Enhancing Southern Africa’s Mining Competences Through ‘Competent’
Mining Public Administration
Background
The Southern Africa Resource Watch (SARW) is a project of the Open Society Initiative of Southern
Africa (OSISA). SARW’s objective is to strengthen natural resources governance in Southern Africa,
promote revenue transparency, foster community participation, and monitor companies’ extraction
activities to ensure that they respect environmental requirements and human rights. It does so, inter
alia, through research and monitoring, advocacy and capacity building (training). SARW operates in
10 countries.
Purpose of the Research
For the past decade, Southern Africa and the rest of the continent have been trying to find solutions
to Africa’s resource curse. Many initiatives ranging from revenue transparency, contract
renegotiation, environmental protection, community beneficiation and tax reforms have been
suggested and in some instances put in place. While some of these initiatives have contributed to
improving governance, they have not managed to reverse the resources curse. One area that has
not received sufficient attention, in the search for solutions, has been the capacity of the African
state to organise and manage the mining sector. Because of the critical importance of the mining
sector to national economies, commodity-dependant countries need to develop ‘competent’ public
mining administration without which it is impossible to benefit from the extraction of mineral
resources. SARW seeks to appoint 8 researchers from the following countries (one per country)
Angola, Botswana, DRC, Mozambique, Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Africa to undertake
research on the states’ capacity to manage mineral resources in Southern Africa. The research seeks
to assess states’ capabilities to regulate, monitor and tax the mining sector, and the ability to collect
and use revenues.
Key responsibilities:
• Attend a methodology workshop where key research questions and tools will be developed;
• Identify key institutions to be investigated;
• Conduct desk and field research that has both strategic and policy relevance;
• Draft the research report;
• Deliver high-quality report in accordance with the budget and deadline;
• Communicate research findings at a regional conference; and
• Communicate research findings in-country.
Key requirements:
• A doctorate or a Master’s degree with five years’ experience in the social sciences or related
discipline;
• An established research career as evidenced by extensive publications;
• An interest in the natural resource governance;
• A sound grounding in research methods – including both quantitative and qualitative approaches;
• Intellectual and personal integrity, imagination and drive;
• A strong networking with government, companies and civil society in the country.
The level of the appointment will depend on the mix of qualifications and experience of the
successful candidates.
Timeframe: Four months
Applications
Interested applicants should forward a cover letter and CV to sarwresearch@sarwatch.org with
“Mining Public Administration” as the subject heading. Should agencies/research teams apply, the
CVs of staff with direct responsibility for implementation of the research would also be required.
Shortlisted candidates will be invited to meet with SARW to discuss the research in greater detail.
Once selected, the successful agency/research team will be expected to work in co-operation with
the SARW programme staff throughout all stages of research design, implementation, analysis and
dissemination.
Closing date for submission is the 18th July 2014.
Only shortlisted candidates will receive a response from SARW