The Horn Center for Democracy (HCD) is an independent, not-for-profit policy advocacy and research institution based in Addis Ababa. The Center’s primary objective is to promote and strengthen the culture of democracy, good governance, and inclusive citizen engagement across the Horn of Africa (HoA) countries.

As a think-and-do tank, HCD not only conducts research but also implements programs aimed at advancing policy advocacy, capacity building, and fostering cooperation and networking among national and regional civil society organizations (CSOs), think tanks engaged in democracy, good governance, peace and security, and human rights at both regional and national levels, as well as regional institutions such as IGAD.

To support effective delivery of its research and programs and to strengthen institutional capacity, HCD is seeking to hire qualified professionals for these two positions. 

The Research and Communication Officer will support the Center’s research initiatives and communication efforts, ensuring that HCD’s policy work and advocacy messages are effectively communicated to diverse audiences.

The MEAL Officer will be responsible for designing, implementing, and managing monitoring and evaluation frameworks to evaluate program performance and impact.

For more information on our research products and organizational work, please visit our website at www.horn-center.org. 

Research and Communication Officer – Full-time

Duty Station: Addis Ababa
Employment Type: Full-time

Reports to: Program Director and Democracy Unit Head

Type of Contract: One-year renewable contract (with a two-month probation period)

HCD is seeking a highly motivated and detail-oriented Research and communication Officer to join our Democracy Unit. The role demands a blend of strong methodological skills, contextual knowledge of the Horn of Africa, and the ability to translate complex findings into clear, actionable intelligence for program teams and policymakers.

Key Responsibilities:

• Conduct and coordinate research on democracy, governance, and civic engagement.

• Produce high-quality research outputs, briefs, and communication materials.

• Support the research coordination and learning on specific policy issues to provide rapid, evidence-based inputs for program implementation and advocacy.

• Assist in preparing materials for dissemination events, workshops, and stakeholder briefings.

• Organize and manage events and other outreach activities, such as conferences, workshops, and roundtables.

• Manage HCD’s communication channels, including social media, website, and publications.

• Support advocacy campaigns and visibility initiatives

Job Requirements

Qualifications & Skills:

• A Master's degree in Political Science, Peace and Security, International Relations, Communications, or related field.

• Experience in academic and/or policy-oriented research and publishing.

• Minimum five years of progressively responsible research experience in peace and conflict research, democratic governance research and programming, and/or policy advocacy, including fieldwork experience at the HoA/Pan-Africa level. 

• Experience in successfully operating and communicating in an international environment with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures.

• Ability to conceptualize and analyze complex information of current and emerging security and democratic governance issues.

• Knowledge and understanding of policy-making processes, the AU, and IGAD

• Proven ability to work effectively within a multidisciplinary team structure, supporting both senior researchers and program implementers.

• Proficiency in MS Office Suite, Adobe Creative tools, data visualization, and social media management platforms,etc.

• Strong writing, analytical, and presentation skills.

• Excellent command of English

• Interpersonal skills, teamwork, or strategic communication abilities.

Desired

• Ability to conceptualize and analyze complex information of current and emerging security and democratic governance issues.

• Knowledge and understanding of policy-making processes, the AU, and IGAD

• Proven ability to work effectively within a multidisciplinary team structure, supporting both senior researchers and program implementers.

• Proficiency in MS Office Suite, Adobe Creative tools, data visualization, and social media management platforms,etc.

• Strong writing, analytical, and presentation skills.

• Excellent command of English

• Interpersonal skills, teamwork, or strategic communication abilities.

How To Apply

Application Procedure

Interested applicants should submit the following combined into one PDF file:

A cover letter clearly outlining your relevant experience and why you are interested in supporting HCD's mission

CV outlining your qualifications and professional history.  including the email and telephone contacts of at least three (3) professional references.

Please send all completed applications to Yohannes.Aklog@horn-center.org, clearly indicating the title of the position you are applying for in the email subject line.

Applications should be submitted to HCD no later than November 11, 2025.

For any additional information, please contact us through: Email: info@horn-center.org 

HCD is an equal opportunity employer. We encourage applications from qualified women and individuals from diverse backgrounds.

Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted. We thank you for your interest and look forward to receiving your application.