Le Forum Économique Maghreb (MEF) recrute un “Director of Research” (Offre en Anglais) عودة إلى الفرص

Today, the root causes of the Tunisian revolution (Employment, socioeconomic fairness and prosperity) are still relevant, in fact regional differences and unemployment especially among the youth have worsened. Economic reforms are badly needed, however there is a huge vacuum. This think tank will play an instrumental role by contributing to unlocking Tunisia’s economic growth potential, and strengthening its democratic institutions in the public and private sectors and civil society. It aims to foster fair and sustainable economic and social development.

The MEF project #jobsfortunisia – Putting economy in the center of national dialogue to serve democracy will tackle this gap by putting – as its names suggest – economy in the center of a large public debate. The project is dedicated to the renewal of Tunisian socio-economical politics, prosperity, and dialog – in a Digital Age adapted manner. The success of this initiative will depend on attracting high profile candidates and building a team driven by a passion for Tunisia, aspiring for excellence and motivated by social responsibility to make a difference.

We are seeking to hire a Director of Research who will implement the organisation’s research strategy. The DoR should expect to be main author of most of MEF’s research outputs during the first year and he or she will have to take a hands-on approach. As the centre begins to deliver he or she should review the strategy to make the necessary corrections. The DoR must work closely with the Director of Communications and Policy Outreach to ensure that the right balance between rigour and clarity is met in the choice and use of tools and channels..

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, within the context of the overall MEF strategy, medium-term and periodic (mainly annual) strategies for the Research and Monitoring Programme, including Business Plans if necessary;
• Provide professional leadership to the Programme in implementing the strategy, including some mentoring of research and non-research staff;
• Draft policy papers & briefs on current social and economic topics
• Oversee the planning and implementation of research and advisory activities.
• Carry out annual appraisals and probationary reviews of his/her staff;
• Participate in relevant public and private policy advice and public affairs events and meetings;
• Develop new concepts and ideas to extend intellectual understanding, and inform policy in Tunisia. Assess, interpret and evaluate the outcomes of research, and develop ideas for the application of research outcomes;
• Monitor the progress of individual and Programme work schedules in coordination with other members of the SMT;
• Contribute to internal quality control, including review of draft outputs and implementation of peer review procedures, when necessary;
• Coordinate the external representation of MEF, including at meetings with current or potential donors;
• Maximise the use of resources within MEF, including the use of Researchers, associates, contractors, and interns.
• Participate in communication and policy outreach activities as planned and coordinated with the Communication and Policy Outreach Specialist

Location : Tunis
Start Date : Immediate

More about MEF and its #jobsfortunisia project:

We carry out our mission as a non-profit civic enterprise: think tank, new social media laboratory, public forum, and media platform. Our hallmarks are big ideas, impartial analysis, pragmatic policy solutions, technological innovation, next generation politics, and creative engagement with broad audiences.

MEF’s staff, fellows and board believe in the possibility of transformative change. For thousands of years Tunisia has repeatedly managed to reinvent its society, economy, and political system in the face of sweeping changes at home and abroad, while still holding to the promise of a an open, modern society. We believe that through the power of people, ideas, technology, and participatory democracy, we can and must renew ourselves again.

We aim to nurture a new generation of public intellectuals – scholars, policy experts, and journalists who could address major social, economic, and political challenges in ways that would engage the public at large — and to provide a set of blueprints for Tunisian renewal in an era of globalization and digitization. The initial challenge, which continues today, is to find the minds and foster the debates needed to guide Tunisia into this new era of profound, exhilarating, but often threatening change.

MEF’s #jobfortunisia project will provide a platform that enables individuals and groups working on solutions to drive different stages of change, from inspiration to implementation. The project will concentrate on the following categories:

• Identify and nurture new and diverse thinkers, researchers and writers; helping them to join the public conversation and debate.
• Develop and implement ideas and policies to address socio-economic problems at the local, “governorate”, national and international levels.
• Bridge the worlds of technology, policy, politics and academia, both by creating, testing and piloting new communication and advocacy technologies and integrating existing channels into policy solutions.
• Use media/social media and live events to share ideas and engage audiences in Tunis and across the country around shared challenges and solutions.