Consultancy: Lead Researcher for Child Rights & Safety in Extractive Industries in Malawi, Tanzania and Uganda (Citizens for Justice)

Background

Oak Foundation is supporting a research on child rights and safety in extractive industries projects that are funded by the World Bank and other International Financial Institutions (IFIs) in Malawi, Tanzania and Uganda. The research will be conducted with technical and financial support from Bank Information Centre (BIC) through the regional office in Uganda and the head office in the USA. The three senior managers from each organization (Citizens for Justice (CFJ)-Malawi; FEMAPO-Tanzania and Straight Talk Foundation-Uganda) with BIC’s regional officer form a Project Management Team – (PMT) that provides oversight and manage implementation of activities according to objectives, work-plan and budget. CFJ is hosting the secretariat of the PMT and leading in coordinating project activities with the support of the three members. As a coordinating agency for the project, CFJ is responsible for reporting to Oak Foundation. CFJ’s offices are located in Lilongwe, the administrative capital of Malawi. BIC’s regional officer in Uganda and the headquarters provide advisory capacity support to the project and link the project activities and outcomes to international advocacy, which BIC participates in at different international forums.

Research Objective

The research seeks to analyse the impact of World Bank’s as well as other IFIs funded Extractives Industry sector – (Mining, Oil and Gas) on children’s rights in Malawi, Tanzania and Uganda and advise on specific actions to mitigate on the impacts. This objective will be achieved by documenting the experiences of children in the three countries and exploring the link between extractive industry operations, products and services and delineate their actual impacts on children. The research findings will be used in lobbying governments and non-state actors to address impacts of the extractive industry on children in line with the recommendations of General Comment 16. The findings at the national and regional levels will be organised to support BIC’s national and international campaign.

Scope of the Research

The research will examine the impact of extractive industry sector on children in the three countries. The research will primarily explore the link between extractive industry operations, products and services and delineate their actual impacts on children in the three countries.  Information and evidence generated from the research will further inform lobbying and advocacy work and ensure that businesses in the extractive industry are able to assess and mitigate potential negative impacts of their activities on children’s rights and that the World Bank and other IFI’s develop special safeguards on protecting Children’s interests.

Research Methodology

The research must adopt a participatory research methodology and a multi-sectoral approach in data collection in order to meet the objectives of the study.  The research must be designed to collect information from participants in oil, gas and mining towns and communities, and relevant stakeholders in the extractive industry. This research must be carried out in a manner that generates a clear understanding of how the extractive industry is impacting on protection of children rights within the three countries. Sampling and selection of participants and geographic areas for data collection should be based on relevance to the issues to be considered. Participation and interaction with affected children must play a key role in the research in line with 6 Principles of Child Rights Programing developed by OAK foundation which can be downloaded from this webpage: http://www.oakfnd.org/node/4383. The principles guide much of the work being undertaken with, for and by children all over the world.   It is also advisable that the research should rely heavily on the methodology developed by Jane Warburton in collaboration with the Bank Information Centre.

Job Purpose

Under the overall responsibility of the Project Management Team (PMT) comprising three senior managers (Citizens for Justice-Malawi; FEMAPO- Tanzania and Straight Talk Foundation-Uganda) from each organization with BIC’s regional officer, through direct supervision and close collaboration with the leadership of Citizens for Justice as a project secretariat, the Lead Researcher will provide overall leadership to the research in the three countries. He/she will be responsible for the overall design, implementation and coordination of the assignment as well as the analysis, drafting and preparation of the report. He/she will collaborate with research officers in the three institutions in, among other things, ensuring that the research design, monitoring and evaluation is in line with OAK 6 Principles of Child Rights Programming; its implementation is in accordance with agreed project timelines; and provision of regular updates on target achievements and measures to address implementation challenges.

Scope of work and deliverables

The Lead researcher will be relied upon to plan and undertake quality, timely and effective study that fully addresses the research objectives. In responding to the objectives of the research, the Lead Researcher will also be expected to produce and submit an Inception Report, which will be discussed and endorsed by the PMT. The incumbent will also be expected to undertake document/literature review, design tools for consultations with key stakeholders within the three countries, and facilitate a stakeholder’s validation workshop where the draft final deliverable will be presented before producing the final report. The specific deliverables are:-

1. An Inception Report- outlining understanding of the research objectives, work plan, methodology, data collection tools, target population and target groups (details of potential participants) and training or orientation of in- country researchers or assistants.
2. Draft Research Report -outlining preliminary findings supported by evidence that demonstrate strong linkages to the actual situation of children in the communities impacted by the extractive industry
3. Validation workshop on the study -To ensure commitment to and credibility and ownership of the research outcomes, the preliminary findings of the study should be presented at national stakeholder workshop.
4. Final Research Report- containing comments and observation from the national validation workshop incorporated the final report.

Profile of the consultants

1. Have a background of extractive industries in the three countries
2. The Lead researcher must be experienced in children’ rights related studies in the extractive sector.
3. He/she must have considerable experience in developing countries, preferably in Sub Saharan Africa.
4. Must possess demonstrable and extensive expertise in participatory quantitative and qualitative research methodologies
5. At least an advanced degree and not less than 7 years experience or a PhD with not less than 5 years experience.
6. Strong written, oral communication, organisation, presentation and analytical skills
7. Strong computer skills and knowledge, including computerised research systems
8. Experience with working with governments, non-governmental organisations, the private sector and donors
9. Ability to work in a collaborative and multi-cultural environment
10. Fluency in written and spoken English.

Duration and location

This appointment will be for 4 months. The Researcher will work with the Project Secretariat Office in Lilongwe, Malawi, but travel as required to Malawi, Tanzania and Uganda.

To apply:

Send EOI to the Project Management Team: via email to [email protected] and [email protected] with “Child Rights & Safety in the Extractive Industries in Malawi, Tanzania and Uganda” as the email subject no later than close of business day on Friday, 29^th April, 2016.