Postdoctoral researcher on the decolonial turn in development monitoring and evaluation

Department: Institute of Development Policy (IOB)
Regime Full-time

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The Institute of Development Policy (IOB) of the University of Antwerp wants to contribute to a more just and sustainable world through multidisciplinary academic research, education, partnerships and political engagement. More information about the institute and its activities can be found at www.uantwerp.be/iob .

The Institute of Development Policy (IOB) is looking for a full-time (100%)

Postdoctoral researcher on the decolonial turn in development monitoring and evaluation

This vacancy is for a preparatory mandate in view of preparing a proposal for post-doctoral research which can be submitted e.g. to FWO and/or MSCA with IOB as host institution.

Position

• You expand the scientific research and outreach of the Institute in line with the strategy of the IOB research group Development Processes, Actors and Policies  and specifically in relation to the decolonial turn in development monitoring and evaluation, which may involve, among other things, (1) building further on power analyses of participatory or community based evaluation methods, (2) engaging with ‘indigenous knowledge systems’ and transformative forms of evaluation, (3) adapting evaluation processes to cultural contexts through ‘culturally responsive approaches’, (4) explicitly dealing with the ecological sustainability aspects of development interventions and/or (5) analyzing the political economy context in which many monitoring and evaluation activities take place (more information here ).
• You elaborate a research proposal in this domain so as to apply for and acquire external funding for a postdoctoral position at IOB by October 2024 at the latest.
• Your teaching duties will be in line with the vacancy domain and will be limited to 10%.
• You contribute to the internationalisation of IOB, strengthening the network of contacts of IOB with development actors at the international level and preferably in the Global South.
• Your research adopts a multidisciplinary perspective and uses a combination of methods, in accordance with the IOB Research Strategy 2017-2022 .
• You are a team-player, performing tasks of a public goods nature at the level of the Institute and the University, and society at large.

Profile

• You hold a PhD in Development Studies or adjacent disciplines (political science, sociology/anthropology, economics, geography, …).
• You perform high-quality academic research, enabling you to qualify for seeking external finance as post-doctoral researcher.
• Your publication track record demonstrates your potential to act as a catalyst for multidisciplinary and mixed-methods research, for instance, by means of (co-)authorship of articles or as (co-)supervisor of projects in the domain.
• You preferably have proven experience with Monitoring and Evaluation in Global South contexts.
• Your work is preferably multidisciplinary in nature and preferably engages with a mixture of methodological approaches.
• In view of the current composition of the IOB staff and in line with IOB’s policy to promote equal opportunities, multi-perspectivity and diversity, you obtained your initial higher education degree in a Low or Middle Income Country.
• You cannot have resided or carried out your main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Belgium for more than 12 months in the 36 months prior to the start date of the postdoctoral scholarship.
• Your PhD was obtained after 30 September 2018.
• You have an excellent knowledge of English. Knowledge of another language is an asset.
• Your research qualities are in line with the institute and university research policies .
• Your teaching competences are in line with the University of Antwerp’s educational vision .
• Teaching experience in the domain of the vacancy is a plus.
• You act with attention to quality, integrity, creativity and cooperation.

What we offer

• We offer a postdoctoral scholarship from 1 October 2023 to 30 September 2024.
• Your monthly scholarship amount is calculated according to the scholarship amounts  for postdoctoral scholarship holders on the pay scales for Contract Research Staff (Dutch: Bijzonder Academisch Personeel, BAP).
• You will do most of your work at the UAntwerp City Campus in a dynamic and stimulating working environment.
• Find out more about working at the University of Antwerp here .

Want to apply?

• You can apply for this vacancy through the University of Antwerp’s online job application platform up to and including 1 March 2023 (by midnight Brussels time). Click on 'apply', complete the online application form and don’t forget to include the following document(s):
  • (1) a motivation letter,
  • (2) your academic CV,
  • (3) a brief outline of the research project you aim to submit for external funding and your application strategy (which funding to apply for and when, also taking into account the eligibility criteria for FWO fellowship  and MSCA fellowships ) (approx. 1,500 words).

These documents must be submitted in English.

• The selection committee will review all the applications as soon as possible after the application deadline. As soon as a decision has been made, we will inform you about the next steps in the selection procedure. Please take note of the following date: Tuesday 21 March 2023 for online presentations and selection interviews.
• If you have any questions about the online application form, please check the frequently asked questions  or send an email to [email protected] . If you have any questions about the job itself, please contact Prof. Tom De Herdt ([email protected] ).

The University of Antwerp received the European Commission’s HR Excellence in Research Award  for its HR policy. We are a sustainable, family-friendly organisation which invests in its employees’ growth. We encourage diversity  and attach great importance to an inclusive working environment and equal opportunities, regardless of gender identity, disability, race, ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation or age. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds and with diverse characteristics to apply.