Position Title: Research and M&E Specialist
Status: Consultant
Location: Global
Classification: Consultants roster
Date: December 1st, 2023
About Landesa
Grounded in the knowledge that having legal rights to land is a foundation for prosperity and opportunity, Landesa partners with governments and local organizations to ensure that those experiencing the most extreme forms of poverty have secure rights over the land they till. Founded as the Rural Development Institute in 1967, Landesa has helped more than 100 million families living in poverty gain legal control over their land. With secure land rights, these families can eat better, earn more, educate their children, practice conservation, and achieve dignity for generations. For additional information, visit the Landesa website at www.landesa.org.
Landesa supplements its regular staff with the expertise of skilled international consultants. We maintain and periodically review an active roster of consultants in support of our program needs. This vacancy is posted for anticipated consulting positions: we encourage consultants with specialized skills in legal, policy, and monitoring and evaluation issues related to land access and tenure security to submit their
qualifications to be considered for inclusion in our roster.
When Landesa has specific consultant opportunities, they will be posted below on our website, or our staff will reach out to the consultants included in the roster to verify their interest.
Consultancy Summary
The Research and M&E Specialist provides technical expertise to support the design, implementation, documentation, and communication of M&E and applied research in a broad range of topics such as customary and legal land rights, women’s land rights and women’s empowerment, sustainable land management, land governance, climate change, social norms and behavior change related to women’s
and youths’ land tenure, and other socioeconomic dimensions of land tenure in developing countries.
The Research and M&E Specialist will support the design and application of monitoring and evaluation tools and practices for Landesa projects; undertake socially inclusive mixed methods research to assess policies and practices to strengthen land tenure security; and strengthen Landesa’s and partners’ understanding and application of evidence in the land sector and related development sectors.
Availability
The Research and M&E Specialist’s scope of work and level of effort will be determined in accordance with specific opportunities as they arise.
Essential Job Functions:
Depending on specific opportunities, the Research and M&E Specialist may conduct the following
activities:
- Design mixed-methods gender-responsive research, including data collection tools and methods in accordance with ethical research practices.
- Analyze qualitative and quantitative data, including data from surveys, interviews, focus group discussions, field observations using relevant qualitative and econometric techniques.
- Manage, organize, and clean primary data for analysis and in accordance with ethical and funder requirements and document steps and choices in data cleaning.
- Develop or support the development of M&E tools and indicators for Landesa projects.
- Conduct literature reviews which may include advanced empirical research.
- Produce clear, compelling, and methodologically robust reports, articles, policy briefs, presentations, and other ways of making research and M&E findings accessible to Landesa audiences.
- Write research proposals.
Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Strong understanding of land tenure issues in developing countries.
- Demonstrated strong research design and analysis skills.
- Experience in indicator design and measurement approaches.
- Strong communication, reporting and writing skills in English.
- Synthesizes complex information, understands what is most important to convey, and communicates analytical findings in writing in ways that are clear and concise for non-research audiences.
- Substantial experience working with at least one of Dedoose or Stata.
- Proactively identifies and communicates potential problems, solutions, and opportunities.
- Flexibility and ability to work simultaneously on multiple projects.
- Ability to work in support of and collaboratively with a range of people cross-culturally and at all levels.
- Proficiency in using Microsoft Suite of products including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Teams.
- Legal right to work in the country of assignment.
Required Education/Experience
- Graduate degree in the social sciences: Sociology, Geography, Anthropology, Political Science, Economics, Development Studies, or closely a related field.
- At least 5 years of demonstrated professional experience in most or all of the duties described above.
- Experience designing or conducting gender-responsive research or M&E indicators and processes.
- Preference will be given to individuals with work experience in land and/or gender-related issues and field research experience.
- Prior work experience with international or national development institutions is considered beneficial.
Physical and Environmental Conditions
Work is primarily performed indoors with some potential for exposure to safety and health hazards related to electronics work. This position does not require unusual demands for physical effort. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. Work environment involves everyday risks or discomforts that require normal safety precautions typical of places such as offices, meeting or training rooms,
residences, or commercial vehicles, e.g., use of safe workplace practices with office equipment, and/or avoidance of trips and falls, and observance of fire regulations and traffic signals.
Work Environment and Working Conditions for Travelers to Developing Countries
While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be exposed to working conditions and hazards which are prevalent for the location and/or country of assignment. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. Work is primarily performed indoors with some potential for exposure to safety and health hazards related to electronics work. The employee may be required to travel
overseas and domestically. When traveling in a developing country, the employee may be exposed to:
Physical Hazards (illnesses, noise, extreme temperatures, wet or humid climates, etc.) Road Hazards (unfinished/dirt roads, potholes, traffic-related accidents, etc.), and Atmospheric Conditions (odors, dust, fumes, smog, etc.).
Additional Comments
The above job description is not intended as, nor should it be construed as exhaustive of all responsibilities, skills, efforts, or working conditions associated with this job. Reasonable accommodation may be provided in appropriate circumstances to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this job.
To Apply
Qualified candidates should complete the steps below to be considered.
Step 1: Complete the application using the link below. Please ensure you are filling out the entire form & do not use ALL CAPS.
https://forms.office.com/r/mwYRR90X2m
Step 2: Submit CV to [email protected] with the subject line, “Consultant Vacancy – Name of
Consultant Role – Your Name”.
- Example #1: Consultant Vacancy – Gender Specialist – John Doe
- Example #2: Consultant Vacancy – Land Tenure Specialist – John Doe
Only candidates who have completed their application and submitted their CV will be considered. If you have already applied earlier this year, no need to reapply.
Equal employment opportunity has been, and will continue to be, a fundamental principle at Landesa.
Landesa is committed to a work environment in which relationships are characterized by dignity, courtesy, and respect. We are committed to nondiscrimination in all of our business operations and embrace diversity as a key strategic philosophy and strength of how we do our global work. Landesa actively seeks diverse candidates for employment.