About the job

Overview

The Economic Policy Research Institute (EPRI), a global research institute based in Cape Town, is a not-for-profit organization established in 1994 that specializes in the design, implementation, and evaluation of social protection programmes and provides capacity-building and policy advisory services to government and civil society. EPRI is committed to inclusive economic growth and social protection for vulnerable people as a developmental response based on human rights. EPRI has a wealth of global knowledge and experience paired with its unique position as one of the preeminent research institutions in the developing world with a global footprint of over 50 countries and brings over 27 years of experience in delivering best practice policy solutions to governments and development partners. The team is currently engaged in projects across Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, and the Pacific.

The Research and Knowledge Management Associate will be engaged in EPRI’s research and capacity-building activities within the Global Social Policy team. The position involves supporting the implementation of diverse research projects and capacity-development initiatives centered on social protection. EPRI’s Global Social Policy team provides an exciting and dynamic research environment and engagement in projects conducted with leading UN organizations, development partners and government ministries across the globe.

Responsibilities

The Research and Knowledge Management Associate provides support to the development and delivery of capacity-building programmes and research projects on social protection under the Global Social Policy Team. The role will be under the direct supervision of the Global Social Policy Team Leaders.

Responsibilities in Knowledge Management:

• Coordinating the logistics of virtual and in-person capacity-building workshops, including inviting participants, creating agendas, preparation of learning and training materials, facilitating training delivery by speakers etc
• Communicating and coordinating with key stakeholders and clients of the project with attention to building and maintaining positive working relationships
• Tracking project milestones and guiding participants throughout their learning journey
• Cataloguing learning materials and knowledge management of online folders and resources.
• Assisting in evaluations and reports, for example, contributing to the development and analysis of knowledge assessments and summarizing key findings

Responsibilities in Research:

• Conducting desk research related to social protection and social policy, including, but not limited to, nutrition-sensitive social protection, shock-responsive social protection, and systems approaches
• Carrying out primary research and data collection, for instance, through qualitative interviews and focus group discussions, and quantitative data analysis
• Writing up research analysis and findings, for example, in the form of reports, policy briefs and research papers

The responsibilities above should be considered an outline rather than a definitive list, as they may vary depending on the nature of the projects delivered by the Global Social Policy team and will be agreed upon in consultation with the position-holder. Furthermore, job roles may develop over time – substantial changes will be discussed with team leaders and job descriptions updated as and when appropriate.

Qualifications and Experience

EPRI is looking for candidates meeting the following requirements:

Knowledge and experience

• (Advanced) University degree in one or more disciplines relevant to social and political sciences, public policy, international development, and economics
• Outstanding writing skills, with experience in writing research papers, reports, or assignments
• Understanding of social policy landscape and social protection stakeholders in Africa (Prior experience of working on social protection in Africa is strongly favoured)
• Qualitative and/or quantitative research skills

Planning and organization

• Prior experience in capacity-building and knowledge management (either paid or voluntary) is strongly favoured
• Demonstrated ability to plan and manage own workload to ensure that tasks are consistently completed to a high standard and on time, often under pressure
• Evidence of attending to detail while producing timely work
• Demonstrated ability to prioritize work given by several colleagues and to respond flexibly to changing circumstances that affect work delivery

Communication

• Evidence of excellent written and oral communication skills in English. Knowledge of other UN languages is an advantage
• Ability to understand and convey information clearly and accurately in person, by telephone and via email

Teamwork and motivation

• Demonstrated ability and willingness to work as part of a global team
• Evidence of the ability to work independently and proactively with minimum supervision
• Motivation for professional self-development and learning

EPRI’s working environment

EPRI has a unique working approach with a flat hierarchy that encourages professional development. The candidate will enjoy a high degree of freedom and independence and will gain exposure to working with different donors, government departments and projects.

Driven by compassion and dynamism, EPRI’s Global Social Policy team comprises ambitious and innovative researchers working full-time or on a consultancy basis. Given the team’s global engagement, the candidate has the flexibility to work remotely along with varying degrees of travel as needed.

Most of the work associated with this position is with African countries (including Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, Rwanda, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe). EPRI strongly encourages applications from citizens of these countries, besides the other developing countries and those who identify as belonging to communities that have been historically underrepresented or marginalized.

Role Specifications

The Research and Knowledge Management Associate is a full-time position. The role will be offered under an initial six-month probation period, with the option for renewal into a longer-term consultancy position after satisfactory involvement.

EPRI offers a competitive remuneration in line with global sector standards, and commensurate to the skills and experience of the candidate. Opportunities for additional performance-based compensation are offered following the probation period.