African Research and Resource Forum (ARRF)
Announcement for Sabbatical Research Opportunities
The African Research and Resource Forum (ARRF) is a research,
data resource, reflection and discourse organization devoted to the enhancement
of thinking on African governance and development.
The Forum also facilitates capacity building for institutions
and individuals, supports policy advocacy and provides consultancy and advisory
services intended to encourage a culture of utilizing research findings for
development initiatives. ARRF invites applications for Two (2) Sabbatical
Research Fellowships running from July to September 2012, supported by the
African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF).
The Fellowships are three (3) months each, mainly by desk
analysis, library research and very limited field work. Research activities
will focus on the following themes:
i) Natural resource management in the East African Community
In recent years, increasing attention has been paid to the
resources shared by EAC Partner States such as the waters of Lake
Victoria.
But as partner states ‘discover’ new resources within their
boundaries, research ought to heed the call to study regional dimensions in the
management of these natural resources based within the boundaries of individual
partner states.
To start with, what might be the effects of burgeoning national
wealth, or prospects for it, on regional integration?
Further, in considering regional dimensions for management of
national natural resources, what will be the opportunities under current levels
of integration and what would be the challenges?
This sabbatical opportunity offers the chance to the selected
researcher to conduct a study addressing such questions and others along the
same lines.
The study should lead to some pointers on the kind of
institutional systems that may be required for regional dimensions in the
management of national natural resources in the EAC.
ii) The Challenges and Prospects in the Implementation of the
Common Market Protocol:
The case of EAC
The East African Community Common Market protocol was signed by
Heads of State in 2009 and was expected to enter into force on 1st July 2010,
following ratification by all the five Partner States (Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda,
Tanzania and Uganda).
The establishment of the common market is supposed to lead to
significant benefits in terms of efficiency and welfare gains and cost
reductions.
In a single market there are no tariffs between member countries
and there are common external tariffs against countries outside the
community.
A common market is a strong form of integration involving the
establishment of a common system of taxation, common laws relating to
employment, trade and a free movement of factors of production as well as goods
and services.
The removal of internal market barriers in countries forming the
community and the harmonization of national regulations are expected to lead to
an increase in trade and reductions in cost.
Two years after the creation of the EAC single market, it is
imperative to take stock and evaluate how far the Community has come to
achieving its objectives, the obstacles to progress and to suggest ways to
improve implementation.
The ARRF fellowship programme is intended to provide opportunity
to selected researchers to review progress with implementation, assess the
challenges to implementation and recommend policy options/measures to address
these challenges.
This program provides a modest allowance to cover the costs of
accommodation, transport and other living expenses for sabbatical fellows. In
addition, the program supports frequent travels to visit the EAC secretariat
and other EAC Partner States for discussions.
Required Qualifications
- Have
a PhD degree in a relevant field. Those with Masters Degrees and more than
5 years research experience in relevant areas will also be considered.
- Have
significant academic and research experience related to the proposed field
of study of not less than four (4) years.
NB: The sabbaticals are open to researchers from policy
research institutes and academic institutions from the East African Community
(EAC).
How to apply:
Interested candidates should submit their applications by
courier service, email (all soft copies should be in MS Word) or dispatch
together with detailed Curriculum Vitae, copies of both academic and
professional certificates, two letters of reference from current and/or past
supervisors, research proposal in one of the research topics, letter from
employers supporting a candidate’s leave of absence while on sabbatical and day
time telephone/cell phone numbers to:
The Chief Executive Officer
African Research and Resource Forum (ARRF)
Mt. View Estate, Off Waiyaki Way
P. O. Box 57103-00200
Nairobi, Kenya
Email: applications@arrforum.org
To be received not later than Friday, 20th July, 2012.
The African Research and Resource Forum will only respond to
shortlisted applicants.
