Vacancy Announcement
Research Fellow (Junior/Senior)
Background:
Biruni Institute is an independent, non-partisan, and not-for-profit economic policy think-tank, based in Kabul, that aims to promote evidence-based and research-led policy making in Afghanistan, and help create an environment for open dialogue on key policy issues. The Institute strives to make meaningful contributions to the national debate on contemporary economic challenges in Afghanistan, and endeavors to institutionalize a scientific approach to policy design and economic thinking in the country.
Biruni Institute engages in applied research, both theoretical and empirical, that brings forth evidence to guide policy decisions in Afghanistan. Our current research agenda consists of the following five thematic pillars: (1) Growth, Inequality, and Poverty Reduction; (2) Fiscal Sustainability; (3) Trade & Regional Connectivity; (4) Ethics, Behavioural and Islamic Economics; and (5) Political Economy, Governance, and Decentralization.
We are looking for a motivated junior/senior economist, interested in policy-oriented economic research, to join our team.
Responsibilities:
The Research Fellow will contribute to the research activities of the Institute, including both production of research and convening of policy dialogues. More specifically, s/he will:
- Undertake quality research on the topics relevant to the Institute’s research agenda, including data collection, analysis, and report writing.
- Engage in or lead the delivery of analytical and research activities of the Institute.
- Actively look for research grant opportunities, and regularly develop research proposals.
- Convene policy dialogues, webinars, and other dissemination events.
- Assume project management responsibilities of a research program, consultancy, or other research projects.
- Engage in advocacy, communication, and business development activities for the Institute, as requested by the Institute management.
- Undertake any other tasks demanded by the management.
Activities and responsibilities mentioned above will be adjusted according to the level of expertise of the research fellow, i.e. whether s/he will be employed as a junior research fellow, or a senior researcher fellow.
Research Fellow will report to the Head of Research.
Qualifications:
- For the junior research fellow, an intensive technical undergraduate (bachelor’s) degree in economics from a reputed university is required. Degrees in Business Administration are NOT acceptable, and such applications will be disregarded.
- For the senior research fellow position: a graduate degree, preferably PhD, in Economics (micro or macro) is required.
- Very good writing skills in English and Farsi/Pashto (writing samples, such as published/unpublished research papers, will be requested from short-listed candidates).
- Strong quantitative skills: training in econometrics, statistics, or data science is strongly preferable.
- Knowledge of statistical packages such as Stata, Eviews, Matlab, or R is desirable.
- Good knowledge of policy issues in broader areas of development economics.
How to Apply:
Please send your CV and an application letter to jobs@biruni.af by May 15, 2021. Your CV should include the list of courses you have taken in your Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees.