RESEARCHERS ROSTER, PROGRAMME DEPARTMENT

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS

RESEARCHERS ROSTER

PROGRAMME DEPARTMENT

ORGANISATIONIONAL SETTING

KAICIID aims to create a more peaceful world by promoting dialogue and supporting religious leaders and communities in tackling our most pressing problems. We do this through education and training; convening religious and cultural leaders; engaging with policymakers and carrying out research to encourage and enhance inter-religious and inter-cultural dialogue. We work with our partners to build their capacities, connections and confidence.

In our increasingly polarized world, politics and technology encourage us to retreat to our corners and defend our positions. We challenge this by doing the necessary work of bringing different religions and cultures together to deepen their mutual understanding and identify approaches to global problems. We are part of an inter-governmental organization overseen by a multi-faith board of directors. It is a unique structure that brings together representatives of the five major faiths – Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism and Hinduism – followed by around four-fifths of the world’s population. The Council of Parties, made up of member states, is the highest level of governance. An Advisory Forum of 36 members includes representatives of a wider array of religions.

Our work focuses on four pressing  and linked issues that challenge humanity: violent conflict; migration; the climate emergency, and social cohesion. We bring together religious and cultural leaders with policymakers to find constructive ways to address these issues through dialogue. Our work respects and values the differences between faiths and cultures but promotes the idea that we share a common humanity and a collective need to address these problems. Through all our work run three threads: youth engagement, gender and policy development.

The Programme Department supports multi-faith platforms of religious and cultural leaders, on national, regional, and international levels: we help such platforms in the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Nigeria, the Central African Republic and in Europe. Alongside these are our Fellows, emerging leaders  chosen from around the world who are working on IRD and ICD.

Through these, we promote dialogue on hate speech; help for migrants and refugees; the protection of sacred sites; the role of women; youth engagement; religious freedom; and peacebuilding. We offer training – both online and in person – for experts, clergy, youth, students and others. Together with the World Scouts Movement, we train and promote dialogue among 50 million young people. We bring together policymakers and religious leaders in safe spaces to discuss critical concerns; it is our view that policymaking is more likely to succeed when religious communities are constructively engaged.

GENERAL SCOPE OF ROLE

The Programme Department manages KAICIID’s activities and as part of that work engages with policymakers on issues relating to dialogue. As part of this we research policy issues and produce a variety of reports, mostly short papers focusing on practical policy recommendations. Our audience is primarily policymakers rather than the academic world. We also produce longer scoping documents before we work on a new subject as well as mapping studies of those involved in dialogue. Our work covers four geographical areas: Africa, Asia, the Arab region across the Middle East and North Africa and Europe. Our work focuses on dialogue around social cohesion, citizenship, migration, the climate emergency and

The Centre is looking for a number of researchers who would be available on an ad hoc basis. Work would involve desk research, on-line and in-person interviews and writing short papers of up to 25 pages. We are looking for experts in the following areas:

• Hate speech and online abuse;
• Policy engagement with religions and faith-based organisations;
• Citizenship and the rights of minorities, particularly in the Arab world;
• Engagement of religious groups in the climate emergency, including in the issue of food waste;
• Urban resilience, community building and disaster response. Urban governances and engagement with communities and faith-based groups;
• Religion and policy engagement with the African Union, the European Union and the G20;
• Issues of religion, conflict and peacebuilding, particularly in Africa and Asia;
• The Centre does not guarantee any minimum level of business to consultants. Therefore, no specific information on the expected volume of work can be provided.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE

• Desk research for literature reviews of both academic and grey literature;
• Interviews with religious leaders, faith-based organisations, civil society organisations, academics and policymakers;
• Development of policy ideas together with KAICIID staff and policymakers;
• Perform any other ad-hoc tasks arising from the work of the Programme Department, including acting as rapporteurs at conferences.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• University degree, preferably an MA or PhD in social sciences or humanities;
• A minimum of five years of progressively responsible and relevant experience in the field;
• Strong theoretical and practical background in public policy;
• Show (on the basis of samples) a clear and mature style of policy writing;
• Engagement in policy process through a non-profit, government work or research in an academic environment or thinktank;
• Willingness to learn the Centre’s house style and policy approaches;
• Fluency (both speaking and writing) in English. Ability to research in other languages (Arabic, French, German, Portuguese and Spanish) is highly desirable.

TERMS OF ENGAGEMENT

The Consultant shall provide the Services on an “as and when required” and a non-exclusive basis based on requirements/instructions provided by the Communications Department.

The Consultant is expected to maintain the consistent editorial line of the Centre.

The Consultant shall commence the Services upon written confirmation by the Centre, containing the scope and nature of Services, the prices calculated on the basis of the contractually agreed unit rates, and the agreed delivery terms.

The Consultant shall be able to provide the Services remotely, i.e. from their location.

If, on exceptional basis, the Consultant is requested by the Centre to travel for the purpose of performing the Services, the Centre will cover travel and lodging expenses according to its internal procedures.

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

Open until roster is established.

HOW TO APPLY

Please send a Curriculum Vitae together with a cover letter outlining your research experience and skills. Please also send a single example of a policy paper you have researched and written.

KAICIID is committed to diversity and inclusion and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all religious, ethnic and social backgrounds to apply.