Research Fellow (UKRI ‘Making aid work for displaced women’)

Background

This role will significantly support the implementation of the ‘Making aid work for displaced women’ initiative across its three work packages, with the following approximate role allocation: 1) 70% Research, including desk-based analysis, primary data collection, and the production of case studies; 2) 20% Administration and Management; and 3) 10% Policy Engagement, Advocacy, and Capacity Building.

‘Making aid work for displaced women: Integrating Islamic philanthropy and the international humanitarian system to improve outcomes for women’ is an interdisciplinary and transformative research initiative, funded by UKRI FLF, which aims to better understand how Islamic philanthropy can be leveraged to improve humanitarian work and address the complex and intersecting needs of displaced women. Connecting humanitarian, migration and religious systems, the project seeks to develop innovative conceptual and financing solutions to support displaced women by pairing different aid paradigms.

Role Summary

To create and contribute to the creation of knowledge and policy impact by undertaking a specified range of activities within the ‘Making aid work for displaced women’ UKRI FLF research initiative.

• Work within the ‘Making aid work for displaced women’ UKRI FLF research initiative and
• Contribute to producing project outputs
• Operate at the intersection of gender, forced migration and (faith) humanitarianism research
• Analyse and interpret research findings and results
• Contribute to and draft academic publications, or parts thereof, for varied audiences
• Contribute to project administration and management, and to policy engagement
• Contribute to any potential spin out projects and public understanding of the discipline

The post will be term-fixed (36 months), but job-sharing option can also be considered for an outstanding candidate.

Main Duties

The responsibilities include:

• Conduct semi-structured literature reviews
• Contribute to and lead specific aspects of stakeholder mapping and policy analysis
• Collect research data through various research methods, such as scientific experimentation, literature reviews, and research interviews and focus group discussions with local communities and key informants in varied locations in the UK and abroad (Bangladesh or Kenya or Turkey).
• Collaborate with local researchers and local community partners through a co-production methodology
• Contribute to developing new frameworks, research methods and tools
• Effectively analyse and interpret primary data. Apply knowledge in a way which develops a new intellectual understanding
• Present research outputs, including drafting academic publications or parts thereof, for example at seminars and as briefings for varied audiences
• Undertake management/administration arising from research
• Provide guidance, as required, to support staff and any students or interns who may be assisting with the research
• Contribute to Departmental/School research-related activities and research-related administration
• Contribute to enterprise, business development and public engagement activities of manifest benefit to the University, often under supervision of a project leader
• Deal with problems that may affect the achievement of research objectives and deadlines
• Promote equality and value diversity acting as a role model and fostering an inclusive working culture.

Person Specification

• Excellent knowledge of gender and forced migration, (faith) humanitarianism
• A higher degree relevant to the research area or equivalent qualifications, first degree in area of specialism
• Experience in data collection in cooperation with local partners in the UK and Global South through co-production methodologies.
• High-level analytical capabilities and expertise in data analysis
• Proven experience in producing high-quality publications and project outputs for varied audiences
• Ability to communicate complex information clearly
• Experience in policy influencing, advocacy and external relations building
• Fluency in relevant models, techniques or research methods and ability to contribute to developing new ones
• Ability to assess resource requirements and use resources effectively
• Understanding of and ability to contribute to broader management/administration processes
• Contribute to the planning and organising of the research programme and/or specific research project
• Co-ordinate own work with others to avoid conflict or duplication of effort
• Knowledge of the protected characteristics of the Equality Act 2010, and how to actively ensure in day to day activity in own area that those with protected characteristics are treated equally and fairly
• Proficiency in any other foreign language (especially Arabic, Burmese, Turkish, Rohingya, or Swahili) is a valuable asset.

Informal enquiries to Dr Sandra Pertek, email: [email protected]

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