United Nations University is looking for four Policy Research Fellows at UNU-IIGH PSA (P3/P2)

Ednah Carrick October 8, 2024

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Closing Date: 10 October 2024

United Nations University is looking for four Policy Research Fellows at UNU-IIGH PSA (P3/P2)

About United Nations University

The United Nations University (UNU) is an international community of scholars engaged in policy-oriented research, capacity development and dissemination of knowledge, furthering the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations. UNU’s mission is to contribute, through research and capacity building, to efforts to resolve the pressing global problems that are the concern of the United Nations and its Member States.

For the past four decades, United Nations University (UNU) has been a go-to think tank for impartial research on human survival, conflict prevention, sustainable development and welfare. With more than 400 researchers in 12 countries, UNU’s work spans the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, generating policy-relevant knowledge to effect positive global change. UNU maintains more than 200 collaborations with UN agencies and leading universities and research institutions across the globe.

About the Institute (UNU-IIGH, Kuala Lumpur)

UNU-International Institute for Global Health is one of 14 research and training Institutes that comprise the think tanks in the UNU system. UNU-IIGH was established in 2005 with the mission to advance evidence-based policy on key issues related to sustainable development and global health. UNU-IIGH aims to build knowledge and capacity for decision-making by UN agencies, UN programmes and Member States towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. Leveraging its position within the UN, UNU-IIGH works with a network of academic, policy and civil society experts to serve as a platform for critical thinking and exchange of knowledge and tools for policy influence and consensus-building.

The position

UNU-IIGH’s research interrogates power and gender asymmetries that lead to inequitable and unjust health outcomes in (a) the system of global health governance (b) gendered health systems, (c) digital health security and governance, and (d) climate emergencies and just transitions. UNU-IIGH seeks to catalyse equitable and effective health policies and practices by engaging with a wide array of actors, including governments, multilateral fora, academia, and civil society.

UNU-IIGH seek four individuals, one for each work package, who have theoretical and practical knowledge of the critical lenses that it use in its work such as (a) power, (b) feminism (c) intersectionality and (d) decoloniality, and who are able to contextualize these dynamics in global health practice. Candidates with experience in translating knowledge to policy, with ability to work inter-disciplinarily, and to engage with key global actors at different levels will be preferred. Each Policy Research Fellow will report to the Policy Research Lead for the work package he/she/they are selected for.

Responsibilities

Working on selected projects within the relevant work package, the Policy Research Fellow will:

Generate and help disseminate policy-relevant research
Provide administrative and managerial input into the successful implementation of research and policy engagement activities
Build and manage partnerships with external researchers and partners
Produce specified outputs to the required standard of quality and within the timeline and budget parameters
Contribute to capacity-building, and knowledge translation
Contribute to resource mobilization related to the work package
Participate in international research, policy and outreach events
Help supervise and mentor policy research associates, PhD students, junior researchers, interns; and
Perform any other tasks as assigned by the Director or Research Leads

Qualifications

Required qualifications and experience for the position include:

Master’s degree in a relevant field with a minimum of seven (7) years of relevant professional experience, including evidence of growing technical and management responsibility; or PhD in a relevant field with a minimum of five (5) years of relevant professional experience, including evidence of growing technical and management responsibility
Demonstrated track record in international research and policy engagement in areas related to the work package
Track record of competitive funding and resource mobilization from national and international funding agencies
Excellent verbal and written skills in English across a range of communication formats (academic publications, programme reports, policy briefs). Knowledge of another official UN language would be an asset.
Evidence of academic and peer-reviewed publications related to relevant areas of the work packages
Evidence of strong interpersonal skills and ability to work in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity

Desirable

Evidence of teaching and research supervision experience

Remuneration

The successful candidate will be employed under a PSA contract at P-3/P-2 level and no relocation allowances apply. UNU offers an attractive compensation package including an annual net salary in the range of USD46,472 – USD49,041 for P-2 and USD59,151.00 – USD 62,024.00 for P-3 level, commensurate with the experience and qualifications of the candidate. Benefits include 30 days of annual leave and a health insurance scheme.