Job Title: Researcher/Senior Researcher, Conflict Prevention Program, The Hague Institute for Global Justice
Location: The Hague, the Netherlands
Job Purpose: Research/Research and management of projects in the Conflict Prevention Program.
Reporting to: Head of Conflict Prevention Program
Organizational Background
The Hague Institute for Global Justice is an independent, nonpartisan institution established to undertake high-quality interdisciplinary policy relevant research, training and facilitation activities on issues at the intersection of peace, security and global justice. The Institute uses a combination of internal and external experts to conduct research, implement practical projects, and convene a range of topical workshops, conferences, and seminars that bring together practitioners and scholars. The institute’s research, analysis and programming are of use to the Dutch government, multilateral institutions, and NGOs.
The program of The Hague Institute is divided along three thematic focus areas:
1) Conflict Prevention; 2) Rule of Law; 3) Global Governance.
The Conflict Prevention Program
The Conflict Prevention Program addresses conflict prevention in its broadest sense, as a variety of activities aimed at preventing the initial outbreak, spread, escalation and recurrence of violent conflict. The overarching goal is to improve the theory, policy and practice of conflict prevention by producing knowledge that shapes academic debate and policy discussions within the Netherlands and abroad, and by becoming a recognized program of excellence for innovative applied research, policy development, and professional skills training.
The Conflict Prevention Program adopts the following four main objectives:
1. To develop approaches, frameworks and tools that deal with the root causes of violent conflict and the norms of protection;
2. To identify through multidisciplinary and practice-oriented research how violent conflict can be prevented by local and international responses;
3. To disseminate such knowledge and expertise to policymakers, practitioners and academics involved in foreign affairs, security, international development and humanitarian action; and
4. To provide advanced training in conflict prevention for mid and senior level professionals.
The Program is grounded in four interlinking programmatic themes. Each theme is delivered mainly through one or more core projects.
- Frameworks, Principles and Norms
The outbreak, recurrence and escalation of contemporary violent conflict continues to challenge the foundations of the international response. To provide reflection and with focus on the prevention of mass atrocities, projects will focus on the Responsibility to Protect doctrine, the relevance of Just War theory, and civilian protection.
- Natural Resources
In addressing some of the root and instrumental causes of violent conflict, projects in this theme will conduct policy-relevant research on water and climate change through comparative country research and local case studies. Through a series of initiatives, we will explore the relationship between the management of water and the prevention of violent conflict by taking a multi-level governance approach. The research on climate change will identify and address the vulnerabilities and challenges for specific regions and through a conflict-sensitive approach.
- Institutions and Governance
Institutions at the international, national and sub-national levels shape our capacity to prevent and respond to violent conflict and other forms of crises. Projects in this theme will consider the relationship between formal and informal organizations, the impact of institutional reform in ‘post-conflict’ settings, and the specific role of municipalities as the first response and ‘clearing house’ for a wide range of grievances and tensions in contexts of rapid urbanization.
- Education
With more than 1bn children living in countries devastated by violent conflict, research in this theme will focus on how education can play a transformative role in preventing and mitigating violent conflict as well as building community resilience. Projects will seek to understand how we can maximize education as a uniquely mobile asset and its contribution to preventing violence and building lasting peace.
The Conflict Prevention Program will launch several 30-month research projects from 2014. The Researcher/Senior Researcher will be assigned mainly to two new projects under the themes of Institutions and Governance, and Education.
Duties and Responsibilities:
a) Senior Researcher
- Conducting policy relevant original research on topics falling within the Conflict Prevention Program, with particular focus on two new projects
– ‘The Role of Education in Conflict Prevention’, and ‘City Diplomacy: the
Role of Municipalities in Conflict Prevention’;
- Contribution to the development and implementation of the substantive long-term program on Conflict Prevention;
- Coordination and management of projects and project staff, with particular emphasis on the two aforementioned projects;
- Publishing in academic and policy orientated journals and other outlets;
- Representation of The Hague Institute in public debates and in (inter)national media;
- Development activities in cooperation with the development office;
- Setting up and maintaining relevant networks of national and international stakeholders.
b) Researcher
- Conducting research on topics falling within the Conflict Prevention Program, with particular focus on two new projects – ‘The Role of Education in Conflict Prevention’, and ‘City Diplomacy: the Role of Municipalities in Conflict Prevention’;
- Supporting and implementing projects led by a Senior Researcher or the Head of Program.
- Performing consultancy assignments.
- Organizing seminars and events in cooperation with the events coordinator.
- Providing support in the process of generating new assignments: contributing to written proposals in accordance with clients’ requirements, collecting relevant information, monitoring progress.
- Participating in project groups, committees or project teams inside and outside The Hague Institute.
- Building a relevant knowledge network, maintaining media contacts and providing information to a variety of audiences about ongoing projects or activities.
- Is accountable for results, quality and progress of the work
Application deadline: Friday 10th October 2014 at 17:00
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