MMC Research Assistant

Contract

This is a DRC - National contract. More about DRC - National contracts.

Danish Refugee Council, one of the world’s leading humanitarian NGOs, is currently looking for a highly qualified Research Assistant to support the Mixed Migration Centre research in North and West Africa, based in Tunis.

About the Mixed Migration Centre

The MMC is a global network consisting of five regional hubs (Asia, East Africa, Europe, West and North Africa, Latin America and Caribbean) and a central unit in Geneva. The MMC is a leading source for independent and high-quality data, research, analysis and expertise on mixed migration. The MMC aims to increase understanding of mixed migration, to positively impact global and regional migration policies, to inform evidence-based protection responses for people on the move and to stimulate forward thinking in public and policy debates on mixed migration. The MMC’s overarching focus is on human rights and protection for all people on the move. The three overall objectives of the MMC are:

• To contribute to a better, more nuanced, and balanced understanding of mixed migration (knowledge)
• To contribute to evidence-based and better informed migration policies and debates (policy)
• To contribute to effective evidence-based protection responses for people on the move (programming)

The MMC is part of and governed by DRC. MMC regional hubs are hosted within DRC regional offices, but part of the global MMC network. While its institutional link to DRC ensures MMC’s work is grounded in operational reality, it acts as an independent source of data, research, analysis and policy development on mixed migration for policy makers, practitioners, journalists, and the broader humanitarian sector. The position of the MMC does not necessarily reflect the position of DRC. For more information on MMC visit our website (http://www.mixedmigration.org/).

Mixed Migration

Mixed migration refers to cross-border movements of people including refugees fleeing persecution and conflict, victims of trafficking and people seeking better lives and opportunities. Motivated to move by a multiplicity of factors, people engaged in such movements have different legal statuses as well as a variety of vulnerabilities. Although entitled to protection under international human rights law, they are exposed to multiple rights violations along their journey. Those in mixed migration flows travel along similar routes, using similar means of travel - often travelling irregularly and wholly or partially assisted by migrant smugglers.

The West and North Africa Region

Since May 2022, MMC West and North Africa form one region under the direct supervision of the MMC Regional Manager for the WANA region based in Dakar, Senegal, and technical supervision of the 4Mi Global Coordinator based in Geneva.

This reorganization is an opportunity to further streamline data collection and analysis across regions and along the mixed migration routes. MMC WANA is currently directly collecting data in several countries in North and West Africa through its 4Mi project and will expand to at least two more countries in 2022 through local partners. The MMC is a key research reference engaging with policy makers at both country-level and through regional mechanisms such as the Rabat and Khartoum Processes.

Key research themes include Children and Youth in mobility, smuggling of migrants (SoM), urban migration, Returns-Reintegration-Remigration, and climate change and migration. Other thematics might arise and MMC research remains agile to respond to pressing needs for evidence-based programming and policy development.

The MMC Regional Team is positioned in both Dakar and Tunis to continue to follow closely activities in North Africa, engage with key relevant stakeholders, i.e. policy makers and donors, and capitalize on the visibility gained in past couple of years in the region.

The MMC regional team is positioned across two offices in Dakar and Tunis, to follow closely activities in each sub-region, engage with key relevant stakeholders, and capitalise on the visibility and credibility gained in past couple of years at the sub-regional level. The MMC regional manager sits in Dakar, along with the Mixed Migration Specialist, the 4Mi Project Manager for West Africa, the Senegal Research Specialist and the Information Management Officer (IMO), while in Tunis, the 4Mi Project Manager for North Africa will be joining a team of one IMO, the Research Assistant and the Tunisia coordinator. In addition, MMC has staff hosted by DRC country offices where the 4Mi project is operational.

About the job

The overall purpose of the role is to support the Mixed Migration Centre West and North Africa Region with qualitative data collection and analysis.

Under the supervision of MMC Regional Manager and the technical supervision of the Mixed Migration Specialist, the successful candidate will be responsible for conducting interview transcriptions, qualitative data coding and analysis, generating graphs and tables based on descriptive statistics, desk research, and, where needed, qualitative data collection. The candidate will also be responsible for taking notes during internal and external meetings and events to brief the MMC team as well as for supporting, as needed, MMC’s communications needs, administrative tasks, among other responsibilities.

Interested candidates should have a passion for research on issues of mixed migration and understanding the experiences of refugees and migrants as they move to, within, and from North Africa. MMC provides opportunities for learning and developing to advance research skills and migration expertise. An upcoming project in which the Research Assistant will be involved focuses around conducting interviews with refugees and migrants in Tunisia to better understand their needs in Southern Tunisia.

Responsibilities

Your main duties and responsibilities will be:

Data Management

• Work closely with the Research and Reporting Officer to support MMC’s qualitative data management needs, including transcriptions and developing transcription protocols.
• Assist on coding and labelling variables to be used in qualitative analysis;

Data Collection

• When project needs arise, carry out data collection using qualitative tools (e.g., focus ground discussion guides, semi-structured interview guides)
• Assist in developing qualitative tools.

Data Analysis and Visualization

• Support with the visualization of data in graphs, tables and other relevant formats
• Carry out qualitative data analysis in support of the Research agenda;

Other

• Carry out desk research and mapping to support MMC’s various research projects
• Take notes and write up briefings for meetings
• Support MMC’s communications needs as needed
• Assist the team with administrative or any other tasks related to the running of MMC and its projects.

About you

To be successful in this role we expect you to have experience in conducting research and drafting outputs preferably in English. Moreover, we also expect the following:

• At least one year experience working in qualitative research or a Masters in the social sciences where a thesis was submitted;
• Excellent writing and editing skills; demonstrated ability to synthesize and condense information
• Fluent in either French or Arabic with very good English level
• Experience in transcription, coding, and qualitative analysis is highly desirable;
• Experience in NVIVO, ATLAS or a similar software is an asset;
• Experience in generating graphs and tables of data (Excel) is highly desirable;
• Previous experience working with international NGOs is an asset;
• Enthusiastic about learning, pushing limits, and finding new solutions;
• Strong verbal and written communication aptitude;
• Strong attention to details and rigor in dealing with qualitative data.

In this position, you are expected to demonstrate DRC’ five core competencies:

Striving for excellence: You focus on reaching results while ensuring an efficient process.

Collaborating: You involve relevant parties and encourage feedback.

Taking the lead: You take ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation.

Communicating: You listen and speak effectively and honestly.

Demonstrating integrity: You uphold and promote the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in relation to our values and Code of Conduct, including safeguarding against sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment.

We offer

Contract length: 10-month contract

Band: NMG Band I

Designation of Duty Station: Tunis

Start date: 22 August 2022

Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for nationals; please refer to drc.ngo under Vacancies. For questions regarding the vacancy please contact Rym Cherif, rym.cherif@drc.ngo.

Application process

All applicants must upload a cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than four pages) in English. A****pplications sent by email will not be considered.

Closing date for applications: 01/08/2022.

For further information about the Danish Refugee Council, please consult our website drc.ngo.