Post-Doctoral Fellow in Development Finance

WE ARE HIRING!

Position Title: Post-Doctoral Fellow in Development Finance

Reports to: Main supervisor of NUPI Project, The Fulbright School of Public Policy and Management (FSPPM)

Department: FSPPM

Employment Type: Full-time (2 year contract)

Number of recruits: 01 (One)

About the Fulbright University Vietnam

Fulbright University Vietnam (Fulbright) is Vietnam's first independent, non-profit, liberal arts university. We are an expanding international team of educational innovators, with deep roots in Vietnam, strong political backing, and connections to educational institutions around the world.

The FSPPM

The Fulbright School of Public Policy and Management (FSPPM) is the first academic unit of the Fulbright University Vietnam. FSPPM's mission is to advance transformative, innovative and inclusive public policy and management in Vietnam and the region through its commitment toward excellence in teaching, research and civic engagement. In July 2019, FSPPM becomes the first Southeast Asian institution to be accredited by NASPAA (Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs and Administrations).

FSPPM-NUPI project on Blended Finance for Development

Blended finance uses public funding to attract private investment for development projects, which is crucial for addressing the $2.5 trillion annual funding gap for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). While increasingly important for development finance, we know very little about how blended finance works in practice. Against this backdrop, this research initiative asks: What trade-offs between public purpose and private profits are involved in blended finance guarantees What actors are dominant And what metrics are used to assess risks and to decide on investment decisions by public and private actors

The project is a collaboration between the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs, the Fulbright School of Public Policy and Management, and Addis Ababa University, and is funded by the Norwegian Research Council. This project enables analysis on how so-called blended finance with public and private means changes the international effort for development and green transition. A central question is the power balance between public and private actors and the emergence of a global market for services linked to development and sustainability.

Roles and Responsibilities

The position is for two years, and the successful candidate will form part an interdisciplinary research project on the Trade-offs of Blended Finance for Development. Blended finance entails the use of public funding to increase private investment for development purposes. The project focuses on the interaction between public and private actors in designing and implementing blended finance projects. More information about the project objectives is available here (link to PDF summary).

The Postdoctoral Research Fellow is expected to form an integral part of the research project by conducting research and publishing in academic journals, engaging in dissemination of research, and collaborating with other project team members in Ethiopia, Norway, and Vietnam. Other project team members will also provide guidance and feedback to support the Postdoctoral Research Fellow publishing in international journals.

What we look for in prospective candidates

The successful candidate will have a PhD by the time of employment in a relevant field as political science, political economy, economics or public policy with a focus on development finance and a demonstrated research interest in one or more of the following topics:

• Development finance; sources of development finance could include official development assistance (foreign aid), grants or lending from development banks, private investment, or others
• Multilateral financial institutions, such as the World Bank or International Monetary Fund, or national institutions working with development finance, such as the US Agency for International Development or the Export-Import Bank of China
• Foreign investment
• Government planning or policies related to the attraction of foreign investment
• The role of public and private actors in global economic governance

Qualification and Selection

• Excellent quantitative and qualitative analytical skills
• Previous experience with statistical analysis or network analysis is an advantage
• Ability to engage in outreach and popular-scientific dissemination of research
• Ability to work independently to collect and analyze data and to cooperate in teams with varied disciplinary backgrounds and nationalities
• Excellent communication skills
• An excellent command of English. Fluency in the Vietnamese language is a plus.

What we offer

• We offer a competitive salary, high-end insurance schemes, professional development fund and a generous annual leave entitlement.
• Blend-Off will cover costs associated with field work and conference participation, subject to budget constraints.

How to Apply

The positions are open until filled, please apply by December 1, 2025 for fullest consideration. Applications should include:

• Interested candidates should send a cover letter detailing motivation in applying for the position, match between the required and desirable qualifications, and a short outline of research interests going forward (max. 3 pages)
• Detailed curriculum vitae, including a complete list of publications and indication of level and range of language skills. Applicants may be asked to submit 2 publications in English at a later stage of the process
• 2-3 letters of reference to [Confidential Information]
• Only short-listed applicants will be contacted for further process.

Generally

• We aim, to the greatest degree possible, to have a staff that reflects societal diversity, and encourage all qualified applicants to apply, regardless of gender, cultural background, age, disability or previous periods of leave from the workforce.