OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE
Senior Research Fellow/Principal Research Fellow – Politics and Governance
Contract: Permanent
Salary: £51,467 - £64,888 per annum
Location: London
Ref: PoGo/04/20
An independent, global think tank, working for a sustainable
and peaceful world in which every person thrives.
About ODI
ODI is an independent, global think tank, working for a sustainable and peaceful world in which every person thrives. We harness the power of evidence and ideas through research and partnership to confront challenges, develop solutions and create change. (odi.org)
We are looking for a research fellow to help lead an ambitious portfolio of work aimed at strengthening the uptake and delivery of innovative, adaptive, context-specific development programming. This will build on ODI’s leadership to date in thinking and working politically and in adaptive programming, including developing new thinking on how to operate in complex governance and conflict environments; and sharing insights into specific methods to enhance programming (for instance for monitoring and evaluating adaptive approaches).
About the Politics and Governance team
Within ODI, the Politics and Governance team addresses how politics and power shape development, conflict and fragility. We help partners understand and navigate the politics of the places they work, the issues they deal with, and the organisations and systems they operate within, identifying levers for change that can deliver on aid’s promise of empowering the poor and sustaining peace.
Building on decades of empirical research on governance, fragility, and ways of working in the aid sector, we work with a variety of donors and implementers on how to move towards more agile and politically smart ways of working, and how to measure the impact of complex aid programmes. Our work provides a constructive critique of SDG 16 (peace, justice and strong institutions), looking beyond the formal state to explore the role and function of justice, inclusion, and violence. We research political settlements; the political economy of justice, service delivery, and the aid industry; the dynamics of inclusion and legitimacy in democracies and fragile and conflict affected situations; and how bureaucracies (beyond aid agencies) take decisions, adapt to changing contextual realities, and use new technology.
Our projects range from long-term empirical research programmes with partners around the world, to advisory services on embedded political economy analysis; programme design, theories of change and MEL systems; and innovative approaches to operationalizing the evidence from research. A sample of our ongoing projects in the ‘doing development differently’ space include:
- The Global Learning for Adaptive Management initiative identifying, operationalising and promote rigorous evidence-based approaches to adaptive management, particularly MEL tools and approaches, within DFID and USAID.
- Strengthening Evidence for Development Impact (SEDI): politically informed approaches to strengthen the use of evidence in policymaking in selected sectors in three countries (Uganda, Ghana and Pakistan).
· The Learning Evidence and Advocacy Partnership in DFID Nigeria’s Partnership to Engage, Reform and Learn (PERL). ODI researches the impact of governance and service delivery programming, lessons for future large adaptive programmes, and provides technical advice on learning approaches.
About you
Your role will involve providing intellectual leadership and management of our adaptive development agenda, balancing both technical delivery of innovative adaptive approaches and championing wider change. You will also play a direct technical leadership role in one or more of the team’s large projects in this field, particularly the Learning, Evidencing and Advocacy Partnership. You will play a strategic role developing new projects and advising and supporting ODI staff and partners.
You’ll be a thought leader in the field of PDIA/DDD/TWP who combines both theoretical and practical knowledge, has extensive experience in innovating in this area and a proven track record of working in complex contexts, leading technically desirable approaches to politically savvy responses in a range of developing country contexts.
You will be a strong believer in values-driven leadership, and be interested in how to lead or support leadership of diverse teams well and support the professional development of colleagues. You will be able to represent ODI in policy influencing and public affairs work, and support ODI’s efforts to convene a global platform of thinkers, policy makers and practicioners to promote wider change in the sector.
You’ll also have:
- A degree and post-graduate qualification in a relevant discipline, such as international development, governance or conflict;
- Extensive and deep knowledge of a range of governance issues and how different development organisations have addressed governance both as an end in itself and a means to development change.
- In-depth working knowledge of politically informed iterative adaptive programming, its potential and limitations, as well as practical applications for methods, and approaches in development programmes
- Practical experience in development projects where theory has been applied, tested and adapted, in balancing evidence-based decision making and data poor settings.
- Proven track record in both leading and being part of multi-disciplinary teams, building consensus and working in partnership in settings with competing incentives and cultures.
- A demonstrated capacity for policy advisory or public-affairs work, based on an analytical approach, and an innovative and creative communications ability.
Closing date: 1st of May 2020
Interview date: 8th May 2020
For more information, please download an application pack from our website at www.odi.org.uk/jobs. If you are experiencing difficulties downloading, please telephone 020 7922 8234 or email humanresources@odi.org.uk.
ODI is an equal opportunities employer Charity Reg. No.228248
How to apply:
For more information, please download an application pack from our website at www.odi.org.uk/jobs. If you are experiencing difficulties downloading, please telephone 020 7922 8234 or email humanresources@odi.org.uk.
ODI is an equal opportunities employer Charity Reg. No.228248