Job Notice: Country Research Associate – Partnership for African Social & Governance Research

Inspiring Girls and Grassroots Networks for Inclusive and Transformative Education (IGNITE) is a consortium funded by the Agence Française de Development (AFD) through the Support Fund for Feminist Organizations (SFFO). The consortium comprising the International Rescue Committee (IRC), MENA Partner, the Partnership for African Social and Governance Research (PASGR), and Urgent Action Fund-Africa (UAF-Africa) aims at empowering adolescent girls and advance gender equality in seven target countries in Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East, namely Burkina Faso, Cameroon, DR Congo, Ethiopia, Jordan, Lebanon, and Nigeria. For this assignment, the project will specially focus on Nigeria, Cameroon, and Ethiopia. The overall objective of the project is to facilitate feminist Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to advance gender-transformative education and empowerment for marginalized adolescent girls, rooted in sustainable and locally driven approaches.
IGNITE will be supporting feminist and youth-led CSOs to accelerate gender equality in and through education. This will be achieved through sub-granting and collaborative organizational capacity strengthening in finance, administrative and technical areas, including research.

The RA’s will work under the direct supervision of the Country PI and support other members of the consortium.
The RA’s roles encompass the following tasks:
1. Undertake country specific qualitative and quantitative research on girls’ education in Nigeria, Cameroon and Ethiopia.
• Providing statistical and analytical Assistance to the country specific research and PEA.
• Working closely with the PI and other teams within the country and across the consortium to provide methodological, research and evidence-based support, as and when required.
• Assessment of barriers and challenges faced by adolescent girls in accessing inclusive and gender-transformative education in their country.
• Contributing to the publication of scientific and non-scientific outputs including but not limited to reports, articles, podcast and data as and when required.
2. Critically reviewing reports produced by peers, academics, and other agencies
• Keeping abreast of findings from relevant research in the country and internationally, making this available to project staff.
• Assessing opportunities for Policy Change and Social Norm Shifts.
3. Conducting extensive stakeholder Mapping and Analysis.
• Support the designing and implementing of a stakeholder engagement plan.
• Identification of policy windows and opportunities for transforming girls’ education within their country and region of operation.
• Contribute to the identification of evidence-based interventions and strategies that can be utilized to significantly enhance girls’ educational opportunities and outcomes, promoting gender equality and empowering girls to thrive in their educational pursuits.
4. Performing any other duties as directed by the PI.

Note: The scope of work will be tailored to address the specific contexts and challenges of girls’ education and social norms in each country – Ethiopia, Cameroon, and Nigeria. The findings and recommendations from the PEA will contribute to evidence-based decision-making and policy formulation to promote gender-transformative education and empower adolescent girls in the region.

Timeline
The Research associate is expected to be engaged for the whole duration of the project, from March 2024 to March 2026, allowing time for the consultants to conduct a thorough and comprehensive context analysis/mapping. The detailed timeline for the various tasks will be mutually agreed upon between the selected consultant and the project stakeholders. Flexibility in setting the timeline will ensure that the assessment process is well-paced and efficient, accommodating any unforeseen challenges or adjustments required during the project implementation phase.
Moreover, regular communication and progress updates between the consultant and the project team will be essential to ensure smooth coordination and adherence to the agreed timeline.

Qualifications and Expertise for Country Research Associate.
The ideal consultant should possess the following qualifications:

Minimum Requirements
1. Advanced Degree preferably a master’s degree with a specialization in relevant field(s) of public health, education, social sciences, gender studies or a related field.
2. Five years of relevant experience in gender transformative mainstreaming in national policies related to education, governance, and political economy.
3. Five years’ experience in participatory capacity training within the above-mentioned fields.
4. Demonstrated experience in working on similar assignments in African countries.
5. The consultant should also be able to propose evidence-based interventions and strategies that can contribute to improving girls’ access to quality education and enhancing their educational outcomes.
6. Strong research skills and the ability to deliver high-quality outputs within the specified timeframe will be crucial for the successful completion of the consultancy.
7. Fluency in English and/or French. For Cameroon, the candidate should be fluent in both English and French, written and oral.