Background:
The Humanitarian Access Team (HAT) supports Mercy Corps programs throughout Libya in four key areas: assessing access, developing operational and programmatic strategies, crafting advocacy messages, and security. The HAT focuses on conflict, both individual incidents and trends, both present and forecasted, and then links this with its respective impact on the local population. The HAT analytical unit monitors social media, communicates with partners, validates data through primary sources, and interfaces with relevant international organizations in order to gather and collate relevant conflict, access, and stakeholder information. The HAT therefore looks not only at violence, but also at those underlying factors that trigger conflict and displacement such as governance and service provision, war economy dynamics, past displacement patterns, local, regional and international politics, social identity and inter communal relationships, and Libyan modern history. The HAT also serves as a real-time information hub; vets potential partners; assesses programmatic, partner, and operational risk; identifies and maps stakeholders; and maintains a mapped database displaying program locations, and disaggregates this data by donor and risk threshold.
Purpose / Project Description:
The Research Consultant is responsible for undertaking research on patterns of Community Coping Strategies in Libya and drafting a final report with programming recommendations. Under the supervision of Mercy corps Humanitarian Access Advisor, the Consultant will develop a research methodology and report structure for the study and write a final thematic report. The report will be based on a desk review, interview with key stakeholders identified by the researcher and the HAT adviser and analysis of relevant data.
The successful International Research Consultant should be flexible, patient, creative, and persistent. He/She will work both collaboratively with other members of the team as well as independently on self-originated products as required by an ongoing context of the conflict. S/he will also have proven experience with cross-cultural team. Prioritizing, problem solving, ability to seize opportunities, attention to detail and strategic vision are essential. The most successful Mercy Corps staff members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and changing environments and make effective written and verbal communication a priority in all situations.
Consultant Objectives:
The consultant will conduct research on Community Coping Strategies in Libya. The position is home-based with travels to Tunis at the start and end of the consultancy. She/he will be holding interviews with key stakeholders identified by the consultant and HAT in Libya (remotely) and possibly in Tunisia. The consultant will collect, analyze data and draft a 20-25 pager final report.
Consultant Activities and Deliverables:
The Consultant will:
• Draft a consolidated concept note in liaison with the HAT;
• Conduct a desk review to inform commencement of data collection;
• Undertake interviews and organize meetings with stakeholders to develop an overview and understanding of the various coping strategies used by communities in Libya;
• Summarize and analyze the key findings;
• The report is expected to outline programming recommendations which align with the findings and humanitarian principles.
Throughout the phases, the Consultant will be expected to collaborate with the HAT as necessary for field data collection activities, and ensure they are conducted in a diligent and harmonized manner.
Required skills and experience
• 5 to 10 years’ experience in conducting research;
• Strong experience in research in Libyan Geopolitics, Socio-economic, or Conflict analysis or research. Research related to humanitarian interventions is a plus.
• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent in International Affairs, Middle Eastern Studies, Political Studies, or Public Administration. Candidates with a relevant master’s are strongly preferred.
• Ability to read and speak Arabic (experience in understanding and working in Libyan dialect is a plus). Excellent spoken and written English is required.
• Analytical or research experience within an NGO, private consultancy, or think tank;
• Experience analyzing the Libyan conflict;
• Experience in analyzing the Libyan cultural and social structures;
• Primary and secondary research/academic experience in political science, humanitarian operations, economics, or conflict analysis
• Extensive experience living/working/studying in the Middle East and North Africa region is a major plus.
• Data analysis experience a plus, previous experience
Timeframe / Schedule:
The concept note will be prepared during the first week in coordination with the HAT
consultancy should start on 1st April. Draft report due 31 April 2019
The Consultant will report to:
Humanitarian Access Adviser
The Consultant will work closely with:
The Humanitarian Access Team
PI108682127
More Information
- Job City Tunis
