Research Assistant, Sweden

Context

The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) is an intergovernmental organization established in 1995, with 35 member states spanning all continents. The Institute seeks to support sustainable democracy worldwide and assist in the development of institutions and to foster a culture of democracy.

At the interface between research, fieldwork and the donor community, International IDEA provides a forum for dialogue, develops training materials, providing strategic advice and building networks of global expert practitioners at the international, regional and national level with a range of international and national organizations. The institutional strategy, adopted in December 2022, set for strengthening of the Political Participation and Representation (PPR) workstream within the Global Programmes. The relaunch of the workstream took place in 2024, with a forward-looking approach, centering on harnessing the power of innovation to enhance political integrity and rekindle the connection between political institutions and the people they serve. In 2026, we aim to expand PPR work, ensuring new crosscutting projects and developing our donor base.

The PPR workstream focuses on three thematic pillars: 1) Parliamentary Strengthening: enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of parliamentary institutions, building on the experience and networks gained through the implementation of the INTER PARES programme, 2) Money in Politics (MiP): delving into the complexities of financial influences on political landscapes, and 3) Citizen Engagement: exploring novel avenues for citizens and representative institutions to enable active participation in the democratic process, with special attention to the youth participation and civic education. Furthermore, Gender and Inclusion serve as a cross-cutting priority.

The PPR team is recruiting a Research Assistant to support fundraising efforts while also contributing to the unit's research and analysis activities. 

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Conduct background research on potential institutional donors, philanthropic foundations, and funding opportunities relevant to PPR's thematic areas;
2. Assist in tracking funding trends and calls for proposals aligned with the unit's objectives;
3. Support the preparation of concept notes, proposals, and donor presentations in collaboration with team members;
4. Maintain and update donor mapping, tracking databases and calendars of relevant deadlines;
5. Conduct research and analysis on topics related to the workstream (i.e. political finance, parliamentary strengthening and citizen engagement), including new and emerging trends;
6. Assist in the preparation of research briefs and background papers;
7. Support logistical arrangements for workshops, webinars or events organized by PPR, both online and in-person;
8. Assist with project monitoring tasks such as data collection, reporting, and documentation, including the update of the Political Finance Database, a repository of political finance regulatory frameworks in 181 countries globally;
9. Contribute to editing, formatting, and proofreading research outputs and publications;
10. Draft articles and social media posts for outreach and visibility of PPR initiatives and knowledge products/resources;
11. Assist with presentations and speaking notes for team members;
12. Assist with note taking and drafting of activities/events reports.

General Profile

• Strong knowledge and initial experience in the field of democracy, political participation and representation, good governance or related fields;
• Experience in carrying out both quantitative and qualitative research and translating the research into comprehensive analysis;
• Ability to write clear, concise, and compelling proposals and research summaries;
• Detail-oriented with established organizational and time management skills;
• Comfortable with Microsoft office and has experience in website content management systems or back-end system to enter/update the data;
• Adds value to team-based activities in his/her unit; collaborates with other entities of the Institute as required;
• Follows internal procedures to ensure high standards of performance and compliance with Institutional guidelines;
• Acts in accordance with International IDEA's Core Values; Respect, Integrity and Professionalism;
• Integrates a gender and diversity perspective in all activities.

Reporting line

Senior Programme Officer, Political Participation and Representation.

Education and Experience

• University degree in political science, law, international relations or related subject;
• Minimum of two (2) years' experience with research work on topics related to democracy building, including relevant internships;
• Experience and/or interest in donor mapping and fundraising considered an advantage;
• Experience of working in an international context, e.g., in an intergovernmental organization, is considered an advantage;
• Possesses knowledge of basic research methods and comparative research/data collection techniques, demonstrating an understanding of democracy in comparative research and data collection;
• Demonstrates proficient writing and analytical skills, adhering to proper editorial standards for written texts;
• Experience of working in an international context, e.g., in an intergovernmental organization, is considered an advantage.

Terms of Contract:

• Local Post.
• Fixed term appointment for one (1) year.
• Remuneration - SEK per month

Please note as this is a local post, International IDEA will bear no costs relating to the relocation of the selected candidate to the duty station. This position is open to those legally authorized to live and work in Sweden for the duration of the contract. International IDEA is not able to support work permit applications. 

Applying for this position:

• Applications should be submitted online no later than 23:59 (CET) 03 November 2025. 
• Please note that all applications must be made in English.

Selection Process:

• Evaluation of qualified candidates will include a written test assessment and up to two (2) interviews.
• Candidates selected to proceed to the next stage of the process will be contacted once all applications have been carefully reviewed.
• All candidates will be notified of the status of their application via email once the process has been finalized.

International IDEA is an equal-opportunity employer which seeks to further diversify its staff in terms of gender, culture and nationality.

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