SAIIA’s COVID-19 Macroeconomic Policy Responses in Africa (CoMPRA) project has the primary objective of informing African national macroeconomic policy making as a crisis management tool in a manner that is environmentally sustainable and gender inclusive. Over the course of the project, SAIIA has analysed the macroeconomic and socioeconomic vulnerability and responsiveness to the global public health crisis of 6 pilot countries and have assessed their policy responses against the climate change commitments captured in their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). The next phase of work is informed by the rapid succession of external supply chain crises generated by the war over Ukraine, particularly for fuel and food. Simultaneously, the increased frequency, severity and impact of natural disasters such as floods, droughts and plagues are further causes of macroeconomic shocks. Regardless of the source of the crisis, national governments are tasked with managing crises in the shorter term and building resilience in the longer term.
In the next phase of the project, SAIIA intends to deliver on two inter-related and iterative products, (a) a macroeconomic resilience index identifying the significant contributing factors to crisis vulnerability and resilience for six country cases and a further six peer countries (South Africa-Botswana, Nigeria-Ghana, Tanzania-Kenya, Uganda-Rwanda, Senegal-Mali, Benin-Togo) and (b) six country papers analysing macroeconomic shocks, their transmission mechanisms and policy responses over the past twenty years (2000 to 2020-21.)
In order to strengthen the capacity of SAIIA to deliver the research outputs related to the Macro-economic Resilience Index and country papers, SAIIA seeks to appoint an economics PhD student for a 6-month fellowship at SAIIA.
This fellowship aims to benefit the student very directly, helping them to make a start up on the publications ladder, gain experience within an African policy think tank on macro-economic issues as framed through the perspective of the COMPRA project and develop into a well-rounded researcher within the field.
Expected outputs
- Research assistance to the principal researcher at SAIIA working on the COMPRA programme, specifically on the macro-economic resilience index data collection and country paper (South Africa and Botswana) and synthesis report
- Contribution to a peer-reviewed journal article (potentially co-written with the principal researcher/team working at SAIIA)
- Two co-written media articles on COMPRA outputs in South Africa
- Assistance with the arrangement of the dissemination events in South Africa (and if required regional COMPRA events)
This 6-month COMPRA Phd Student fellowship is valid from 1 February – 31 July 2023.
The overall value of the fellowship is R85 000. This is a Johannesburg-based appointment, but applications from other provinces are also welcomed.
Requirements
Your fellowship application should include the following information:
- Proof of Enrolment in a Phd programme in South Africa
- Comprehensive CV with verified qualifications of the candidate and full set of results
- Letter of motivation from the candidate setting out why they believe that they would be a suitable candidate for the fellowship
- Specialisation in Economics (preferably macro-economics, finance, fiscal policy, monetary policy, environmental economics)
- Recommendation letter from the head of the faculty where he/she is accredited supporting the fellowship with SAIIA
Please forward your application to Ms Laura Rubidge, Coordinator in the Office of the Research Director at Laura.Rubidge@saiia.org.za, copying in Ms Shannon Gard, HR Head, at recruitment@saiia.org.za. Closing date for submission of an application is Monday, 6 February 2023.
SAIIA will make an appointment in line with their employment equity policy. SAIIA reserves the right not to make an appointment.