Researchers Needed In South Africa – 2017

LARC: Researchers

The Land and Accountability Research Centre (LARC), based in the Faculty of Law at the University of Cape Town, is an interdisciplinary research unit supporting rural mobilisation, advocacy and strategic litigation on land rights, women’s rights, traditional governance, mining on communal land, and the nature of living customary law.

We are looking for two dynamic, committed and curious researchers to advance our work with rural communities mainly in North West, Limpopo and Mpumalanga.

Requirements:

• A degree in a relevant Social Science/ Humanities discipline or Law;
• Proficiency in Sotho group languages including Setswana;
• Demonstrable experience working with rural communities;
• An ability to design, conduct, report and analyse field research programmes in relation both to specific local issues and to broad political, historical and legal themes;
• Proven ability to engage constructively and respectfully with people from different backgrounds, including in hostile or threatening environments;
• An interest in social justice issues including rights of rural people;
• Evident skill in writing in English for academic or media related purposes; and
• Willingness to travel regularly

The following would be an advantage:

• Experience and ability in facilitation of workshops including people with different experience and skill sets;
• Experience in engaged scholarship including socially engaged research with rural communities;
• Proven ability to work at the interface between different disciplines and experiences;
• Ability to analyse, explain and present complex legal and historical material accurately and respectfully in a manner that acknowledges different forms of knowledge and engages non-academic partners;
• Ability to write for indigenous language media;
• Valid driver’s license.

Responsibilities:

Research – organizing and partaking in fieldwork excursions, workshops and community meetings
Community engagement – maintain relationships with key partners / communities within designated thematic areas of work

Advocacy – attend and engage in strategic workshops, seminars, symposiums and other public events
The annual cost of employment, including benefits (where applicable), is R343 500.00, including an increase for 2017 in line with UCT’s policies.

To apply, e-mail the below documents in a single pdf file to Mrs. Amilinda Wilkinson at pbl-[email protected]: