The African Centre for Cities (ACC) at the University of Cape Town invites applications for a fulltime Chief Research Officer: Data Advocacy post on a 16-month contract (March 2026 – June 2027) with the possibility of renewal. The successful appointee will work as part of the African Mayoral Leadership Initiative (AMALI), located within the African Centre for Cities (ACC).
ACC was established in 2007 at the University of Cape Town as an urban research institute. The ACC is based in the School of Architecture, Planning and Geomatics in the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, but is interdisciplinary in scope, drawing on expertise on urban issues from across the university. AMALI, located within ACC, focuses on supporting African Mayors in their legacy goals and involves in-depth and ongoing technical and skills support over the course of a calendar year.
The Chief Research Officer: Data Advocacy will lead the AMALI Data Advocacy Programme. The AMALI Data Advocacy Programme is a pan-African initiative supporting national statistical organisations (NSOs) in adopting shared standards and practical tools for producing reliable city-level data. The programme complements the AMALI Data Track by working at national and continental levels to close a critical gap: most African cities still lack credible subnational data to guide planning, investment, and advocacy. .
Closing date: 28 January 2026