·       Based at Global Sustainability Institute, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, UK.

·       Salary: £33,797 p.a. (£17.52/hour)

·       Working arrangements: initial contract of 12weeks (extensions likely); flexible and remote (including international) working possible.

·       Application closing date: Mon 30 Nov. | Virtual interview date: Mon 7 Dec. | Start date: negotiable, but ideally around end of Jan 2021.

Global Sustainability Institute (GSI)

Over the past 10 years, the GSI has built a global reputation for delivering research impact and high-quality interdisciplinary publications across a broad range of sustainability issues. We have received funding from six of the seven UK Research Councils (ESRC, EPSRC, NERC, AHRC, BBSRC, STFC). We have also led and supported several high-profile EU projects including SHAPE ENERGY, Energy-SHIFTS, MEDEAS, RRING, Energy in Water, amongst others, and also been part of major centres such as the ESRC’s Centre for Understanding Sustainable Prosperity and EPSRC’s EnergyREV. The GSI has a particular interest in research that has the potential for real-world impact, and thus has a wide portfolio of applied projects that focus on working with e.g. European Commission, UK Government, local authorities, charities and NGOs, business and industry, etc.

The ‘Gender equity and energy access in the Global South’ project

The project aims to investigate what the UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) of “access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy” (SDG7) means to the professionals working on matters of energy access, and in particular what the implications are for gender equality (SDG5), in the Global South. While much research, policy and practice address these SDGs separately, there are major gaps in knowledge and action on how energy access and gender equality intersect. Energy access initiatives are, for instance, only starting to consider how gendered conventions determine ‘necessary’ energy use. Progress on one SDG can therefore lead to unintended consequences for the other. Measures promoting energy access could even adversely affect gender equality; e.g. reinforcing existing disparities within energy resource management arrangements.

Through collaboration with 11 partners across six countries, the project is undertaking 80 semi-structured interviews spanning Nigeria, Ghana, India and Pakistan. Specifically, the interviews are with professionals working on different aspects of the (developing) energy system. We are especially interested to better understand how their (gendered) expectations are shaping the systems of provision that they are providing, through their own professional roles. On the basis of these lessons, policy recommendations will also be produced and launched in discussion with local stakeholders at two regional workshops, in Nigeria and India.

Job role and responsibilities

The post-holder will take a leading role in the qualitative thematic analysis of the 80 interview transcripts generated through the energy access and gender interviews in this Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) funded project, in collaboration with partners involved. As such, they will become a key member of the authorship team for a journal article that will come from this analysis. Their insights will also be feeding into policy briefs, led on by local partners. Depending on timings and covid-19, there is also budget for them to attend one of the regional workshops in Nigeria or India.

The post-holder will have experience of doing qualitative data analysis, and be undertaking (or have already undertaken) a PhD in a relevant social science field. Whilst experience of using programmes such as NVivo would be useful, it is not essential. Similarly, background in energy (access) and/or development would be desirable, but it is not essential.

Related information

·       Due to restrictions related to the nature of this contract, we would need to make special arrangements to employ non-EU citizens for this post. However, we certainly welcome applications from a range of scholars, whatever their location.

·       Remote and flexible (international) working arrangements are possible. There is budget for the post-holder to visit Cambridge (covid-19 depending) for discussions and to meet the team.

·       Application deadline is Monday 30 November – please send your CV, and a covering letter explaining why you’re interested in the position, to [email protected] and [email protected].

·       Informal enquiries prior to application are very welcomed, to the same email addresses.