IJR Transitional Justice Fellowship Programme in Africa

TRANSITIONAL
JUSTICE FELLOWSHIP PROGRAMME

2016-06-20

The
Institute for Justice and Reconciliation (IJR) is pleased to announce the
convening of a three week intensive Transitional Justice in Africa Fellowship
Programme.Applicants from Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya,
South Sudan, Uganda, Somalia and Zimbab

we will be given preference. We are now
inviting qualified individuals to apply to this esteemed programme.

Background to IJR
  
The Institute for
Justice and Reconciliation was established in 2000 in the wake of the South
African Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) to promote reconciliation,
transitional justice and democratic nation-building in Africa by means of
research, analysis and selective intervention. Located at the interface between
civil society and academia, it contributes to the building of fair, democratic
and inclusive societies in countries undergoing political transition including
Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Uganda
and Zimbabwe.  
The Fellowship
Programme will be organised by and hosted within the Justice and Reconciliation
in Africa Programme (JRA) which is one of three IJR programmes. The other two
programmes are the Building an Inclusive Society Programme (BIS) and the Policy
and Analysis Programme (PA). The JRA works at three complimentary and mutually
supportive levels with African societies in transition, namely: engaged
research and analysis, capacity building, and collaborative political
intervention. The Institute seeks to achieve a creative balance between justice
and reconciliation, development and human security, as well as contributing to
the reconstruction of countries ravaged by war and oppression.  
For more
information on the IJR and its’ work, please visit www.ijr.org.za.   
The Fellowship
Programme  
The IJR has been
hosting Fellows from countries in political transition in Africa since 2000.
The programme was designed to attract and bring together scholars and
practitioners in the field of transitional justice to compare, reflect,
research and write about their experiences and lessons learned from activities,
projects and programmes in their respective countries.   
The Institute for
Justice and Reconciliation was established in 2000 in the wake of the South
African Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) to promote reconciliation,
transitional justice and democratic nation-building in Africa by means of
research, analysis and selective intervention. Located at the interface between
civil society and academia, it contributes to the building of fair, democratic
and inclusive societies in countries undergoing political transition including:
Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Uganda
and Zimbabwe.  
The Fellowship
Programme will be organised by and hosted within the Justice and Reconciliation
in Africa Programme (JRA) which is one of three IJR programmes. The other two
programmes are the Building an Inclusive Society Programme (BIS) and the Policy
and Analysis Programme (PA). The JRA works at three complimentary and mutually
supportive levels with African societies in transition, namely: engaged
research and analysis, capacity building, and collaborative political intervention.
The Institute seeks to achieve a creative balance between justice and
reconciliation, development and human security, as well as contributing to the
reconstruction of countries ravaged by war and oppression.  
For more
information on the IJR and its’ work, please visit www.ijr.org.za.   

The Fellowship Programme

 
The
IJR has been hosting Fellows from countries in political transition in Africa
since 2000. The programme was designed to attract and bring together scholars
and practitioners in the field of transitional justice to compare, reflect,
research and write about their experiences and lessons learned from activities,
projects and programmes in their respective countries.    
A
rigorous selection process will ensure the targeting of mid-career professionals
working with affected communities in the field of transitional justice in
sub-Saharan Africa and who are in positions to influence policy processes and
disseminate their Fellowship Programme experience through practical activities
when they return home.  Fellows will be appointed based on their positions
as opinion leaders and/or policy makers in their respective home countries and
are required to convincingly show their ability to develop initiatives and
interventions in their home countries to advance the transitional justice and
reconciliation agenda. In addition, they must submit an institutional
endorsement of their participation and commitment to implement at least one
follow-up activity in-country. 
The
programmes’ purpose is to enhance participants’ skills and knowledge, with a
particular focus on issues related to the development of tools and processes
aimed at furthering reconciliation and social cohesion within the context of
transitional justice.  Accordingly, the Fellowship Programme will engage
with some of the key literature, themes, and mechanisms and will supplement
teachings with practical experiences, interaction with local organisations
working in related fields and guided visits to historically significant sites
and institutions dealing with reconciliation and justice. 
Elements
of the Fellowship Programme  
The
Fellowship Programme aims to effectively equip participants to address
challenges specific to democratic transitions by exposing them to various
transitional justice tools. It encompasses the following elements:  
  • Interactive
    presentations and dialogue sessions on transitional justice by leading
    practitioners and academics in the field 
  • Visits
    to relevant museums and memorials in Cape Town and Johannesburg
  •  Joint
    project development for in-country follow-up transitional justice
    programming
  • A
    public debate on justice and reconciliation in Africa at IJR, featuring
     presentations by the fellows
  •  Diaspora
    dialogues (optional)
  • Ample
    time to engage IJR staff, its work and its in-house library. 
  • Networking
    with relevant organisations, institutions and individuals. 
It
is hoped that participants will deepen their familiarity with the growing field
of transitional justice theory and then apply this theoretical framework to the
practical challenges currently facing their respective country context.
  
Fellows’
are strongly encouraged to document their reflections in the form of newspaper
articles, policy briefs and/or working papers during and after the
fellowship. 
The
IJR will cover all travel and accommodation costs for the duration of the
fellowship and will provide a modest stipend for daily expenses. 
To
read the quarterly Fellows Alumni Network Newsletter as well as see a list of
all IJR Fellows, visit http://www.ijr.org.za/justice-and-reconciliation-in-africa-fellowship.php.
Elements of the Fellowship Programme  
 Application requirements
 
To
be considered eligible for this fellowship, you should meet the following
criteria:
  • A
    post-graduate degree in a discipline broadly related to Transitional
    Justice 
  • 4
    to 5 years of relevant work experience in the realm of justice,
    reconciliation and/or social cohesion, social justice 
  • Good
    written and spoken English. This will be necessary to participate in group
    discussions.  
If
you are interested in applying for admission to this programme, please submit
to us the following documents in English:  
  • A
    detailed resume or Curriculum Vitae of no more than 3 pages
  •  The
    full contact details of 2 contactable references 
  • A
    1-2 page letter of motivation indicating why you wish to participate in
    this programme 
  • A
    1-2 page writing sample (you may include news or academic articles you
    have submitted or published) 
  •  A
    letter of institutional endorsement of your suitability to participate in
    the Fellowship Programme from your employer/affiliated institution.  
     
The
closing date for applications is the 31st
of July 2016
. Telephonic interviews will be conducted in the
week commencing 8 August 2016 and successful candidates will be notified no
later than by the 15th of August 2016.  
NB
Please email your complete application to Ms Anthea Flink on aflink@ijr.org.za with
‘Application to 2016 Fellowship Programme: your name’ in the email subject
line.  
 Only
complete applications will be considered and only shortlisted candidates will
be notified of the status of their application. 

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