DRC's North Africa Regional Office offers support and advice to four country operations in North Africa. The role of the Research Officer is to support the Mixed Migration Centre in North Africa with the publication of timely and high-quality research to inform policy and programming – especially in Libya, Morocco, Egypt, Sudan and Tunisia as well as the broader Central and Western Mediterranean Routes. MMC is looking for a highly motivated researcher dedicated to establishing MMC as a leading voice in migration research in the region and to participating and representing MMC in relevant research, programming and policy events. An upcoming project in which the Research Officer will be involved focuses around conducting secondary research as well as key informant interviews on the protection of refugees and migrants in cities along key mixed migration routes to and within North Africa.

Under the supervision of the Regional Coordinator/Manager in Tunis, the successful candidate will be responsible for carrying out qualitative data collection; conducting data analysis of emerging mixed migration trends and dynamics across North Africa; drafting and editing a range of high-quality publications; representing MMC as needed in different forums with key migration stakeholders; lending support to reporting and fundraising activities; actively shaping MMC’s research agenda and processes in the region; and contributing the research dissemination, among other responsibilities.

Your main duties and responsibilities will be:

Data Collection and Analysis

• Develop the research design for new MMC research projects and working with programming partners to develop concept notes for their data and information needs.
• Conduct qualitative and quantitative data analysis for MMC, taking the lead on coding and labelling variables to be used in qualitative analysis, developing analytical models for research products, and feeding into data collection processes.
• Travel for data collection trips to MMC’s country’s and areas of operation and liaise with local counterparts.
• Contribute to the design of qualitative and quantitative questionnaires and sampling frames for data collection
• Support with the visualization of data.
• Stay up-to-date on the latest mixed migration research from the North Africa region and along the Eastern, Western, and Central Mediterranean Routes.
• Stay up to data on the latest research methods and techniques used in the field of migration and examine new ways to apply them to MMC research.
• Regularly explore new ways to analyze MMC data for different publication formats (snapshots, briefing papers, research reports).

Research Production

• Regularly produce internal briefings notes, Snapshots, Quarterly Mixed Migration Updates, and more extended Research Reports and Briefing Papers.
• Input into the MMC Research Agenda.
• In coordination with the 4Mi project team, contribute to processes for research formulation and collaboration.
• Engage humanitarian and development programming staff to identify data and research gaps MMC can fill, respond to information requests, and support sector-level information-gathering.

Research Dissemination and Engagement

• Contribute to the planning and convening of research dissemination events.
• In coordination with MMC and DRC staff, communicate MMC’s research objectives to DRC teams at the country and regional.
• Liaise with counterparts at peer INGOs and UN agencies to inform MMC research agenda and strategy through bilateral engagements and through appropriate country-level and regional forums/working groups.
• Promote the use of MMC data and research by humanitarian and development partners in programming and in advocacy/outreach/awareness-raising initiatives and more broadly strengthen MMC’s work to impact programs and policy.
• Interface with other researchers and research organizations operating within the region to ensure non-duplication, to work collaboratively, and to participate in local capacity building.
• Contribute to MMC reporting of its research activities on a quarterly or as-needed basis.

Fundraising

• In coordination with the MMC Regional Manager and 4Mi Project Manager, participate in fundraising activities and grant writing and in expanding MMC’s funding base. This includes scanning for new opportunities.

About you

To be successful in this role we expect you to have at least 5 years of experience working in a research or academic context. Moreover, we expect the following:

• Demonstrated experience in producing single-authored, high-quality publications in the field of migration;
• Demonstrated experience in primary data collection and analysis (with knowledge of qualitative and quantitative data analysis software);
• Demonstrated understanding of current mixed migration debates and dynamics in the region is an asset;
• Previous experience working with international NGOs is an asset.

Education:

• PhD (highly desirable) or Master’s degree in development economics, migration or refugee studies, or other social sciences.
• Demonstrated coursework and independent research in the field of migration or refugee studies is highly desirable.

Languages: 

• Full professional proficiency in English and French;
• Arabic is an asset.

In this position, you are expected to demonstrate DRC’ five core competencies: 

Striving for excellence: You focus on reaching results while ensuring an efficient process. 

Collaborating: You involve relevant parties and encourage feedback. 

Taking the lead: You take ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation. 

Communicating: You listen and speak effectively and honestly. 

Demonstrating integrity: You uphold and promote the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in relation to our values and Code of Conduct, including safeguarding against sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment.

We offer 

Contract length: 4 months, possibility of extension

Band: H1 non-management

Designation of Duty Station: Non-family Duty Station

Start date: ASAP 

 Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for Expatriates; please refer to drc.ngo under Vacancies. 

Application process 

All applicants must upload to the DRC website (all in English) a cover letter, an updated CV (no longer than four pages), and a sample of your published research. Applications sent by email will not be considered. Shortlisted candidates will be asked to sit for an exam. Finalists will be asked to sit for an interview.