This position is subject to donor funding approval
About Mercy Corps
Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible.
In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions
into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within.
Now, and for the future.
Program / Department Summary
The Libya Analysis Team supports programs throughout Libya in four key areas: programs, strategy, advocacy, and security. The analytical unit monitors social media, communicates with partners, validates data through primary sources, and interfaces with relevant international organizations in order to gather and collate relevant conflict, access, and stakeholder information. The team focuses on conflict, both individual incidents, and trends, both present and forecasted, and then links this with its respective impact on the local population. The analysis team, therefore, looks not only at violence, but also at those underlying factors that trigger conflict and displacement such as governance and service provision, war economy dynamics, past displacement patterns, local, regional and international politics, social identity and inter-communal relationships, and Libyan modern history. The analysis team also serves as a real-time information hub; vets potential partners; assesses programmatic, partner, and operational risk; identifies and maps stakeholders; and maintains a mapped database displaying program locations, the locations of commodities and their values, and dis aggregates this data by donor and risk threshold.
General Position Summary
The Senior Researcher will be responsible for the overview and delivery of thematic reports and community assessments within Libya. S/he will be expected to work independently on the research papers, and support ongoing analysis efforts produced by the Libya Analysis Team.
Essential Job Responsibilities
Research & analysis
- Identify relevant thematic research topics to further inform the context and dynamics of Libya's conflict;
- Be responsible for the design, build and research of at least three thematic reports (to be agreed with the team)
- Will conduct interviews and discussions in order to build community assessments (communities to be agreed)
- Support the team in daily analysis of trends and dynamics in Libya
- Support in ensuring all finalized products are editorially sound, visually attractive, and without textual errors
- Support in the brainstorming of ideas linked to the analysis and the research papers produced
- Manage the deadlines relating to milestones for deliverables reporting
- Prepare and at times deliver briefings on ongoing research and analysis
- Responsible for the design, build and research of thematic reports.(to be agreed with the team)
- Inform advocacy by providing realistic, local, and ground-truth inputs.
Strategy & Vision
- Recognize opportunities for innovative action and create an environment where alternative viewpoints are welcomed.
- Set direction by prioritizing and organizing actions & resources to achieve objectives and contribute to strategy development.
- Understand and express conflict in terms of community needs, access restrictions, and threats to the international aid community.
- Develop the team's products and increase a gender specific approach to information gathering and analysis provided in the analysis unit.
Influence & Representation
- Identify, build and manage collaborative partnerships with donors, local government, community leaders and other stakeholders.
- Communicate effectively to ensure overall project targets and donor obligations are met*.*
Organizational Learning
- As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve, we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.
Accountability to Beneficiaries
- Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.
Accountability
Reports Directly To: Libya Analysis Team, Manager
Works Directly With: Libya Analysis Team
Knowledge and Experience
- Strong experience in research in Libyan Geopolitics, Economic, or Conflict analysis or research. Research related to international aid interventions is a plus.
- 7 years of professional experience, specific or relevant to Research&Analysis.
- English & Arabic fluency both written and spoken is required
- Excellent writing and analytical skills
- Proven record of research and methodology design
- Ability to develop high caliber writing and utilize online research tools quickly
- Libya working experience is a must
- Demonstrated Libya context experience
- Ability to multi-task and prioritize in a fast-paced work environment
- Mapping and design experience is a plus
- Flexible work attitude: able to work productively in a team environment as well as independently
- Extensive experience living/working/studying in the Middle East and North Africa region is a major plus.
- Data analysis experience a plus
Success Factors
- The successful Senior Researcher should be flexible, patient, creative, and persistent. S/he will work both collaboratively with other members of the team as well as independently on self-originated products as required by an ongoing context of the conflict. S/he will also have proven experience with cross-cultural team and capacity building, individual staff development and strong mentoring skills. Prioritizing, problem solving, ability to seize opportunities, attention to detail and strategic vision are essential. The most successful Mercy Corps staff members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and changing environments and make effective written and verbal communication a priority in all situations.
Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions
The Senior Researcher position is based in Tunis and it requires up to (10 %) travel to Field offices in Libya. The location is accompanied and secure. Housing is individual accommodation with unlimited freedom of movement beyond the house/office. Staff has access to (medical care in Tunisia, electricity, water, etc). This position requires (10 % or less time) of travel by flight or vehicle to field offices in moderate environments.
Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/TDY to a field posting. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.
Fostering a diverse and open workplace is an important part of Mercy Corps' vision. Mercy Corps is an Equal Opportunity Employer regardless of background. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment.
PI119020896
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