Senior Visiting Fellow

About UN University

For the past four decades, UNU has been a go-to think tank for impartial research on the pressing global problems of human survival, conflict prevention, development, and welfare. With more than 400 researchers in 13 countries, UNU’s work spans the full breadth of 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 United Nations University Centre for Policy Research (UNU-CPR)

United Nations University Centre for Policy Research in New York is an independent think tank within the United Nations system. We combine research excellence with deep knowledge of the multilateral system to generate innovative solutions to current and future global public policy challenges. For more information on UNU-CPR and its work, please visit http://cpr.unu.edu.

Since its establishment in 2014, the Centre has published 85 research papers, feeding into a wide variety of UN and national-level policy processes as well as multilateral programming. Over the last two years, the Centre’s researchers have briefed the Security Council five times and given over 150 briefings to a range of actors and entities, including UN and multilateral bodies, government and parliamentary committees, academic and professional conferences, as well as for civil society and private sector stakeholders. UNU-CPR researchers and projects have been referenced in a wide range of press outlets, including BBC, Al Jazeera, Reuters, CNN, Washington Post, POLITICO, The Hill, The Independent, World Politics Review, Just Security and many others. 

Position Overview

UNU-CPR seeks an experienced researcher or policy adviser to join the Centre as a Senior Visiting Fellow and is calling for proposals in one or more of the following fields:

• Conflict Prevention and Management, including UN peace operations; transitional justice; approaches to armed groups; and/or Women in Peace & Security;
• Human Rights and Sustainable Development, including migration governance; addressing socioeconomic inequality; vulnerable populations; and/or the global humanitarian response to COVID-19;
• Multilateralism and the Rule of Law, including on the future of multilateralism and/or strengthening the UN’s approach to the rule of law.

The Senior Visiting Fellow will produce reports and policy papers in addition to advising ongoing projects in one of these areas. They will seek to promote institutional development as well as UNU-CPR’s visibility and policy impact in these fields. They will be encouraged to develop additional donor support for potential future work with UNU-CPR.

Previous Visiting Fellows have written on range of topics, from Security Council dynamics, to how US-China relations impact UN policymaking, to the role of Artificial Intelligence on the conflict prevention work of the UN, to the role of UN Police in protecting civilians. They are regularly asked to brief Permanent Representatives, high-level policy forums and other stakeholders including the press.

About You

You are an experienced researcher, policy adviser or practitioner working on conflict prevention, human rights, sustainable development, multilateralism, and/or the rule of law. You have a proven track record of influencing high-level policy processes and have built successful institutional partnerships to expand the capacity, reach and visibility of both your research and that of your organization.

You have a strong understanding of the work of the United Nations and a demonstrated commitment to improving the role of the multilateral system. You enjoy working in a dynamic, collaborative environment and are able to deliver high-quality written outputs without supervision.

Responsibilities

This fellowship programme is jointly administered by UNU-CPR’s Executive Director and Director of Programmes. Reporting lines of the Senior Visiting Fellow will depend upon the subject matter of the fellowship, but they will have regular contact with UNU-CPR leadership as needed. Senior Visiting Fellows will be expected to undertake largely self-directed research, though will be part of the broader UNU-CPR team and will coordinate with relevant staff around events, publications and thought leadership. The main tasks and responsibilities include:

• Development and implementation of a research project aligned with the above-listed themes, to be delivered within a one-year period;
• Public outreach and dissemination of the research project;
• Advisory support to UNU-CPR on one of the three thematic areas;
• Engagement with potential donors with a view to expanding UNU-CPR’s work into one of the three thematic areas. 

Required Qualifications and Experience

• A minimum of a Master’s degree in a field relevant to at least one the three themes of the fellowship;
• At least 10 years of relevant experience as a researcher, policy adviser or practitioner;
• Full professional proficiency in English is required, knowledge of other language(s) desirable;
• Ability to work independently and report work activities in a timely and proactive manner; and
• Exceptional interpersonal and problem-solving skills demonstrated by the ability to work in multi-cultural and virtual environments with sensitivity and respect for diversity and gender parity.

UNU is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities to apply and become part of the organization.

UNU has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNU, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination.

Remuneration

Remuneration will be commensurate with qualification and experience of the successful candidate and will be in part based upon the proposal provided by the candidate. The fellowship is designed as a part-time position, though UNU-CPR will consider full-time proposals as well.

Successful candidates will not hold international civil servant status nor be a ‘staff member’ as defined in the United Nations Staff Rules and Regulations. No allowances or benefits shall apply to this position. 

Duration of contract and location 

This is a one-year part-time position commencing in early 2021. An extension of the fellowship beyond one year is possible if additional funding is acquired.

UNU-CPR is in New York. The Senior Visiting Fellow can work anywhere globally but may be asked to join meetings/events on New York time

Application Procedure

Interested applicants should submit their application online through Impactpool by 15 November 2020 and upload the following documents there:

• A cover letter setting out how the qualifications and experience match the requirements of the position;
• A detailed and costed project proposal that you would take forward at UNU-CPR, with a clear explanation of the theory of change, intended audience, and expected impact on the multilateral system;
• A curriculum vitae
• Full contact information of three (3) referees;
• An indication of the reference number of the vacancy announcement 2020/UNU/CPR/CTC/SVF/78