Regional Researcher, Social Transformation at International Water Management Institute (IWMI)

Lead research on social transformation and gender while serving as the leader of the EU funded Resilience Against Climate Change-Social Transformation and Policy Advocacy (REACH-STR) project, which responsibility for integrating all research components and managing project administration and outreach. Specifically:

Social Science Research

• Design and implement research on social transformation analysis in development planning at different governance levels; including research on gendered transformation.
• Design and implement participatory scenario modelling activities to apply in scenario forecasting to inform development strategies.
• Conduct background and end line studies on social transformation and development planning.
• Design and supervise the gender work stream of the project, Design and conduct gender work stream baseline study and implement gender research activities.
• Guide the development and supervision of research activities and thesis writing of Masters and PhD students supported under the project.
• Contribute to other IWMI social science research development as necessary.

Scientific Writing and Reviews:

• Oversee qualitative and quantitative data collection, project database management and data analysis
• Prepare and publish scientific papers/articles/policy briefs/synthesis reports targeting diverse audience
• Review reports submitted by collaborating partners; synthesize research insights into journal articles and policy briefs.

Project Management & Outreach

• Oversee project implementation, liaise across the REACH implementing team and ensure project deliverables are of a high quality.
• Represent and promote the REACH-STR project internally within IWMI, the CGIAR Research Program (CRP) on Water, Land and Ecosystems (WLE), other CGIAR centers and CRPs as appropriate; nationally, within the Ghana policy context; and at international conferences.
• Establish effective working relationships with national and international partners.
• Based on agreed work plan with the partners, supervise the project work package implementation, including monitoring progress, liaising with all partners, and reporting on progress both internally and externally.
• Contribute to project work streams led by other partners, including, migration and resilience aspects of social transformation; from research design to data collection, analysis and scientific reporting.
• Contribute to Policy Advocacy activities including the synthesis of policy insights as recommendations for dissemination at different governance levels; prepare and implement media engagement plan.
• Manage project budget lines effectively, and ensure compliance with all necessary policies and procedures of IWMI and the donor.
• Liaise with donor representatives on project progress, communications and reporting

Requirements

Essential

• A PhD in Social science, Geography, Sociology, Political Economy, Public Policy, Development Studies or related discipline.
• 3-5 years of post-PhD experience in leading Social Science research studies in geographic region.
• Knowledge of social science research tools, approaches, methodologies for interdisciplinary research.
• Proven experience in the use of gender transformative approaches in research and a good understanding of social transformation issues and proven practical experience in working on such issues.
• Demonstrated commitment to demand-driven research that supports decision making and delivery of outcomes
• A record of peer-reviewed publications on relevant subjects.
• Demonstrated experience in developing fundable social science research projects.

Project Management Experience

• Demonstrated success in building and maintaining strong partnerships.
• Proven ability to work collaboratively and effectively with academic and non-academic stakeholders and in multi-institutional and interdisciplinary projects.
• Strong communication skills, both written and oral English and to communicate research results to stakeholders at different levels.
• Ability to engage with high-level policy audiences and liaise with key donor agencies.
• Proficiency in using Microsoft Office applications, including database management and Power Point.
• Ability to use appropriate statistical tools for qualitative and quantitative data analysis
• Capacity to work under pressure, manage teams effectively and deliver effective performance across all team members.
• Proven commitment to gender equality and wider knowledge of youth and inclusion issues in Africa.
• Familiarity with the social development context in Ghana.
• Experience of field research in northern Ghana.

Project Management Experience

• Experience in the management of research for development projects in developing country contexts
• Proven knowledge of monitoring and evaluation techniques and experience in project reporting for development partners
• Demonstrated success in building and maintaining strong partnerships
• Proven ability to work collaboratively and effectively with academic and non-academic stakeholders and in multi-institutional and interdisciplinary projects

SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Essential

• Strong communication skills, both written and oral English and to communicate research results to stakeholders at different levels.
• Ability to engage with high-level policy audiences and liaise with key donor agencies.
• Proficiency in using Microsoft Office applications, including database management and Power Point
• Ability to use appropriate statistical tools for qualitative and quantitative data analysis
• Capacity to work under pressure, manage teams effectively and deliver effective performance across all team members.
• Proven commitment to gender equality and wider knowledge of youth and inclusion issues in Africa.

Desirable

• Familiarity with the social development context in Ghana.
• Experience conducting field research in northern Ghana.