Researcher/ Sr. Researcher - Feinstein International Center

Researcher / Senior Researcher-14000850
Description
Researcher/ Sr. Researcher - Feinstein International Center

This is a Limited Appointment Position

The center's goal is to develop and promote operational and policy responses to protect and strengthen the livelihoods of people living in crisis-affected and marginalized communities, impacted by violence, malnutrition or loss of assets. We work globally to understand the causes and effects of marginalization, famine, conflict, and forced displacement and with national and international organizations to bring about institutional changes that enhance effective policy reform and promote best practice.

This position provides the opportunity to play a lead role in a unique multi-country inter-disciplinary study of resilience in Sudan and Chad. This will allow the researcher to explore livelihoods and nutrition, and implications for resilience over the course of up to 4 years, thus capturing seasonal and inter-annual dynamics. This project will work with the traditional agricultural sector (rainfed farmers), pastoralist livestock producers, including nomads, and the displaced population, thus allowing the opportunity to explore in-depth the resilience of different livelihood systems and groups. The researcher/senior researcher will have the opportunity to work in an international multi-disciplinary research team and take a lead role in further developing the qualitative component.

This researcher/senior researcher position is designed to lead on the qualitative aspects of three major research studies, while supporting the implementation of related surveys. This research is part of the 'Building Resilience Against Climate Extremes and Disasters' (BRACED) research program, undertaken by Tufts/FIC in partnership with Concern Worldwide in two border regions; the Goz Beida region of Chad and West Darfur, Sudan. This research builds on an ongoing Tufts/Concern research program in eastern Chad, which is part of a large, multi-intervention approach to build community resilience to future shocks known as 'Community Resilience to Acute Malnutrition' (CRAM). Over the past two years under CRAM, a Tufts team has started to rigorously test the model using both quantitative and qualitative methods and to contribute meaningfully to further discussions around resilience. CRAM will be amalgamated within BRACED to generate a multi-country multi-stakeholder resilience building program, with a major research component.

The researcher/senior researcher will be responsible for the design, planning and implementation of the qualitative research, including developing the research methodology, obtaining and obtaining IRB approvals, training, field work and supervision of field workers, organizing transcription of interviews, data analysis and leading participatory analysis workshops with the team and other key actors. The researcher/senior researcher will also be expected to lead on writing up the results (with inputs from others), analyse the key findings, and review the implications with key actors, and then finalize their sections of the research reports. There are also opportunities for publishing briefing papers and journal articles.

The Researcher/Senior Researcher; Livelihoods and Nutrition, will generate an in-depth understanding of the local and national institutional and policy context, livelihood systems and nutrition causal analysis, that will contribute to three major studies: 1) an impact evaluation in Eastern Chad; 2) a baseline and endline survey in West Darfur; and 3) a longitudinal study tracking nutrition, livelihoods and access to natural resources over time.

This position is full time for the first six months of the project through March 2015; part time for six months in Year 2 from April 2015 to March 2016 with the possibility of becoming a full time position in Year 2 with other related work. The funding for this position is through April 2016 with the possibility of extension through September 2017. This job includes extensive field travel in both countries to areas served by CONCERN Worldwide and national partners.

Qualifications
Basic Requirements:

Master's Degree in Nutrition, International Relations or Social Sciences with 5 years' experience in qualitative research and participatory approaches, as part of the humanitarian or other aid programs or policy research, related to livelihoods approaches, food security and nutrition, including a minimum of 12 months field experience managing field research in the same thematic areas. Microsoft Office Suite with appropriate research skills including for example, use of qualitative analysis software, statistical packages and bibliographic software. Willingness to spend several months in a challenging environment, international travel, knowledge of quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis methods, context or conflict analysis, excellent written and verbal communication skills, and the ability to relate effectively to people across national and cultural boundaries.Will work a varied schedule which will involve travel to Chad and Sudan for field work which will require considerable flexibility in working schedule as well as extended stays in a challenging environment. This project may also involve participation in workshops and administration outside normal working hours.

Preferred Qualifications:

A desire to work as a member of a team of academics and practitioners which embraces multidisciplinary approaches and methods. Ability to interact with donor agencies, research and field partners, other international, national and local actors in country. Preferably reads/speaks French and also Arabic.

Please apply with Requisition #14000850

Tufts University is an AA/EO employer and actively seeks candidates from diverse backgrounds. Please see the Tufts University non-discrimination statement.

Primary Location:United States-Massachusetts-Medford/Somerville
Job:Research
Organization:Feinstein Int'l Ctr - Friedman
Employee Status:Limited Appointment
Schedule:Full-time
Job Posting:Oct 6, 2014, 3:07:45 PM

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PI85533862

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