Researcher

War Child is looking for a highly motivated Researcher to join our Research and Development department. In this role, you will be responsible for overseeing and leading the implementation of an education research project. You will report directly to the Principal Investigator, ensuring the successful execution of the project in alignment with the organization's research goals.

Background

War Child Alliance (WCA) is an independent and impartial international non-governmental organization, operating in fourteen countries, investing in a peaceful future for children and young people affected by armed conflict. We strive to empower children and young people while enabling adults to bring about positive and lasting change in the lives of conflict affected children and young people. WCA’s Research and Development (R&D) department is responsible for the rigorous development and evaluation of methodologies for child protection, education and psychosocial support, targeting children, caregivers, teachers, communities and practitioners.

In collaboration with Stellenbosch University, WCA has been named a recipient of the Knowledge and Innovation Exchange (KIX) global grant from International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and the Global Partnership for Education (GPE). This grant funds research to support the adaptation and scaling of evidenced education programmes. Part of the project will focus on the adaption and evaluation of SchoolLinks, an evidence-informed methodology to improve children’s equitable school access, attendance and retention, in South Sudan. The other part of the project will focus on investigation into the conditions required for localised adoption and scale up of evidence-based education programmes in Central African Republic, South Sudan and Yemen.

Your Mission

• Research Methods: Input on research methods and fdevelopment of measurement tools for the multi-country research component, working in close collaboration with the Stellenbosch University project lead
• Collaboration: Collaborate closely with the South Sudan-based research coordinator for the adaptation and evaluation of SchoolLinks
• Community Research: Lead community-driven research on implementation models and evaluation of SchoolLinks in South Sudan
• Advisory Groups: Oversee the setup of technical advisory groups in each project country
• Project Management: Manage the research project implementation, including project planning/supervision, partnership management, governmental liaising, and ethical conduct of the research
• Data Analysis: Conduct qualitative and quantitative data analyses as needed, in collaboration with a statistician and other members of the research team
• Stakeholder Engagement: Collaborate and liaise closely with internal and external project stakeholders and travel as needed to support research training, implementation, and stakeholder meetings.
• Donor Reporting: Lead donor reporting, including annual reports and Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning logs.
• Knowledge Products: Lead on writing and developing knowledge products (and/or in collaboration with design consultants), such as policy briefs, reports, videos etc.
• Representation: Represent the project in global fora, including conferences, symposia, etc.
• Capacity Strengthening: Support capacity strengthening of colleagues
• Consultant Coordination: Be the technical focal point for any consultants engaged in the research project, e.g., for costing analysis or knowledge product design.
• Project Representation: Be the WCA project representative for the Research on Scaling Innovations in Education (ROSIE) project, led by Centre of Universal Education at Brookings Institute.
• Ad Hoc Tasks: Conduct ad hoc tasks related to research project management and implementation.

Your Profile

• Research Experience: Minimum 3 years of relevant research experience (education research experience preferred), preferably with a range of quantitative and qualitative research methods, design, and analysis methods.
• Education and Training: Relevant master’s degree and advanced or further training related to research project implementation, or 5 years’ relevant experience.
• Language Skills: Proficient in English, both written and verbal communication.
• Research Methodology: Experience with the design and application of implementation science and participatory/community-driven action research.
• Cross-cultural Collaboration: Experience working with colleagues from different countries and cultures, based in different locations, and with different types of stakeholders (e.g. academia, (i)NGOs, government, private sector, community leadership).
• Data Collection & Analysis: Demonstrable experience in data cleaning and using Kobo Toolbox, quantitative and qualitative analyses of data sets in Stata/SPSS/NVivo or similar software packages.
• Scientific Writing: Demonstrable experience in writing scientific articles or reports.

Desirable:

• Project Coordination: Experience as a research coordinator, or related role in a field-based project.
• Measurement and Evaluation: Experience with measurement tool validation, value for money or cost analyses, or knowledge product development.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Experience working with governmental bodies and international organisations.
• Advanced Data Analysis: Advanced familiarity with data analysis software such as R, Stata, SPSS and/or NVivo.
• Multilingual Skills: Working proficiency in French, Arabic, and/or other languages relevant in the project countries.

What We Offer

• Location : Based in any War Child office compatible with East Africa Time zone but with a preference to be based in a programming rather than fundraising office (fundraising offices are indicated with *); Afghanistan, Burundi, the Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Germany*, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, the Netherlands*, the occupied Palestinian territory, South Sudan, Sweden*, Syria, Uganda, United Kingdom*, and Yemen. Preference is given to applicants who reside and have valid working permits. War Child does not offer relocation.
• Salary and benefits are in line with your residing country and contracting office, we offer local packages. There is additional consideration given the global scope of the role and packages are adjusted competitively within the labour market of your residence
• Professional Development: Opportunities for capacity building and growth, both within the role and through War Child’s broader network.
• Meaningful Impact: The chance to make a tangible difference in the lives of children and families affected by conflict, contributing to long-term, sustainable change.
• Equal Opportunities: War Child is an inclusive employer committed to diversity and inclusion, respecting all individuals regardless of age, gender, religion, ethnicity, nationality, or physical ability.
• Workplace Culture: War Child is dedicated to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and respectful workplace that prioritizes safety and fairness for all individuals. We strictly prohibit any form of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or bullying within our organization

Why You Should Apply

• Make a Real Impact: Your work will directly contribute to providing quality education to children who need it most, creating lasting change in their lives.
• Career Growth: Join a dynamic organization that values your professional development and offers opportunities for learning, growth, and innovation.
• Global Reach: Play a key role in scaling a ground-breaking programme that operates in multiple conflict-affected regions around the world.
• Collaborative and Mission-Driven: Work alongside passionate colleagues and partners united in a mission to protect children and help them thrive despite adversity.

How to Apply

Qualified candidates are encouraged to submit their applications by January 10, 2025. We are reviewing submissions on a rolling basis, so early applications are strongly recommended. 

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 By submitting your application you certify that all of the statements made in your application are true, complete, and correct and are made in good faith. You understand that falsifying, misrepresenting or intentionally withholding information will be grounds for rejection of your application or withdrawal of any offer of appointment or, if an appointment offer has been accepted, this will be ground for employment sanctions, such as, but not limited to, instant dismissal. In addition, you understand that you need to submit a Criminal Record Certificate and that, if you fail to submit it, no employment relationship can be established.

War Child is an international organisation, and we are committed to be a diverse and inclusive employer, placing human and child rights at the centre of our existence and work. We hire our new colleagues based on their talents, competences and shared values; we do not distinguish them based on their age, gender and gender identity, race, color, ethnicity, religion, culture, sexual orientation, disability etc.

The safety of children and youth is a paramount and essential to War Child’s work. War Child has a zero tolerance policy towards any form of abuse. To prevent placing children and youth at any risk this subject is addressed in our recruitment and selection procedures. Moreover, the accepted candidates will be required to state their commitment/ intent to be aware, consider and adhere to the minimum standards applicable in development and humanitarian settings, such as humanitarian values and principles, Sphere Humanitarian Charter, Standards in the Humanitarian Standards Partnership, Core Humanitarian Standard, International Humanitarian Law, Code of Conduct for the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in Disaster Relief and IASC Six Core Principles Relating to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse.

Disclaimer

• Only applications received via our website are processed.
• If we appoint a suitable candidate before the given closing date, we reserve the right to remove the vacancy from our website before that date. In such a case, any responses received after that time are not processed.
• It could be that during our selection process the closing date for the vacancy is extended. If so, and you have not yet heard from us, your application will remain active.

About War Child:

The War Child Alliance is an international non-governmental organization committed to providing psychosocial support, child protection, youth empowerment programming and quality education to the children affected by armed conflict. We implement evidence-based interventions to empower key stakeholders—including governments, educators, caregivers, and communities—to foster children’s wellbeing, education, and self-determination.  War Child has a presence in 19 countries: Jordan, Lebanon, the occupied Palestinian territory, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Afghanistan, Colombia, Burundi, DR Congo, the Central African Republic, South Sudan, Uganda, Ukraine, Germany, Sweden, The Netherlands, United Kingdom and the United States of America.

Learn more about War Child and our programmes https://www.warchild.net/  

Safeguarding 

War Child is committed to humanitarian values, standards and norms and we expect the same from job applicants. War Child is especially committed to safeguarding the children and youth we support and doesn’t tolerate any form of abuse. Because we want to prevent and deter any actions that place children and youth at risk, conduct references are an important part of our recruitment procedure. As part of the selection process, War Child will request standardized references in accordance with the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme and a recent Criminal Records statement.