Programme: Center for Conflict and Humanitarian Studies (CHS)
Institutional Host: Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies
Duration: One year, renewable subject to performance and funding
Location: Doha, State of Qatar
Application Status: Open until filled
1. Overview of the Position
The Center for Conflict and Humanitarian Studies (CHS), a research programme of the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies in Doha, invites applications for a Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship in Post-War Recovery and Humanitarian Action. The post is intended for an early-career scholar of demonstrable promise whose work engages with the politics, economics, and practice of recovering from armed conflict, with sustained attention to humanitarian action and to the humanitarian–development–peace nexus through which relief, rehabilitation, and longer-term reconstruction are now jointly pursued.
The Fellow will be a member of the Post-War Recovery Programme within CHS and will contribute to an expanding institutional research agenda on the policy, practice, and politics of post-war recovery in the Arab region. The position is conceived as a bridge between scholarly enquiry and policy practice. The Fellow will be expected to produce research of the standard required for publication in leading peer-reviewed journals while generating timely, decision-relevant analysis for policy, donor, humanitarian, and practitioner audiences.
This is a competitive, full-time research appointment. It carries no formal teaching obligations, although the Fellow will be encouraged to participate in seminars, training initiatives, and convenings organised by the Centre and its academic partners.
2. Institutional Context
The Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies is an independent research institution dedicated to the social sciences, the humanities, and the analysis of strategic and policy questions of relevance to the Arab world. The Center for Conflict and Humanitarian Studies is one of its established research programmes, advancing rigorous, policy-engaged scholarship on the dynamics of conflict, the conduct of peacemaking, and the politics of humanitarian and recovery action.
3. Principal Duties and Responsibilities
The Fellow will undertake the following responsibilities under the supervision of the Director of CHS.
3.1 Original Research and Scholarly Publication
The Fellow will be expected to publish in leading journals across international relations, development studies, humanitarian studies, conflict studies, and political economy, and to contribute monograph chapters, working papers, and edited-volume contributions where appropriate. The research agenda is to be developed in consultation with the Director of CHS and CHS's senior researchers.
3.2 Analysis of Recovery, Humanitarian Action, and the Nexus
Provide sustained, analytically rigorous coverage of post-war recovery processes in conflict-affected settings of the Arab region. This will include the political economy of reconstruction; the politics of humanitarian access, protection, and assistance in protracted crises; the operationalisation of the humanitarian–development–peace nexus and its critics; the role of national, regional, and international actors—including international financial institutions, bilateral donors, United Nations agencies, and humanitarian organisations—in financing and shaping recovery; the governance of contested transitions; debates on the localisation of aid; and the longer-term institutional foundations on which durable recovery depends.
3.3 Policy-Oriented Analytical Products
Produce concise, well-evidenced analytical outputs in response to the priorities of CHS and the requests of its institutional stakeholders. These will include situation assessments, briefing notes, scenario analyses, and strategic memoranda intended for governmental, donor, humanitarian, and multilateral audiences. The Fellow will be expected to translate complex empirical findings into clear, decision-relevant analysis without sacrificing analytical depth.
3.4 Contribution to the Programme's Research Agenda
Contribute to the conception, design, and delivery of collaborative research projects, expert workshops, and high-level convenings hosted by CHS and the Post-War Recovery Programme. The Fellow may be invited to coordinate specific research strands, supervise research assistants, and mentor junior colleagues, in proportion to seniority and experience.
3.5 Public Engagement and Academic Representation
Disseminate research findings through scholarly conferences, public lectures, policy roundtables, and considered media engagement. Represent CHS in relevant academic, policy, and practitioner forums in the region and internationally, and contribute to the cultivation of partnerships with peer institutions.
4. Reporting and Accountability
The Fellow will report directly to the Director of the Center for Conflict and Humanitarian Studies. Performance will be reviewed periodically against an agreed set of research, publication, and engagement objectives, which will form the basis for any decision regarding renewal.
5. Person Specification
5.1 Essential
Doctoral qualification: A doctorate (PhD or equivalent) in political science, international relations, development studies, humanitarian studies, conflict studies, peace studies, political economy, or a closely related discipline, awarded at the time of application or with the dissertation submitted and defended prior to the commencement of the post.
Substantive expertise: Demonstrated expertise in the study of post-war recovery, humanitarian action, the humanitarian–development–peace nexus, peacebuilding, or the political economy of conflict-affected states, evidenced through publications, doctoral research, or comparable scholarly work.
Publication record: A record of publication in peer-reviewed journals commensurate with career stage, together with evidence of an emerging international scholarly profile.
Methodological proficiency: Capacity to design and execute qualitative research, including fieldwork, elite interviewing, archival work, and case-based comparative analysis. Familiarity with mixed-methods approaches and political-economy analysis is welcome.
Languages: Full professional fluency in English and Arabic, both written and spoken. Translation between the two languages should pose no barrier to scholarly work.
Regional knowledge: Substantive knowledge of post-conflict, recovery, and humanitarian dynamics in the Arab region.
Communication: Proven ability to address scholarly, policy, humanitarian, and practitioner audiences with appropriate register and clarity.
Professional conduct: Evidence of intellectual independence, sound judgement, and the capacity to manage concurrent research and writing commitments to demanding deadlines.
5.2 Desirable
Prior professional or advisory engagement with reconstruction practitioners, humanitarian organisations, donor institutions, international financial institutions, or multilateral organisations.
Demonstrable fieldwork experience in conflict-affected, post-conflict, or humanitarian settings in the Arab region or in comparable contexts.
Familiarity with the humanitarian–development–peace nexus, the New Way of Working, and contemporary debates on the localisation of aid and recovery.
Working knowledge of public finance, reconstruction financing, humanitarian financing instruments, or the governance of natural resources in post-conflict transitions.
Established networks within Arab region research, policy, humanitarian, and practitioner communities.
6. Conditions of Appointment
The position is offered on a one-year fixed-term contract, renewable subject to satisfactory performance. Remuneration is commensurate with qualifications and experience and is supplemented by a research and travel allowance. The successful candidate will be expected to take up residence in Doha for the duration of the appointment.
7. Application Procedure
Applications should comprise: (i) a curriculum vitae; (ii) a covering letter of no more than two pages setting out the candidate's research interests and motivation for the post; (iii) a research proposal of three to five pages outlining a programme of work to be undertaken during the fellowship; (iv) two writing samples, at least one of which should be sole-authored and peer-reviewed; and (v) the names and contact details of three academic referees. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to interview, which may be conducted in person or by video conference.
The Center for Conflict and Humanitarian Studies is committed to the principle of appointment on merit and welcomes applications from all qualified candidates without regard to nationality, gender, religion, or background.