Job Description:
Location: Remote (Washington, DC)
Introduction
The Alliance for Peacebuilding (AfP)—named the “number one influencer and change agent” among peacebuilding institutions worldwide—is a 501(c) 3 not-for-profit, nonpartisan, award-winning network of 190+ organizations working in 181 countries to prevent conflict, reduce violence, improve lives, and build sustainable peace. At our core, AfP cultivates a network to strengthen and advance the peacebuilding field, enabling peacebuilding organizations to achieve greater impact—tackling issues too large for any one organization to address alone.
Role summary
AfP is seeking a skilled Researcher – Conflict Sensitivity (CS) to support our work over the next 3-4 months assisting AfP on the Learning Agenda Implementation Team (LAITeam) in developing and implementing a bureau-wide learning agenda on Armed Conflict and Violence (AC&V) Prevention. With funding from the LASER (Long-term SErvices for Research) PULSE (Partners for University-Led Solutions Engine) program funded through USAID’s Innovation, Technology, and Research Hub (USAID/DDI/ITR) and in partnership with USAID’s Bureau for Conflict Prevention and Stabilization, Center for Conflict and Violence Prevention (CPS/CVP), the learning agenda is meant to establish the evidence base for effective approaches to AC&V prevention, identify opportunities for CVP investments that would produce new knowledge to fill gaps in the existing literature, provide USAID staff with events, tools, resources, and/or guidance to incorporate learning agenda findings into their work, and conduct original research into armed conflict and violence prevention.
AfP is leading research on Preventing/Countering Violent Extremism (P/CVE), Conflict Sensitivity (CS), and Measurement of AC&V prevention, mitigation, and reduction programming. The Researcher – CS would provide research assistance conducting the CS review as well as the CS data collection and analysis efforts on
Measurement (indicators, approaches, and best practices).
Term
The term of this position will begin o/a 5 July 2023 through 16 October 2023, at which time it may be extended as agreed by both parties.
Remuneration
Acceptable day rates will be approved commensurate with skill and experience level. AfP anticipates that completion of the tasks will require a total level of effort of up to 10-15 LOE days/month for a total of 45–60 days over 3-4 months. Up to 8 hours may be billed in one day. Additional effort must be mutually agreed to in writing by both parties. Further, as a contracted position, it is understood that AfP will not furnish any employee-type fringe benefits.
Applicants will be responsible for all taxes payable on receipts from AfP such as social security, pension, national or local income and/or other employment taxes.
Location
AfP’s research team is working remotely for the foreseeable future. Should the research return to its office in Washington, DC, the Researcher – CS may be asked to join staff in-person; however, remote applications are welcome.
The consultant is expected to utilize his/her own resources (e.g. computer, paper, Internet connectivity service, etc.) and to work off-site during the period of consultancy. No other expenses are expected, but if the possibility of any does arise, the Consultant will obtain the prior approval of the Deputy Executive Director – Research & Finance.
Deliverables
The Researcher – CS will be responsible for contributing to the development of all research products resulting from the research conducted in the Duties and Responsibilities listed below.
Duties and Responsibilities
The Researcher – CS reports directly to the Lead Researcher, and will have the following duties and responsibilities:
- Provide research assistance conducting the review on CS in Peacebuilding
- Draft and complete research protocol related to CS (based on P/CVE approved research protocol)
- Define and conduct comprehensive searches and resource scrapings of relevant research related to CS in Peacebuilding
- Define and perform relevance assessments on the catalogue applying a PICO analysis to develop inclusion and exclusion criteria, developing catalogue input tables, documenting relevant study characteristics
- Develop codebook and code CS in Peacebuilding catalogue (based on P/CVE approved codebooks)
- Reviewing included studies and developing gap mapping across CS catalogues
- Conduct quality and bias assessments on the included studies
- Analyze evidence, ToC, interventions/activities, outcomes, and measures/indicators across CS interventions. Analysis could include qualitative methods such as thematic analysis using a card sort methodology and others as required. Quantitative methods may also be used as and when required
- Summarize, and map evidence, ToC, interventions/activities, outcomes, and measures/indicators across CS in Peacebuilding interventions
- Analyze, summarize, and report on the effectiveness of CS in Peacebuilding interventions delineated by ToC
- Develop and lead research on Measurement of AC&V prevention, mitigation, and reduction programming with support from the PI
- Assist and liaise with LAITeam to collect Measurement data
- Analyze best practices, types of activities/programs, indicators and measures outcomes, and measures/indicators for Conflict Sensitivity. Analysis could include qualitative methods such as thematic analysis using a card sort methodology and others as required. Quantitative methods may also be used as and when required
- Summarize, and map best practices, types of activities/programs, indicators and measures
outcomes, and measures/indicators for Conflict Sensitivity
- Develop Practice/Intervention briefer that describes the practical implementation of best practices, types of activities/programs, indicators and measures for Conflict Sensitivity (based on P/CVE approved briefer)
- Other ad hoc research tasks.
Required Skills and Experience
- Minimum a bachelor’s degree plus 3-4 years of research or data analysis experience, preferred graduate student
- Educational background in research, analysis, economics, M&E of armed conflict and violence prevention and/or other related fields.
- Research experience and familiarity in Conflict Sensitivity.
- Excellent communication skills, both in writing and verbal presentation
- Must be proficient with PC-based computers, with strong computer skills, including database entry and maintenance;
- Databases, graphic design (Adobe Suite/Canva); and data visualization is a strong plus;
- High proficiency in Word and Excel required
- Proficiency in the GSuite required (Google drive, google documents, google sheets, etc)
- Demonstrated experience with quantitative and qualitative research methods. Demonstrated experience with mixed methods approach is a strong plus.
- Must possess effective interpersonal skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with diverse individuals at all levels, anticipating needs and keeping staff informed of problems and issues
- Must have the ability to take initiative and be resourceful in maintaining a professional work environment
- Must be able to handle confidential data
- Must be flexible, able to multi-task and work in a busy environment to meet deadlines
- Ability to work with large amounts of information and see the “bigger picture”.
- Comfortable with juggling facts, figures, and number crunching.
- Critical thinking: able to look at numbers, trends, and data and come to new conclusions based on the findings.
- Attention to detail.
- Ability to present cogent and actionable recommendations to donors and policymakers based upon synthesis of large amounts of data.
Desirable Skills and Experience
- International field-based experience.
- Master’s degree in a numerate field.
- Demonstrated understanding of armed conflict and violence prevention indicators and measurement.
- Experience using quality and bias assessment tools on studies related to armed conflict and violence prevention studies.
How to Apply:
Application Process
Please send a cover letter, resume, an example of your recent research, your required day rate, and a list of three references to [email protected], ATTN: Researcher – CS. Each attachment should be labeled “Last name, First name – [Document type].” Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and the position will be filled as soon as a well-qualified person is identified.
As peacebuilders committed to social justice, we believe that drivers of violent conflict disproportionately hurt the most marginalized people in society — including people of color, people from lower income backgrounds, women, and LGBTQ+ people. We believe that these communities must be centered in the work we do. Hence, we strongly encourage applications from people with these identities or who are members of other marginalized communities.
Physical Demands
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, and reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 pounds.
Alliance for Peacebuilding (AfP) is an EEO Employer
As an equal opportunity employer, AfP recruits, employs, trains, compensates and promotes regardless of race, color, age, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, genetic information, HIV/AIDS status, political affiliations or belief, pregnancy, or any other characteristic protected by law. Reasonable accommodations are available to persons with disabilities during application and/or interview processes per the Americans with Disabilities Act. Please contact [email protected] for assistance. We welcome the opportunity to discuss accommodation of your disability and ensure fairness in our hiring process. Only those applicants who meet required qualifications will be considered. Those selected for further discussions will be contacted. Interviews will be scheduled by appointment only; no phone calls please. All applicants must be eligible to work in the United States, as the Alliance for Peacebuilding does not sponsor work visas.