Research Officer / Senior Research Coordinator

Terms of Reference

Research Officer / Senior Research Coordinator

Title: Research Officer / Senior Research Coordinator 

Organization: Centre for Social Change (CSC)

Duty Station: Kathmandu with occasional field visits

Contract Type: Fixed Term Individual Contract

Duration: 24 Months

Expected Start Date: July 1st, 2022

About Centre for Social Change

Founded in 2015, Centre for Social Change (CSC) is a non-profit making social think-tank based in Kathmandu, Nepal. It has been actively working since its inception on the changing socio-political dynamics of Nepalese society via research, education, advocacy and through community mobilization. CSC’s current works are focused on issues around conflict transformation and peacebuilding, democracy and governance, migration and human mobility, labor and employment, civic space and civil society development, and social development and public policy.

Research Context:

Over the last few decades, Nepal’s tumultuous history has been marked by a series of groundbreaking political changes that ultimately culminated in the promulgation of the currently governing Constitution in 2015. It transformed Nepal from a unitary monarchic nation with varying levels of parliamentary influence into a federal, secular, democratic republic nation. The most fundamental structural change introduced by the Constitution has been the introduction of the federal government framework, which outlines the devolution of power from the central level in Kathmandu to provincial and local government units across the country. These changes have led to the average Nepali citizen now holding more democratic power than ever before, at least on paper. 

In practice, however, the aforementioned reforms have also created several seismic shifts in Nepal’s political frameworks that have given way to different issues challenging the smooth implementation of federalism. New actors and stakeholders have been introduced in the political sphere while individuals and groups who took an active role in socio-political decisions before 2015 have either found themselves either adapting to the changes or left behind in the vacuum, giving rise to spaces for disagreements, ideological clashes, and potential for conflict. Execution difficulties have been further challenged by issues such as the continued fight against poverty, social inequities, infrastructure challenges, and events such as the 2015 earthquakes and the Covid-19 pandemic. Cases of government bodies falling into conflict situations, including intergovernmental conflict, have been observed to be on the rise as per anecdotal evidence and studies with limited scope. 

CSC is thus embarking on a long-term research project which aims to develop a thorough understanding and mapping of governance-related conflicts in federal Nepal, and to facilitate dialogue between conflicting parties to uphold the integrity and credibility of the Constitution. Through a mix of sophisticated research methods, policy analysis, fact-finding processes, multi-stakeholder engagements, conflict transformation training and facilitation, and critical data evaluation, this research project will be an effort to reduce governance conflicts in Nepal.

About the Position:

The research officer/senior research coordinator will be expected to:

• Conduct qualitative and quantitative analytical research in the aforementioned areas
• Work in collaboration with a team of researchers in all aspects of research design and execution
• Collect, review, and organize all data and materials needed for the extensive analytical study and mapping of governance-related conflicts in Nepal 
• Write, edit, and develop a steady stream of bi-monthly reports and blog series tracking the progress of the project, including an endline annual report
• Deliver presentations and relevant talks in public forums, as needed
• Occasionally travel within Nepal for data collection, training programs, or other relevant work opportunities, as needed 
• Assist CSC in other research-related tasks and projects as needed
• Participate in the trainings of the project.

Qualifications and Experiences:

• Master’s degree in political science, conflict studies, or any relevant social science discipline. 
• At least 3-5 years of experience working as a researcher in the development and/or social science realm. Preference given to applicants with experience in leading or managing research projects.
• Knowledge in analytical research design, report preparation, data analysis, and other relevant skills, Quantitative research skills preferred. 
• Excellent writing and editing skills, and experience in writing short & longform academic articles, policy briefs, non-academic text, etc. 
• Manage a small team of research associates, delegate tasks, supervise progress, manage deadlines, etc. 
• Assist in occasional tasks outside the scope of the research project, such as writing research proposals, collaborating on other projects, or supporting the CSC team as needed.

Key Competences and Abilities

• Excellent grasp of written and spoken English and Nepali languages
• Ability to organize, set priorities and complete tasks under designated timelines 
• Ability to work in multicultural and multidisciplinary environment
• Ability to collaborate with the CSC team and other working partners as needed
• Ability to work independently, with limited supervision
• A strong commitment to the values and principles of CSC

HOW TO APPLY 

Interested candidate can send an expression of interest that includes the following to dibesh.sayami@socialchange.org.np by June 21, 2022

1. A one-page cover letter outlining the following:

• Relevant professional background
• Relevant skills, experience, and qualifications
• Expectedsalaryand availability during the stipulated period

2. An updated Curriculum Vitae (of no more the 3 pages which shows experience with similar assignments)

3. At least two forms of writing samples authored or co-authored by the applicant. Samples should reflect the applicant’s writing skills, and need not be academic research papers or published text. Preference given to subjects relevant to development and/or topics within the social sciences. 

Kindly put “Expression of interest: Research Officer / Senior Research Coordinator” in the title/ subject of the email.