical cases in one of the following analytical dimensions:
  • African ownership and commitment
  • Leadership
  • African shared values
• Narrate and analyse undocumented events or practices with suitable academic rigour.
• Unless it is especially relevant to the present or is a critical account of a missing piece of history, biographic and/or autographic narratives are not published in this Journal. The Journal would particularly like to publish critical analyses of Africa’s social, cultural and political factors that influence peace and state building in Africa. It ultimately aims to gather cross-cutting themes that would inform policymakers, civil society, and academicians, and also advance the promotion of effective interventions across Africa. Unless explicitly specified in the call for papers of a specific edition, articles within this scope are considered for review.

2. Task

The Editor-in-Chief is expected to work with the Research and Policy Analysis Unit of APSP and the Journal’s Editorial Board members to ensure the timely publication of AfSol Journal Issues. The Editor-in-Chief will be in charge of the Editorial and publication process of the AfSol Journal from call for submission of abstracts through to final drafts of the papers which IPSS Communications Unit will publish.

3. Qualification and Experience

• A Ph.D. in the field of social sciences, preferably in peace and security studies, international relations, political science, global studies, development studies or any other related field of study.
• More than 4 years post- Ph.D. work experience.
• Experience in authoring or co-authoring academic articles in reputable journals.
• Experience in authoring or co-authoring policy briefs/papers/reports.
• Experience working with inter-governmental institutions in the field of peace and security, particularly the African Union (AU) and the United Nations (UN).
• Experience in reviewing and/or editing academic articles and policy briefs.

4. Work Mode

Virtual/Remote, with the possibility of short visit to APSP, IPSS, Addis Ababa once a year.

5. How to apply:

Interested applicants should submit a cover letter, a CV not longer than 3 pages to the email address: j.akamo@ipss-addis.org till the 20th of April 2023

External Vacancy Announcement

Position: Researcher

Background

The Institute for Peace and Security Studies (IPSS) is an African institution with the mission to promote peace and security in Ethiopia and Africa through education, research, and professional development. The Institute trains skilled professionals in conflict prevention, management and resolution as well as in peacebuilding, and promotes the values of a democratic and peaceful society.

The Peace and Security Report Unit (PSRU) at IPSS is looking for a qualified researcher to produce:

1. Countries conflict insight reports
2. Periodic reports on crosscutting Peace and Security issues in Africa

Objective

The researcher will conduct desk-based data collection and primary data collection, and analysis to produce countries conflict insight reports, countries conflict timeline documents and periodic reports on crosscutting peace and security issues in Africa.

Responsibilities

• Research on conflict dynamics, causes, actors, interventions and their impact.
• Data gathering and analysis to produce the conflict insight reports, conflict timeline documents, and periodic reports.
• Develop scenarios on the trends of conflicts in the target countries.
• Engage in any other activities related to the African Peace and Security Programme (APSP) as assigned by their respective supervisors.

Qualifications

• MA in social sciences, preferably in peace and security studies, political science, global studies, development studies or any other related field of study.
• Excellent knowledge of the African development landscape in the field of peace and security
• Excellent writing and research skills.
• Very good knowledge of ICT tools for data collection.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
• Minimum one-year work experience in similar research activities.
• High academic performance is an added advantage.

How to apply:

Interested applicants should submit a cover letter, a CV not longer than 3 pages, and a recent writing sample to the email address: application@ipss-addis.org till the 31st of March 2023.

Note: Use “Research “as the subject line of your email!

Call for Application

Research Intern (Virtual) – Regional Focus

The Institute for Peace and Security Studies (IPSS) is an African institution with the mission to promote peace and security in Ethiopia and Africa through education, research and professional development. The Institute produces skilled professionals in conflict prevention, management and resolution as well as in peace building, and promotes the values of a democratic and peaceful society.

Position Purpose

The IPSS Research and Policy Analysis Unit intends to make a substantive contribution to the contemporary discourse on peace and security on the African continent, and, more specifically, to assist the African Union (AU), Regional Economic Communities (RECs)/Regional Mechanisms (RMs) in the development of evidence-based and actionable policy options. In this respect, the IPSS Research and policy Programme complements and supports other IPSS activities. In addition, it seeks to enhance and create space the meaningful participation of youth to peace and security discourse. Thus, budding researchers are called upon to apply for a Four (4)-month Research Internship (Virtual). Two individuals will be selected per region (Central, East, North, Southern and West Africa) to support the Unit’s research activities and learn. Selected Research Interns will work remotely, and the position is not remunerated.

Eligibility

Applicants must:

• Not exceed the age of 35 (definition of youth according to the African Union Youth Charter).
• Be nationals of a member state of the African Union (AU)
• Be full time students enrolled in the final year of their Bachelors or Graduate School degree programme in the Arts and Humanities or Social Sciences
• Be fluent (oral and writing) in at least one of the AU working languages.
• Must demonstrate keen interest in the field of peace and security
• Advocacy work and policy engagement at any level is an added advantage

• Strong communication skills, including presentation skills

• Demonstrate good IT skills

• Demonstrate working knowledge of the AU, RECs/RMs and other relevant peace and security network to a reasonable level

• Be willing to work with different policy areas across the region

• Be innovative and able to engage qualitative research tools

• Have strong writing and research skills and be able to assimilate and summarize large volumes of material, and to draft high quality report

• Have the ability to work under pressure and tight deadlines

• Be able produce objective and balanced work which is unaffected the writer’s own political or other views

*High academic performance is an added advantage.

Key Responsibilities

The holder of the position will perform the following tasks:

• Produce short think pieces and factsheets that will be published
• Assist IPSS Researchers with primary and secondary data gathering and sorting
• Actively contribute to ongoing research projects and other research-related of the Research Unit
• Assist the Research Unit to rapporteur workshop events and prepare the workshop report, when required
• Engage in any other activities related to the African Peace and Security Programme (APSP) as assigned by the supervisor.

Duration of the Internship

Four (4) Months 

Application Deadline

30 April 2023.

To Apply

Send the following documents to: 

• CV/Resume
• Cover Letter not exceeding 2 pages addressing the following issues:
• Purpose of your application – Why are you interested to work with IPSS’ Research and Policy Analysis Unit?
• Contribution to the Unit – What do you bring to the table?
• Your expectation – What must you have learnt and achieved at the end of the internship?

• At least two academic reference letters – must be signed and include the contact details of the referee.

Interested and qualified applicant send the above documents through application@ipss-addis.org.

Note: Use “Research Intern “as the subject line of your email!