Research Associate-Specializing in Disaster Risk Governance – Nepal

Research Associate-Specializing in Disaster Risk Governance – Nepal

Contract Period:  April 1, 2026 - December 31, 2026

Salary: 900-1150 USD per month (commensurate with experience)

Full Time Work - 40 hours per week

 About Stimson

The Henry L. Stimson Center (Stimson), a nonpartisan global security think tank located in Washington, DC, seeks a Social Survey Expert (Consultant) for Local Disaster and Risk Governance Assessment Project in Nepal. Reporting to Project Lead Austin Lord (Stimson Center; Energy, Water, Sustainability Program Senior Fellow) this role ensures that our practices support our mission-driven work, align with Stimson’s vision, values, strategic goals, standards of conduct, and operational objectives, and demonstrate our commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and employee well-being.

We seek a highly motivated, organized, entrepreneurial, and collaborative individual committed to Stimson’s mission and core values. This person understands that any organization is only as good as the people working there and the relationships they build and sustain. This job will require building authentic relationships with staff and affiliates that facilitate the successful candidate’s ability to challenge, develop, and support them.

 About the Project and Position Summary

The Local Disaster Governance Assessment Project was designed a) to conduct multi-sited research on the state of disaster risk governance in Nepal and b) to generate insights and strategic recommendations that will help local, district, and provincial governments in Nepal manage disaster risk better. This timely project is aligned with national priorities on disaster risk reduction and resilience as well as the core objectives of the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) Act (2017). At its core, the program examines how decisions are made, how institutions function, how communities are engaged, and how prepared local governments truly are when disaster risks turn into real events.

The assessment looks closely at the everyday realities of governance - i.e. coordination that works, coordination that doesn’t, systems that exist on paper, and those that function in practice. It draws primarily on the Government of Nepal’s Municipal Risk Governance and Disaster Assessment (MRGDA) tool (2024), while also extending beyond it to cover additional thematic areas necessary for a fuller and more nuanced understanding of local disaster governance. By working on top of an existing national framework rather than around it, the program reinforces government ownership, preserves methodological coherence, and ensures that findings speak directly to policy and practice.

Implementation will take place through close collaboration with local governments, Local and District Disaster Management Committees (LDMCs/DDMCs), Local Emergency Operation Centres (LEOCs), sectoral line agencies, community-based organizations, and other relevant actors. The intention is not merely to assess, but to generate usable evidence that feeds into capacity-building efforts, informs program design, guides investment decisions, and strengthens dialogue between government and development partners on disaster governance and resilience. This contracted position for a Research Associate will support Phase One of this project, which will be carried out over a 9-month period (April 2026 to December 2026). That said, there will be a 90-day trial period, and extension of the initial contract beyond July 1, 2026 will be dependent on a performance review.

 Responsibilities:

Responsibilities for this position include:

• Conduct field-based research and data collection in project areas of interest focused on disaster risk management and governance. This requires engaging government officials, local NGO actors, DRR focal persons, and community members for place based exposure and vulnerability, EWS needs, and the state of anticipatory action plans and risk communication issues.

• Carry out key informant interviews with relevant DRM stakeholders - local government officials, disaster management committee members, LEOC personnel, and relevant line agencies.

• Facilitate focus group discussions (FGDs) with community members, civil society organizations, and vulnerable groups, ensuring inclusive and respectful participation.

• Support in the organisation of focus groups and working groups focused on understanding localized patterns of hazards, exposure, and social vulnerability.

• Routine engagement and liaising with government officials at the local and district level within research sites and areas of interest

• Work with local governments and community disaster risk management committees (CDMCs) to assess needs for community engagement and design citizen science activities.

• Support stakeholder consultation workshops at the local and regional level to capture institutional perspectives, coordination practices, and operational challenges related to disaster risk governance.

• Documenting qualitative and quantitative findings through well-organized field notes, interview records, and datasets, in line with agreed research protocols.

• Ensure ethical standards in data collection, including informed consent, confidentiality, and sensitivity to social, cultural, and political contexts

• Identifying and recording governance strengths, gaps, and emerging good practices related to disaster preparedness, response, recovery, and anticipatory action at the local level.

• Assisting in the preparation of field reports, case examples, and supporting documentation for assessment outputs.

• Providing regular field updates and preliminary observations to the assessment team to support adaptive planning and timely issue resolution.
• Coordinating closely with the assessment team to align field activities with agreed methodologies, timelines, quality standards, and ethical requirements, including informed consent, confidentiality, and sensitivity to local social, cultural, and political contexts.

 Qualifications – Required

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree from a recognized university in sociology, engineering, environmental science, or a related discipline, with academic or professional training in social survey methods and field-based research.

• Demonstrated experience conducting social surveys, assessments, or qualitative research across multiple municipalities in Nepal, particularly in the context of disaster risk reduction or local governance.

• Proven experience in fieldwork, including stakeholder interviews, community-level data collection, facilitation of consultations or workshops, and preparation of analytical reports.
• Ability to clearly synthesize and communicate research findings to both technical and non-technical audiences.

Qualifications – Preferred

• Prior work related to early warning systems or anticipatory action, with a general understanding of how early warning information is generated, communicated, and used at the local level.

• Experience applying social survey and assessment methodologies for government institutions, donor-funded programs, or international and national organizations.

• Experience contributing to the drafting or review of policy or planning documents for government institutions, such as Local Adaptation Plans of Action or local disaster or climate resilience frameworks.

• Previous work experience with organizations engaged in disaster risk reduction, early warning systems, or anticipatory action in Nepal.

• Working understanding of social vulnerability, exposure, and risk in the Nepal context, including how governance, geography, and socio-economic factors shape disaster impacts.
• Ability to communicate and present research findings in Nepali for non-technical audiences.

We welcome applications from candidates who may not meet all preferred qualifications.

Application requirements: 

Qualified candidates should submit a cover letter and resume via email at stimsonjobsnepal@gmail.com no later than 18^th March, 2026.

Stimson is an equal-opportunity employer that celebrates, supports, and promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion. We will consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, sexual orientation or gender identity, or any other legally protected basis, in accordance with applicable laws.

Company Description

The Henry L. Stimson Center (Stimson) is a nonpartisan global think tank located in Washington, DC which promotes international security and shared prosperity through applied research and independent analysis, global engagement, and policy innovation. For three decades, Stimson has been a leading voice on urgent global issues: engaging new voices, generating innovative ideas and analysis, and building solutions to promote international security, prosperity, and justice.