Address134 Pretorius Street Pretoria South Africa 0002
About HSRC
The HSRC was established in 1968 as South Africa’s statutory research agency and has grown to become the largest dedicated research institute in the social sciences and humanities on the African continent, doing cutting-edge public research in areas that are crucial to development.
Our mandat... read moree is to inform the effective formulation and monitoring of government policy; to evaluate policy implementation; to stimulate public debate through the effective dissemination of research-based data and fact-based research results; to foster research collaboration; and to help build research capacity and infrastructure for the human sciences.
The Council conducts large-scale, policy-relevant, social-scientific research for public sector users, non-governmental organisations and international development agencies. Research activities and structures are closely aligned with South Africa’s national development priorities.
The HSRC’s integrated research programmes provide single points of entry - complete with a critical mass of researchers - for interdisciplinary and problem-orientated research in the following areas:
Africa Institute of South Africa
Democracy, Governance and Service Delivery
Economic Performance and Development
Education and Skills Development
Human and Social Development
Population Health, Health Systems and Innovation
Social Aspects of HIV/AIDS, STIs and TB.
A cross-cutting entity, Research Use and Impact Assessment, seeks to extend and enhance the use and impact of scientific research from the HSRC and other sources of research; and to manage the HSRC’s relationships, reputation and brand.
The organisation is home to about 500 staff members, all dedicated to support the conducting of 150-200 projects per year on social science and humanities research. Our dedicated professional researchers, located in four provinces, are supported by a strong physical and institutional infrastructure, including technical and support positions, deployed countrywide to enable the organisation to respond efficiently and comprehensively to research needs. To strategically manage all these processes, procedures and research projects the HSRC has appointed two deputy chief executive officers responsible for research and operations.
On another level, the HSRC seeks to serve as a knowledge hub to bridge the gap between research, policy and action, thereby increasing the impact of research. This role is implemented through collaboration with key constituencies, including government and other research organisations, multilateral agencies, universities, and non-governmental, donor and development organisations. These relationships are being strengthened by the fact that many of our leading researchers serve on international scientific bodies.
We also monitor and evaluate policies and programmes providing objective information to assess the country’s progress in achieving its goals. Three examples of these are our contributions to monitor the country’s performance in implementing the South Africa’s national HIV and AIDS strategic plans and policies; assessments of numeracy and literacy in education; and conducting an annual research and development (R&D) survey that informs the national R&D strategy.
We have a strong footprint in other African countries through our affiliation with CODESRIA, participation in SADC and NEPAD, as well as hosting African Research Fellows in the organisation. The HSRC also has a global presence and will be hosting the 2015 World Social Science Forum (WSSF) in Durban, South Africa in September 2015 and has hosted the Gender Summit Africa in April 2015. The WSSF looks at demonstrating the global presence, impact and authority of social sciences. The Council is also a member of the UNESCO High Panel: Science for Development where it looks at strategies for promoting sustainable development and advancing poverty eradication. The HSRC has established a BRICS Research Centre as South Africa continues to play an integral part of the BRICS countries. Since April 2014, the Africa Institute of South Africa (AISA) has been incorporated into the HSRC.
The Council’s research outputs include reports for users, occasional papers and scholarly articles in peer-reviewed journals, books and a news magazine that allows us to improve the public understanding of science. These are disseminated in print through the HSRC Press, through policy briefs aimed at government and policy-makers, and through the media, including social media platforms, our website, conferences and extensive research networks.
The Council has several world-class operational support programmes who are led by the Deputy CEO: Management and Support. The Council’s finance, human resource management, enterprise and risk management, governance, legal and facilities units are well set up to provide good quality support to all research programmes and potential funders of the HSRC.
Minimum Requirements
A PhD in Education, Economics, Sociology or in a related social sciences or humanities field;
At least eight (8) years of research and management experi
Job Advert Summary
The CCBR is looking for a suitably qualified persons to take on the responsibilities of Deputy Study Coordinator for research projects implemented at the Sweetwa
Minimum Requirements
A completed (or close to completion) PhD degree in the Social Sciences;
At least 3-5 years’ research management experience in a research environme
Job Advert Summary
The CCBR seeks to appoint suitably qualified persons as a Data Collector for a research study implemented in KwaZulu Natal. The successful candidates will c
Key requirements:
Expertise in one of the following areas: relational wellbeing, youth wellbeing, youth, and any of the four thematic focus areas: climate change, digitalisation, livelihoods and
Key Requirements: Researcher
A Master’s degree in Economics or in a related social sciences field (substantial progress on a PhD in Economics will be distinct advantage);
Strong written
Editorial Project Manager Ref No: 07/2023
The Publishing unit of the Human Sciences Research Council requires a freelance editorial and production project manager for its scholarly publicatio
Book Reviewer (Non-Fiction) Ref No:07/2023
The Publishing unit of the Human Sciences Research Council requires a freelance non-fiction book reviewer for its scholarly publications. In additio
Copy Writer Ref No:07/2023
The Publishing unit of the Human Sciences Research Council requires a freelance copy writer to provide high quality marketing content for its scholarly publications
Job Advert Summary
In delivering ‘social science that makes a difference’ the Research Programmes, Units, Institutes and Centres of the Human Sciences Research Counci
Job Description
The HIV, AIDS, STIs and TB (HAST) programme within the HSRC employs a multi-disciplinary group of social scientists and public health specialists who conduct numerous empirical and po
