Researcher at Center for Civilians in Conflict’s Mission

Locations: Based on Maiduguri or Abuja Nigeria
Job Type: Full-time
Travel: Up to 50% required (domestic, principally in conflict areas in the northeast)
Reporting to: Country Director

About The Position

• The researcher will be a highly valued member of CIVIC’s Nigeria Team and will be responsible for the design, implementation, oversight of field research as well as drafting research reports aimed at gaining civilian and security forces’ perspectives on conflicts.

Job Purpose

• Oversees the design and implementation of CIVIC’s research efforts

Key Functions
Under the direction of the Country Director, is responsible for the following:

Research Design:

• In close coordination with CIVIC’s Nigeria Team in Abuja and Maiduguri, provide overall research support for all Nigeria Team research efforts;
• Lead the design of CIVIC’s research initiatives, including the use of particular methods, sampling/selection of interviewees, development of questionnaires and interview guides, field testing questionnaires and interview guides (as appropriate) Recommend priorities for budgeted funds given program-specific objectives and progress toward results;
• Ensure research is designed to be conflict sensitive, socially inclusive, mainstream gender and adhere to ethical standards, including safety and security of researchers and respondents;
• Integrate thinking through advocacy and influencing methods and strategies into research design;
• Explore creative ways of presenting research findings and integrate into the design process
• Advise on potential use of quantitative methods, including surveys to advance research aims;
• Contribute to identification of additional research topics that are pertinent to protection of civilians;
• When needed, develop scopes of work and support the hiring of consultants for additional research need
• Ensure timely submission of program deliverables.

Conducting Research:

• Conduct desk studies of existing reporting and research to identify areas key gaps and to help guide CIVIC’s data collection;
• Lead CIVIC’s research, with a focus on gaining perspectives of civilians on how they are affected by conflict;
• Conduct alone, and at times with team members, key informant interviews, focus group discussions and other qualitative approaches to research;
• Conduct and oversee data collection involving quantitative methods if deemed suitable;
• Travel to conflict areas to engage with civilians, security service providers, and civil society;
• Conduct interviews in a manner that ensures the safety of all interviewees and researchers;
• In close coordination with Country Director, oversee research efforts provided by consultants and partnership with research institutions.

Drafting Reports and Advocacy:

• Transcribe and synthesize findings from research while maintaining maximum objectivity;
• Develop high-quality papers, research reports, policy briefs and creative outputs based upon research findings;
• Along with country director, brief government officials, civil society representatives, communities, and diplomatic community on research findings;
• In close coordination with the Country Director and MEL team, ensure data is collected and reported for CIVIC’s internal learning as well as donor reporting;
• Develop pragmatic recommendations for communities, security forces, government, civil society, and diplomatic actors;
• Contribute to the drafting and review of internal and external reporting for accuracy and consistency.

Position Requirements

• 5+ years’ experience and a successful track record of designing, conducting and publishing research on conflict issues;
• Experience forming and leading research teams in Nigeria, preferably in the northeast;
• Proven experience conducting qualitative research, including key informant interviews, focus groups discussion, and other methods;
• Experience conducing mixed method research, including qualitative and quantitative research;
• Experience interviewing, and engaging with, survivors of violence, including the use of ethical research protocols;
• Demonstrable experience in developing and implementing research studies that examine dynamics around age, gender, disability and other social characteristics and include and highlight the voices and experiences of those often marginalized such as women, people with disabilities and young people
• Understanding of and experience in conflict sensitive research methodologies
• Knowledge of conflict, political and civilian protection dynamics in northeast Nigeria preferred
• Demonstrable objectivity and rigor in prior research efforts;
• Proven ability to synthesize large amounts of data, identify areas of agreement and disagreement, and develop research findings;
• Demonstrated experience making practical, and implementable, policy and programmatic recommendations based on research findings;
• Demonstrable ability to draft reports, policy briefings and papers in an accessible style
• An understanding of conflict prevention, conflict mitigation and protection of civilians preferred;
• Poise, flexibility and mature judgment to engage professionally in stressful and conflict-affected environments;
• Be comfortable working independently and with teams to drive organizational results;
• Creative thinker with the ability to develop new research issues;
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, and fast-growing, organization.