Associate Researcher (Managing Exits from Armed Conflicts)

Background

The United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR)—an autonomous institute within the United Nations—conducts research on disarmament and security. The Institute explores current issues pertaining to a variety of existing and future armaments, global diplomacy, and local tensions and conflicts. Working with researchers, diplomats, government officials, NGOs and other institutions since 1980, UNIDIR acts as a bridge between the research community and Member States.

UNIDIR’s Managing Exits from Armed Conflict (MEAC) Project seeks to understand how and why people exit armed groups, disarm, and fully and sustainable transition into civilian life. MEAC’s work advances UNIDIR’s mandate, particularly with regard to enhancing the international community’s knowledge of micro-disarmament and the interventions that promote it.

The objective of this consultancy is to advance MEAC’s ability to design and contextualize surveys to the Colombia case study, as well as other case studies, adjust skip logic, ensure consistency across surveys in different countries, work with local researchers to transfer translations, support analysis and the writing up of finding reports.

Tangible and measurable outputs of the consultancy

The Associate Researcher shall provide UNIDIR with the following outputs:

· Well-designed research design (including surveys) for the MEAC Colombia Case Study

· Updated translations for Colombia surveys, as well as other surveys

· Substantive research outputs (including findings reports)

Responsibilities and outputs

• Under the direct supervision of the MEAC Project Lead, the Associate Researcher shall deliver the following services:
• Coordinate the research design and implementation for the Colombia Case Study by liaising between the MEAC team and local researchers, as well as other local partners such as CORE and the ARN;
• Update surveys (e.g., translations, skip logic, etc) for different Case Studies (in multiple languages) accordingly in google sheets;
• Work with the survey programmer to ensure skip logic is working correctly in SurveyCTO;
• Review and test surveys to ensure that the surveys run properly and trouble shoot potential issues (e.g., translations, skip logic);
• Develop and support enumerator trainings;
• Contribute to contextualization and operationalization guides;
• Contribute to MEAC publishable toolkit;
• Draft and contribute to research, data analysis, and literature review, including published outputs such as findings reports;
• Support the translation of MEAC findings into Spanish;
• Present findings in various fora;
• Support other MEAC project related tasks and initiatives as needed.

Schedule for the proposed work

A workplan for the duration of the contract will be established within the first two weeks of the contract. The Associate Researcher will have regular communication with the Head of Project in order to set assignments within the workplan and monitor progress. The Associate Researcher will inform the Head of Project if there are any issues concerning meeting agreed deliverables and deadlines.

Competencies

The Associate Researcher is to demonstrate at all times the core values of the United Nations: Professionalism, Integrity, and Respect for Diversity. In addition, in this role, the Associate Researcher will demonstrate the following competences:

• Professionalism: Substantive research background and knowledge in nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction, security doctrines, international relations theory and the politics and security of the Middle East; proven capacity in planning and risk analysis; thorough understanding of the intellectual, diplomatic and political challenges and responsibilities of working in an international autonomous research institute embedded within the framework of the United Nations; shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations; takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.
• Planning and organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments, adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.
• Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match the audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.
• Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely
• Reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

Performance indicators for evaluation of services provided:

• Assignments described above are completed to the satisfaction of MEAC’s Head of Project and the Institute’s Senior Management. The Associate Researcher will be evaluated at the end of the contract. Performance indicators include:
• Deadlines for delivery of agreed outputs are met.
• Outputs are provided in the form and quality requested by UNIDIR.
• Key deliverables are addressed to the satisfaction of UNIDIR. To this end, the Associate Researcher shall keep the Head of Project informed at agreed regular intervals as to how the delivery of work is progressing.
• Progress and performance will be measured against a work schedule, which the Associate Researcher shall provide to and agree on with UNIDIR management at the start of the assigment. Over the course of the Associate Researcher’s work, reviews, updates and drafts of the work as it stands shall be provided in a timely manner if requested.
• Professional engagement is cooperative and positive. In this regard, the Associate Researcher will work under and consult with the Senior Researcher and MEAC Team, operating under the Head of Project, to manage unexpected events.

The Associate Researcher is to demonstrate at all times the core values of the United Nations: Professionalism, Integrity, and Respect for Diversity.

Qualifications and Experience

Education

• Advanced university qualification (at least a Master’s degree or equivalent) in social science or related field.

Experience

• A minimum of 2 years of relevant experience in policy research is required.
• Knowledge of Colombia, DDR, climate security, and the United Nations and/or related experience is required.
• Familiarity with relevant stakeholders, including UN funds, agencies and programmes, and country-level offices, working in the field of conventional arms control and/or conflict prevention and armed violence reduction is desirable.
• Experience in assisting research, including quantitative and qualitative methods, as well as literature reviews, and policy research is required.
• Demonstrated history of excellent drafting, editing, and layout of publications is required.
• Knowledge of gender issues or experience with gender mainstreaming in a field relevant to the position is desirable.
• Knowledge of current international debates and recent developments in conflict and armed violence is required.
• Computer competency, including but not limited to Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint), is required.

Language

For this assignment, fluency in English and Spanish (both written and oral) is required. Knowledge of another official United Nations language is desirable.

Travel

Occasional travel might be required as part of this role. Dates, locations, and costs will be determined during project implementation.

Copyright

All outputs will be edited, fact-, and language-checked by UNIDIR. UNIDIR retains copyright of all documents, as well as ownership of the intellectual property resulting from work carried out under this assignment. The Associate Researcher warrants that all written outputs are original works or that where they incorporate copyrighted material from another source, this information is cited correctly and the necessary permission for its use is obtained. The Associate Researcher is to provide UNIDIR with written documentation, where applicable, together with the written outputs.