Applications are invited for a postdoctoral fellowship at the African Centre for Migration & Society (ACMS) at Wits University within an EU funded project: PROTECT The Right to International Protection. This international research project studies the impacts of the United Nations’ ‘Global Compact for Safe Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM)’ and the Global Compact for Refugees(GCR)’ on the functioning of the international refugee protection system.
The project is conducted by an international consortium of 11 universities in Europe, Canada, and South Africa, led by Professor Hakan G. Sicakkan on behalf of the Department of Comparative Politics, University of Bergen. PROTECT is funded by the European Commission under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 framework program.
Two fellowships are available:
- Exploring the impacts of the GCM and GCR on asylum determination processes, policy and governance.
- Exploring the impacts of the GCM and GCR on the governance of international protection through fieldwork studies of governance in practice.
Starting in January 2021 (negotiable), the successful applicants will join an interdisciplinary team of scholars exploring migration governance in southern Africa and globally. With a home base in Johannesburg, post-doctoral fellows are encouraged to develop and participate in projects across the region.
The postdocs will work with project co-investigator Associate Professor Jo Vearey.
More about the project can be found here: https://protectproject.w.uib.no/
Essential qualifications and experience:
- A PhD in a Migration & Displacement, Refugee Studies, Law, Public Policy or allied discipline
- Prior experience in research exploring the governance of migration/forced migration/displacement in an African context, including knowledge of key debates surrounding the GCM and GCR
- Knowledge of the Southern African migration governance context, including knowledge of key actors
- Firm grounding and experience in qualitative research methods (interviews, focus groups, observation), policy analysis and data analysis
- Ability to communicate clearly in written and oral English
- Track record of academic publications (commensurate with level of experience)
- A demonstrated ability to independently manage fieldwork in challenging settings
- An ability to travel to other areas of South Africa when required for fieldwork
- Experience in collaborating internationally as part of large and/or complex research teams
For the fellowship exploring the impacts of the GCM and GCR on asylum determination processes, policy and governance.
- Experience in undertaking research exploring refugee protection and determination processes
For the fellowship exploring the impacts of the GCM and GCR on the governance of international protection through fieldwork studies of governance in practice.
- Fluency and experience of conducting research in English and at least one of isiNdebele or chiShona
- Experience of conducting research in border areas of South Africa
- A willingness to spend extended periods of time in field sites
Timeframe: one year with possibility for renewal dependent on performance and availability of funding
Remuneration: ZAR 395,000 per year, plus Wits medical aid and ZAR 10,000 research funding
Application process: Please submit a completed application to Naledi Mazibuko naledi.mazibuko@wits.ac.za by 30th October 2020. Only short-listed applicants will be contacted and invited for interview. Anticipated start-date: 1st January 2021 (negotiable). Applications should include:
- Indication of which postdoc position you are applying for
- full CV
- cover letter outlining your reasons for applying for the position
- academic writing example
- overview of experience working in the field of migration and health in southern Africa
- details of two referees
Further information: jo.vearey@wits.ac.za
