The Cross-Border Conflict Evidence, Policy and Trends (XCEPT) research programme is seeking applications for a Borderlands Research Fellow. The following outlines expectations for XCEPT Research Fellows and the overarching thematic areas of interest for a Borderlands Fellow.  

I. The Cross-Border Conflict Evidence, Policy and Trends (XCEPT) research programme seeks applications from established academics and experts with a strong track record in research leadership, publication and policy engagement to help lead and develop programme research and outreach. XCEPT Research Fellows will play a central role in drawing out cross-cutting findings and comparative themes arising from XCEPT research on Africa, the Middle East and South and Southeast Asia and will help generate new knowledge on transnational conflict and the role of borderlands, and more effective responses to addressing these phenomena. Research Fellows will be supported under part-time arrangements (roughly 20-60% of full-time employment) for a duration of one to two years to serve as thought leaders for XCEPT, with the potential for extension. XCEPT will work in consultation with the home institution of each Fellow, as relevant, to determine funding arrangements and reach agreement on acknowledgement of the Fellow’s institutional affiliation. Research Fellows can be based anywhere in the world. XCEPT will fund occasional travel for key research meetings and events, and will support entry visas as needed.

II. XCEPT brings together world-leading experts and local researchers to examine conflict-affected borderlands, how conflicts connect across borders, and the drivers of violent and peaceful behaviour. Funded by UK International Development, XCEPT offers rigorous, actionable public-good research to inform policies and programmes that support peace. Research on cross-cutting issues, such as gender, equality, and social inclusion, is a programme priority.  

XCEPT Research Fellow on Borderlands 

III. XCEPT seeks a Research Fellow to support and lead research development, commissioning, and uptake under the theme of ‘stability and governance in borderlands.’ The XCEPT Research Fellow should demonstrate a track record of research on fragile and conflict-affected borderlands, including factors that shape violence and peace in these regions and an understanding of relevant policy responses.  

IV. XCEPT research on borderlands comprises the largest body of programme outputs to date and remains a focus area for future research. XCEPT seeks to expand scholarship on borderlands as centres of gravity that impact dynamics at the state centre and regionally. Borderlands are particularly vulnerable to instability, in part due to the historical imposition of physical borders over traditional lines of social, economic and political organisation and due to entrenched marginalisation. As hubs for trade, transport and services within and across borders, for both local communities and those in transit, understanding the complex trends that affect governance, security and stability in borderlands is critical to inform evidence-based responses to reduce conflict and other transnational threats. XCEPT’s research into these areas explores local governance, influential actors, licit-illicit intersections, and the institutions and strategies that borderland communities rely on to navigate instability. It also examines how lives, livelihoods, markets and trade are affected by the activities of and interactions between state and non-state actors. The research applies insight on inter-connected political, economic and social dynamics in borderlands to inform more effective responses at national, regional and international levels to resolve and prevent conflict. 

V. The Research Fellow should be experienced in synthesising key debates and questions from the interdisciplinary literature on borderlands, to identify gaps in knowledge and demonstrate where XCEPT research contributes. XCEPT seeks a Research Fellow who can offer thought leadership and comparative analysis on the factors driving instability in borderlands, applying this knowledge to support the development and uptake of research focused on better integrated security, development and peacebuilding responses. XCEPT likewise would value a Research Fellow familiar with critical and feminist research approaches that can help push XCEPT research towards a reformulation of knowledge production and decision-making. 

VI. Much research to date on instability and conflict in borderlands focuses on analysis at the state-level and centre-periphery dynamics. XCEPT seeks to move beyond state-centric approaches by applying a cross-border and transnational lens to researching borderlands and consideration of policy and programme XCEPT promotes locally led research in combination with innovative, mixed-methods data collection, making a methodological imprint on the literature that an XCEPT Borderlands Research Fellow will build upon. 

XCEPT Research Fellow specifications 

VII. We anticipate selecting one or two fellows to support XCEPT research on Borderlands, depending on applicants’ areas of expertise and ensuring the thematic focus of two potential Fellows is distinct. Fellows will support research agenda setting, advise on research commissioning and offer thought leadership and expert consultation to programme stakeholders and Fund awardees. Depending on a candidate’s availability, XCEPT Research Fellows may be additionally supported to undertake independent research that aligns with programme objectives (see paragraph IX) or to develop outputs – such as a special volume or other thematic research publication – that bring together XCEPT research on borderlands. Applicants proposing a lower percentage of time will be expected to prioritise expert consultation and thought leadership, with the opportunity to develop outputs and research for those with more time available.   

VIII. Fellows will support the development and direction of the XCEPT research agenda in alignment with XCEPT programme objectives and core themes,  with a focus on building the evidence base for more effective international responses to instability across borders and the transnational dimensions of conflict. This may include engagement with policy, expert and academic communities, and authorship of evidence reviews, syntheses, policy briefs or learning outputs to help identify knowledge and evidence gaps that inform XCEPT Research Fund (XRF) research commissioning within each theme. As experts in their field, Fellows will help guide development of thematic calls for research and serve as expert reviewers of XRF research. Fellows likewise will play a key role in bringing XRF and other programme research together in a special issue volume, as relevant and in accordance with a plan for research and thought leadership agreed upon at the start of each fellowship award. 

IX. XCEPT Research Fellows may be supported by the programme to undertake independent research related to core XCEPT themes during their tenure with XCEPT, depending on each applicant’s availability and research interests. Proposed research will be subject to panel review for originality, feasibility and relevance to programme objectives. If approved, XCEPT will support data collection, including field data collection and the use of remote methods (e.g., satellite and signals data), big data and artificial intelligence (AI), as appropriate. Fellows pursuing XCEPT research will be expected to produce peer-reviewed journal articles and other policy and public good outputs associated with XRF awards. Fellowship awards will be constructed to support the time applied to informing XCEPT research development and uptake as well as XCEPT research undertaken. 

X. XCEPT Research Fellows will serve as members of the XCEPT Research Leadership Group (RLG), a collaborative assembly of lead researchers from among the programme partners that meets quarterly to coordinate on research and uptake. XCEPT Research Fellows may lead learning sessions and the development of outputs that draw on programme research.

XI. XCEPT Research Fellows will play a key role in supporting research uptake, including engagement with an array of policy stakeholders – in HMG and among the UK government’s bilateral and multilateral partners – and the academic and practitioner communities.

XII. XCEPT Research Fellow responsibilities will include: 

• Developing the XCEPT research agenda through expert consultation and authorship of relevant research reviews, syntheses and/or thematic papers. 
• Synthesising XCEPT programme research, with the potential to develop an XCEPT special issue volume. 
• Shaping XCEPT Research Fund thematic commissioning and participating in award evaluation and review. 
• Participating in and, as relevant, facilitating discussion among the XCEPT Research Leadership Group to develop cross-cutting XCEPT outputs and engagements that impact policy, practice and academic discourse. 
• Presenting XCEPT research in academic, public and policy spheres, including representing the programme at high-level international conferences. 
• Expanding XCEPT research networks, leveraging professional connections in policy and academia. 
• Advising XCEPT researchers in delivery of rigorous research and quality assurance of outputs.  
• Leading independent research on XCEPT themes, to be published in a relevant journal. 

XIII. Person Specification: 

• Specialist expertise and ability to provide rapid insight, independent challenge and thought leadership.  
• PhD in a relevant discipline such as international affairs, international development, or political science, with a focus on research in fragile and conflict-affected settings.  
• The priority areas of XCEPT geographic focus are the Middle East and North Africa, the Horn of Africa, West Africa and the Sahel, and/or South and Southeast Asia. However, Fellows with expertise in other geographies will also be considered and comparative experience is particularly welcomed 
• Minimum of 10 years progressively responsible professional experience in academia, policy, or international development practice. 
• Demonstrated thought leadership across academic, policy and practitioner communities to achieve actionable outcomes in development and conflict settings.  
• A strong track record of academic publications, including in top-tier peer-reviewed journals. 
• Track record of leading and delivering actionable research for high-level policy audiences. 
• Expertise in mixed-methods research, in particular the design and implementation of research in conflict-affected settings. 
• Experience supporting researchers of varied experience and backgrounds, including researchers originating from non-Western contexts, working in unstable areas, or operating with limited institutional support. 
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills. 
• Ability to review and critically appraise data and empirical literature to an academic standard. 
• Familiarity with diverse research methods a plus, including the use of satellite and other open data and AI capabilities. 

XV. To apply, please submit the following documents by 23:59 BST on Monday 7 October 2024. The documents should be submitted via email to [email protected] and the subject title should include ‘Research Fellow: XCEPT Borderlands Research Fellow Application’.

• CV. Submitted CVs should include links to published materials.  
• Letter of interest. Letters of interest should be no longer than 2 pages and should address the following: 
  • Your interest in the role; 
  • Your experience and research related to stability and governance in borderlands; 
  • Proposed amount of time available (percentage of full-time employment available); and 
  • Area(s) of proposed focus during your tenure as Borderlands Research Fellow. This may include areas for thought leadership and XCEPT Research Fund development and/or a proposed topic of research to be led by the applicant while serving as a Fellow. 

1. Please note that applicants with limited time availability will be expected to prioritise thought leadership and expert consultation on Fund research development.  
2. If including a proposed topic of research, please outline in a separate document the research purpose and evidence gap to be addressed, key research questions, methodology and output (2 pages maximum). 

If you have any questions about the role or the application process, please email [email protected].