The Centre for Human Rights is seeking to conduct a study on these organs of the AU, based in Midrand, South Africa, with a particular focus on ways to enhance citizens’ participation in the reforms of the African Union.
Project title
A critical analysis of the potential of the Pan-African Parliament, the African Union Development Agency-NEPAD and the African Peer Review Mechanism to facilitate citizen engagement in the African Union reform processes.
The transformation of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) into the African Union (AU) was, at the time, an admission that the challenges facing the continent could not be adequately addressed by the former. The academic literature leading up to this transformation was also dominated by a consensus that the OAU was indeed not fit for purpose. However, the creation of the AU and its elaborate Peace and Security Architecture (APSA) and Governance Architecture (AGA) signalled a commitment to progressively model the organisation in response to contemporary demands. As the AU embarks on various transformation efforts, a key requirement is that of citizen participation in its affairs. The obligation to involve citizens in the work of the organisation falls on all its organs, especially those whose mandates include being the voice of the people. As an assembly of public representatives speaking on behalf of their constituencies, the Pan-African Parliament is one such organ. Similarly, the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) and the African Union Development Agency – (AUDA- NEPAD) also invite attention, as their mandates address what might broadly be termed human security.
To this end, the Centre for Human Rights is seeking to conduct a study on these organs of the AU, based in Midrand, South Africa, with a particular focus on ways to enhance citizens' participation in the reforms of the African Union. In particular, the study seeks to;
- Analyse the role of these organisations, individually and collectively, in accelerating AU reforms.
- Provide an analysis of the reform process in the AU, whether these reforms are strengthening the democratic processes of the AU as an institution and in the various member states.
- Assess whether the reforms are helping or hindering citizen participation in AU processes at both the institutional and national levels, and
- Establish how the reform process can be steered towards improving civic space and engagement at both levels.
Output
A research paper of approximately 5000 words, submitted by 31 October 2024
Methodology
The study should be based on primary sources, including the AU’s founding documents. For secondary sources, the study should rely on a broad analysis of the literature on the Pan-African Parliament, APRM and AUDA- NEPAD and its impact on Africa.
Required qualifications and experience
Applicants must have the following qualifications and experience:
- An advanced university degree (Masters or Doctorate ) in international human rights law, international relations, international development/ development studies, political science or a related field
- An in-depth understanding the African human rights system
- A proven record of research and publications in international human rights law, international relations, international development and related subject fields
- Strong analytical skills
- Excellent English writing skills
- Demonstrable experience of undertaking similar assignments
How to apply
Interested applicants should by 15 August 2024 submit the following documents to Tariro.Sekeramayi@up.ac.za indicating “Research for PAP,APRM and AUDA-NEPAD Study ” in the subject of the email:
- Cover letter detailing the applicant’s suitability for the assignment, with reference to the required and desirable qualifications, skills and experience set out above, as well as current contact information, and two contactable referees on previous assignments
- A detailed CV
- A short writing sample (published or unpublished article or research paper)
- A technical proposal including a brief research plan setting out the main research questions, and methodology to be adopted.
Only short-listed applicants will be contacted.
