Researcher – Protracted Displacement in an Urban World

Researcher – Protracted Displacement in an Urban World
London (Please note that while this role is advertised as office-based, IIED will remain a predominantly remote-working organisation for the foreseeable future)

The closing deadline for applications is midnight on 18 February.
Interviews will be held the week commencing 7 March.

The Company

The International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) is a policy and action research organisation. We promote sustainable development to improve livelihoods and protect the environments on which these livelihoods are built. We specialise in linking local priorities to global challenges. IIED is based in London and works in Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and the Pacific, with some of the world’s most vulnerable people. We work with them to strengthen their voice in the decision-making arenas that affect them – from village councils to international conventions.

Our Human Settlements Group works on urban poverty and environmental issues, supporting more equitable and sustainable development in urban centres in low- and middle-income countries. Approximately half-way through a three-year research project on protracted displacement, we are examining the potential of an urban response to long-term displacement, assessing how cities can foster displaced people’s self-reliance and local integration in ways that benefit host governments and communities.

We are now looking for a Researcher to join our Human Settlements team, working 35 hours per week on a 12-month contract, with the possibility of extension.

The Benefits

• Salary of £39,114 – £43,067 per annum depending on experience
• Benefits package

This is a rare, exciting opportunity for a talented displacement researcher specialising in low- and middle-income countries to join a fascinating and pertinent ongoing project.

Your crucial academic acumen and research expertise will be essential in providing the knowledge and evidence of how best to respond to situations of protracted urban displacement. You will aid us in amplifying the voices of displaced people, ensuring they are part of the decision-making process.

If this sounds like your ideal next research project and you are eager to share your passion and skills for this worthy cause, apply today!

The Role

As a Researcher, you will deliver a range of work regarding protracted displacement in cities, and comparative work on self-reliance and wellbeing in camps and urban areas.

You will build an evidence base for national and local governments, humanitarian agencies and donors on the opportunities and challenges of hosting displaced people in camps vs. urban areas.

Promoting an assessment of current responses to urban protracted displacement, you will raise awareness of unmet needs.

Additionally, you will support municipal authorities, displaced people and organisations to use participatory planning to underpin development-based solutions to forced displacement.

Your role will also involve:

• Analysing both quantitative and qualitative data
• Writing up research in styles appropriate for publication and dissemination
• Contributing to developing, conceptualising and promoting new research themes

This role may require travel to Kenya, Ethiopia and Jordan to take part in validation and dissemination activities with local research partners, COVID restrictions and safety allowing.

About You

To be considered as a Researcher, you will need:

• Experience of research in areas affected by displacement in low- and middle-income countries, including research undertaken collaboratively with local partners
• Experience of applying both qualitative and quantitative research methods and analysis
• Experience of working with, or publishing in, edited academic books and journals
• Experience of research team co-ordination, including from a distance, as well as organising workshops, seminars or similar events
• Good knowledge of displacement issues
• A postgraduate degree in refugee studies, humanitarian affairs and/or development studies

Experience of working with mixed methods and familiarity with one of the study countries would be beneficial to your application, as would a PhD in a related discipline.

Good knowledge of displacement issues in an urban context would also be advantageous, as would experience of working with refugee, citizen and/or civil society groups, preferably in an urban setting.

Familiarity with displacement contexts in the Middle East, Central Asia and/or East Africa would also be desirable, as would a keen interest in, and the ability to, provide policy analysis and advice.

Other organisations may call this role Academic Researcher, Urban Researcher, Policy Researcher, Human Settlements Group Researcher, Research Officer, or Mixed Methods Researcher.

IIED is a committed Disability Confident and accredited Living Wage employer, committed to equal opportunities and the highest standards of diversity, fairness and equality.

If you want to undertake important, absorbing research as a Researcher, please apply via the button shown. This vacancy is being advertised by Webrecruit. The services advertised by Webrecruit are those of an Employment Agency.