Director of Research and Documentation

Position overview

This senior-level, full-time staff role sits at the United Nations African Institute for the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders (UNAFRI) in Kampala, Uganda. The role is graded at P4/I under the UNAFRI salary scale and is initially offered for four years, with the possibility of renewal for the same period or a shorter one depending on the recommendation of the Technical Advisory Committee and the decision of the UNAFRI Governing Board.

The position is open only to nationals of UNAFRI member states. Applicants must be 50 years old or younger on 31 December 2026.

What the role involves

Reporting to and working under the authority of the Acting Director-General, the Director of Research and Documentation is expected to provide leadership across research, policy, advocacy, and documentation functions. The role combines academic insight with practical policy influence in crime prevention, criminal justice, and related areas.

• Carry out research on emerging best practices, academic developments, and international trends in criminology and criminal law to strengthen the knowledge base.
• Consult with specialists and professional networks to stay current on evolving policy issues.
• Drive policy development informed by research and critical reflection.
• Support monitoring, evaluation, and reporting on the impact of UNAFRI’s corporate advocacy strategy.
• Create and roll out fresh approaches to research and advocacy in crime prevention and control.
• Advise on and communicate UNAFRI’s corporate advocacy positions across its core mandate.
• Make sure policy messages remain aligned with UNAFRI’s mandate.
• Oversee the preparation and publication of high-quality research outputs and policy-oriented reports.
• Draft policy and advocacy content for key publications such as annual policy reports and advocacy reviews.
• Collaborate with colleagues to analyse findings and distribute reports effectively.
• Plan and deliver scientific gatherings such as conferences and national, regional, or international colloquia to showcase research findings.
• Develop, monitor, and publish UNAFRI’s course collections, the UNAFRI Review, the newsletter, and other institutional publications.
• Lead development of the research and documentation digital centre.
• Receive, orient, and supervise researchers and trainees in coordination with the Director of Training and Programs.
• Undertake any additional duties assigned by the Acting Director-General.

Education and experience

Candidates should hold an advanced university degree, ideally a PhD, in criminal law, criminology, or another relevant field of law from a recognised institution. The role calls for substantial experience of at least seven years in crime prevention policy and practice, as well as in the administration and operation of criminal justice systems in African countries. Applicants should also have academic and applied training in legal research methodology, together with demonstrated hands-on expertise in criminological research.

Language requirements

Fluency in both English and French is mandatory. Knowledge of Arabic or Portuguese will be considered a strong advantage.

Application details

The closing date for applications is 10 July 2026 at 00:00 p.m.

Applicants are asked to include a curriculum vitae covering the following details:

• Full names
• Place and date of birth
• Marital status
• Home address
• Current contact address
• Nationality
• Number of children, if any
• Secondary and post-secondary education, with dates and institutions attended
• Academic and professional qualifications, with dates
• Employment history, with dates
• A detailed list of publications and the journals where they appeared
• Extracurricular activities
• Names and addresses of three referees
• Proposed availability date if appointed

Previous applicants are encouraged to submit a fresh application. Supporting documents should be sent to the Acting Director-General at UNAFRI, P. O. Box 10590, Kampala, Uganda, or by email to unafri@unafri.or.ug.

Additional information

Salary scale: P4/I - UNAFRI Salary Scale.

Duration: Initially four years, with possible extension for a similar period or less.

Age limit: Applicants must not be older than 50 years on 31 December 2026.

Nationality requirement: Only nationals of UNAFRI member states may apply.

Organisational setting: United Nations African Institute for the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders (UNAFRI), Kampala, Uganda.

Level: Senior-level, full-time staff position.