Research
Member
ACTIVITY BACKGROUND
Reality
Check Approach Plus (RCA+) is a project by the Australian Department of Foreign
Affairs and Trade (DFAT) which started in 2014. It is intended to build the
capacity of Indonesian researchers to design, undertake and communicate high
quality RCA studies. It builds on the use of these approaches in Bangladesh,
Nepal, Mozambique, Ghana and an earlier RCA study funded by DFAT for the Basic
Education Program in Indonesia (2009-2010). The long term objective is to
support researchers and research institutions to undertake RCA independently,
integrate RCA in mixed method approaches and find ways to ensure findings are
included in policy dialogue and deliberations. It will experiment with other
complementary methods to enrich the basic RCA process and will link with
international experiences of applying RCA in other contexts for mutual
learning. The project undertakes commissioned RCA studies thus providing an
opportunity for researchers to ‘learn by doing’.
RCA
is a qualitative approach to feedback and evaluation which involves outsiders
living with people living in poverty in their own homes and joining in their
everyday lives, usually but not always involving repeat visits over several
years. The relaxed environment this provides enables easy informal conversation
with all members of the family, their neighbors and others who interact with
the household, especially front line service providers. It enables the outsider
to experience and observe for themselves and provides a meaningful basis for
joint reflection on experience of services and change over time with the
family. The approach benefits from
inherent opportunities for triangulation and depth of information shared. It helps to shed light on disconnects between
knowledge, attitudes and practice which conventional evaluation is often unable
to do. A key intention is to understand
better whether and how policies intended for people living in poverty translate
into effective change on the ground or not, and how the efforts and changes are
perceived. It is also expected that the voices of people living in poverty feed
into policy dialogue so that future policy and practice is better geared to
real needs and context.
Purpose of Role
The Research Member
receive a unique opportunity to learn the RCA approach by being involved in a
real study. They will be mentored and supported throughout the entire process
which is in line with RCA+’s mandate to provide capacity building initiatives
for Indonesian researchers. Contracts are only provided those who
satisfactorily complete the mandatory level 1 training.
Duration
The
Research Member will be engaged through a Consultant Agreement to work for up
to 100 days for the duration of the contract. The expected period of assignment
will be June 2016 – May 2017.
Minimum education and experience required
- Preferably at least a bachelor’s degree in a development related subject e.g. sociology, development studies, development communication, political science, public policy etc.
- Proven experience of social media tools, digital media for organizational communication.
- Fluency in Bahasa Indonesia and good spoken and written English skills are required.
- Good appreciation of qualitative research methods and practice.
Other Qualities and Experience:
- Ability to work independently as well as in a multi-cultural team
- Good interpersonal skills, a ‘people person’
- Willingness to work long and flexible hours during the research
- Willingness to stay in remote and/or challenging locations with minimum facilities during research
- Demonstrated enthusiasm and energy
- Willingness to learn new skills and reflect on biases
- Availability for short term assignments (2-3 weeks) on a regular basis at short notice.
- Able to join 6 days RCA Level 1 Training scheduled on 7-12 of June
Interested? Please submit your CV at info.rca@thepalladiumgroup.com
Applications close on 20th of May 2016. Only successful
applicants will be contacted.
This position is only open to Indonesian
nationals.
