Research Assistants - Asia Foundation

Asia Foundation

JOB POSTING/TERMS OF REFERENCES

Position Title : Research Assistant

Start Date: ImmediateDuration:

Full-time Duty station: Dili, Timor-Leste

Background

The National Parliament of Timor-Leste and The Asia Foundation Timor-Leste, with generous support from the United States Agency for International Development, the United States House Democracy Assistance Committee and the Library of Congress, have established a Parliamentary Library at the National Parliament building in Dili, Timor-Leste as of January 2008. The National Parliament now seeks five Timorese Researchers to assist in providing research services to the MPs of the nation’s first Parliamentary Research Service.

Summary

These Research Assistants will work as Parliamentary Research Team (PRT) under the supervision of Coordinator Parliamentary Research (CPR) in serving the members of National Parliament with insightful and impartial research topics before and after the legislative drafting process. The Research Assistant will report to Research Coordinator. The PRS will seek to gather resources, encourage critical thinking and create innovative frameworks to help legislators form sound policies and reach decisions on a host of difficult issues. These decisions will guide and shape the nation today and for generations to come.

The PRT will conduct research, write reports, and make reports available in Tetum and Portuguese in a timely manner. Under the direction of the Research Coordinator the PRT will initiate research according to the scheduled plenary topic of the legislature. PRT will respond to special requests made by members of parliament based on the order in which the requests are made. PRT reports will be catalogued and shelved in the Library.

Reporting

The Research Assistants or PRT will be reporting directly to the CPR.ResponsibilitiesThe PRT will provide the following services:
• Conduct research on current legislative issues assigned by the CPR
• Write reports
• Make reports available in Tetum and Portuguese in a timely manner
• PRT will respond to special requests made by members of parliament based on the order in which the requests are made.
• Assist CPR as requestedQualifications and experience:
• Timor-Leste citizenship
• University degree, preferably in social policy, social science, economics, security studies, law or any related subject
• Understanding of quantitative methodologies
• Has experience in conducting research through written materials or Internet
• Good communication skills in Tetum and Bahasa Indonesia and/or English (written and spoken)
• Has computer skills including Word, Excel, and InternetPersonal specifications:
• Ability to work under tight deadline pressure
• Analytic capabilities to integrate multiple disciplines and research methodologies.
• Program and legislative expertise
• Good person to person communication, rapport building and facilitation skills
• Willingness to contribute and work in a team
• Detail-oriented
• Excellent writing skills
• Committed to assisting the MPs to enrich their knowledge on topics to be debated in the Parliament’s plenary sessions
• Demonstrate impartiality

Please send cover letter and resume by COB August 23, 2008 to The Asia Foundation, Rua.Jacinto Candido (behind BTK/Holiwono store), or to P.O. Box 69, Dili, East Timor. Fax. 670-390-324-245.

Applications may also be sent to ftilman@asiafound.org. Only short-listed candidates will be acknowledged. Please indicate your contact address or phone in your letter.

Women candidates are encouraged to apply.