Research Assistant (Volunteer) at Save The Children

Job ID: 2100005Y
Location: Maiduguri
Employee Status: Contingent

Child Safeguarding - Level 3

• Level 3 - The responsibilities of this post may require the post holder to have regular contact with children and young people. In the overseas context, all posts are considered to be level 3.
• As part of these responsibilities, the post holder will support the establishment of child safeguarding systems, promote a culture of keeping children safe, and ensure that potential harm to children (by our own staff and / or as a result of how we do our work) is identified and addressed on an ongoing basis.  The post holder should report and respond to interventions as determined by position related responsibilities identified in the Child Safeguarding Policy.

Introduction

• This Terms of Reference describes the role and activities to be carried out by the Research Assistants supporting national researcher for the Research for Change -assessing the needs of survivors of sexual violence in humanitarian settings. This is a fixed term role on volunteer basis.
• The focus of this research is on sexual violence, which is defined by WHO as: “any sexual act, attempt to obtain a sexual act, unwanted sexual comments or advances, or acts to traffic, or otherwise directed, against a person’s sexuality using coercion, by any person regardless of their relationship to the victim, in any setting, including but not limited to home and work. Coercion can cover a whole spectrum of degrees of force”. One major cause of this violence is founded in gender-based inequalities and discrimination.
• The TOR also provides a background on the purpose and aim of the research and the specific objectives.

Aim of the Research:

• The aim of this project is to provide evidence-informed recommendations to contribute towards increasing the capacity of humanitarian actors, for them to adequately identify and respond to the needs and rights of groups affected by sexual violence and to ensure the availability of services for sexual violence survivors through community-owned interventions and the public system.
• This research has the overall objective to explore the needs, and experiences of survivors of sexual violence, and assess the availability, quality and accessibility of health, psychosocial and protection services and the functioning of referral systems with regard to sexual violence in humanitarian settings located in North-Eastern Nigeria to inform service providers, humanitarian actors and policymakers.
• This study will have a particular focus on sexual violence, but will also include references to SGBV where relevant.

The specific objectives of this study include:

• To explore how sexual violence in humanitarian settings affect women, girls, boys and men;
• To assess what medical and psychosocial assistance survivors have access to, and identify gaps in protection, in particular with regards to gender;
• To assess whether relevant international standards on medical and psychosocial services, international World Health Organization protocols, as well as international humanitarian law (where applicable) and international human rights law, are adhered to;
• To explore existing good practices in the context of Nigeria which should be reproduced.  You are part of the Research Team for the “Research for Change, assessing the needs of survivors of sexual violence in humanitarian settings study”. This means that you will be conducting interviews with young people, women and men aged 16 years and older through in-depth, semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions with a variety of participants, including survivors of sexual violence, people at risk of sexual violence and key informants. The research will take place for a period of 20 days in North-Eastern Nigeria.

Qualification and Experience
Education (minimum):

• Completed a Bachelor’s Degree (BA or BSc) at an accredited University (Relevant degrees: Science, Political Science, Social Work, International Development, Sociology, Anthropology, History)
• MA, MSc (currently completing or completed) or higher an asset.

Essential:

• Previous research experience in field data collection, telephone-based interviews an asset
• Experience in survey and qualitative interviewing
• Fluent in [Kanuri, Hausa, Shuwa] and English
• Experience transcribing interviews
• Strong communication skills (Oral and written)
• Strong track record in ethical data collection and management
• Ability to work under pressure often to strict deadlines.
• Advance knowledge Microsoft Office Suite, especially MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
• Open, professional, and non-judgmental attitude towards the participants of the study.
• Desirable
• Experience and / or knowledge about humanitarian programming
• Previous work in gender equality and / or child rights / sexual violence / sexual and gender-based violence
• Experience of working in a post-conflict environment / refugee / IDP situation
• Ability to work as part of a team, Flexibility, adaptability, and patience

Skills and Behaviours (our Values in Practice)
Accountability:

• Accuracy and timeliness in all areas of responsibility
• Adheres to research ethics and principles of confidentiality
• High level of accuracy in work
• Holds self and others accountable
• Understand the rights of privacy and anonymity

Ambition:

• Future-orientated, thinks pro-actively

Collaboration:

• Working effectively with supervisors
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Approachable, good listener, easy to talk to

Creativity:

• Can solve problems when small barriers arrive, but understands when to involve supervisors.

Integrity:

• Honest, encourages openness and transparency, demonstrates highest levels of integrity.