The Nordic Africa Institute is a centre for research, knowledge, policy advice and information on Africa. Based in Uppsala, Sweden, the institute is a government agency, funded jointly by Sweden, Finland and Iceland.

The NAI African Scholar Programme invites applications for the position:

Senior Researcher

Job Description

The Nordic Africa Institute’s African Scholar Program employs an established scholar for a period of one year from an African university or research institution. The program is targeted towards a scholar with a demonstrated record of academic accomplishment who is keen to engage with Nordic decision-makers in government, and with related change-makers, to convey messages from their research and present perspectives on contemporary Africa.

We welcome applications from scholars covering innovative research that is consistent with the impact areas identified in the NAI 2022-2026 strategy, which can be found here: https://nai.uu.se/about-us/who-we-are/strategy-2022-2026.html

Successful candidates might use the period of employment at NAI to engage with Nordic decision-makers, complete on-going research, develop a new research project, or complete articles and policy-relevant outputs. A scholar-researcher should take advantage of the intellectual and logistical resources of the Nordic Africa Institute and expect to contribute meaningfully towards actualizing NAI’s vision and mandate and its policy outreach activities in return.

This position falls under the Institute’s African Scholar Program. The research may take a comparative view, explore a thematic area, or present in-depth analysis on a specific country focus. Strong emphasis at NAI is upon contextually informed, well nuanced, field based research in the qualitative social sciences or in economics.

It is anticipated the position would run for an academic year from August 2024 until July 2025.

Qualifications

• A PhD degree in anthropology, geography, sociology, gender studies, international development, development economics or related subject.
• It is essential the applicant has 7 or more years’ experience post-PhD conducting academic research.
• A current research/teaching position in university or research institution in Africa.
• Record of high quality scholarly research.
• Record of science communication and policy/practice engagement with non-academic stakeholders.
• Strong ability to present complex issues to non-academic audiences.
• Knowledge of African scientific communities, and policy environments, and other stakeholders and actors relevant to the research topic.
• Ability to work in a multi-cultural environment.
• Excellent knowledge of spoken and written English.

The application

The application should contain:

1. Proposal not exceeding 5 pages presenting a realistic work plan for the length of stay at the institute (1 year) – detailing proposed intellectual activities / research project, expected outputs (such as publications, dissemination activities, participation at seminar/workshop/conference activities, and policy engagements).
2. Complete CV with a list of scientific publications where it is clearly indicated which publications are formally considered as peer reviewed.
3. Indication of internet addresses to the applicant’s own publications relating to his/her research (a maximum of three publications)
4. Evidence of policy engagement / science-policy communication to non-academic audiences (a 1 page summary, or up to three non-academic outputs)
5. Names and contact details of at least two references.

Condition of Service

Contract period will be 12 months and expected start in August 2024.

Salary is negotiable within the Institute’s current salary levels and remuneration packages. The position includes attractive benefits and conditions offered for employees of Swedish civil service.

Duty station is Uppsala.

Contact persons

Eleanor Fisher, Head of Research NAI, Dan Åkhagen, Human Resources Officer, Trade Union representative: Henrik Alfredsson (Saco-S). All can be reached at +46 18 471 52 00.

More information about NAI’s research focal areas and themes, on-going 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: 19 November 2023

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 is currently working according to our 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.