Refugee Studies Centre
About the RLRH:
The Refugee-Led Research Hub (RLRH) is an initiative of the Refugee Studies Centre (RSC) at the University of Oxford. RLRH supports individuals with lived experience of displacement to become leaders in fields of humanitarian response, forced migration, human rights, and related areas. We do so by delivering academic programming to a global cohort of students who have been affected by displacement, supporting access to graduate degrees and professional development opportunities. RLRH also creates opportunities for researchers with displacement backgrounds to lead primary and secondary research studies, from start to finish.
About the consultancy:
We are currently recruiting a consultant to design and carry out a scoping study and, using those results, to subsequently write a multi-year grant proposal to expand RLRH’s academic and refugee livelihoods programming.
The scoping study will rely on consultations with key stakeholders in refugee higher education and livelihoods, with a focus on universities and partners in the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program network. The study will address issues related to enhancing refugee and displaced peoples’ access to graduate-level education and onward professional opportunities. The consultant will lead in design and facilitation of the study, in line with the strategic mission of RLRH and the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program. Synthesising the key findings from the scoping study, they will support the development of a grant proposal that will enable RLRH to increase advanced education opportunities and to develop long-term career prospects for African refugees and displaced persons.
Activities:
The appointed consultant will engage in the following activities, beginning April 2024 for up to nine months, with possibility of extension**:**
- Design a detailed work plan with associated deliverables relating to the design of the scoping study and development of the grant proposal.
- Conduct an in-depth review of all documentation relating to RLRH programmatic strategy and operations, alongside background information on the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program and partnership with RLRH.
- Design a detailed proposal for the scoping study: formulate research questions, potential hypotheses, methodology, tools, and associated timelines to deliver the study.
- Provide support to the RLRH team in facilitating interviews for the scoping study, and participate in consultations where relevant.
- Write up results of the scoping study.
- Provide expert guidance in developing a grant proposal for a multi-year partnership between RLRH and the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program.
Profile:
The ideal consultant will meet the following criteria:
- 5+ years of experience in programme development and management in the refugee higher education sector.
- Proven experience in leading teams in preparation of successful grant applications.
- Expert knowledge in global refugee education programming – familiarity with trends, opportunities, and barriers to inclusive access to higher education and transition to employment. Previous experience in Africa is highly desirable.
- Excellent qualitative research skills, with particular focus on designing feasibility and scoping studies.
- Excellent writing skills and ability to communicate complex ideas in a clear and compelling way, responsive to priorities and strategic vision of a particular donor.
- Ability to synthesise outputs from multiple sources into one cohesive narrative with a unified voice.
- Excellent interpersonal skills, with ability to lead and work across diverse teams, and adapt to changing work environments.
How to apply
Please note: We encourage applications from individuals who have been affected by displacement and those who identify with social groups that are historically under-represented in this space, including, but not limited to, LGBTQI+, gender non-conforming, women, and disabled candidates.
Application and selection:
If you’re interested in carrying out this work, please submit the following materials to [email protected] by Monday 18 March 2024 by 5pm GMT, including “Scoping study & grant writing consultancy” in the subject line of the email. If you have any questions before then please reach out via email using the contacts above.
Materials to be submitted:
- Your CV (maximum of two pages)
- Independently authored writing sample: One extended writing sample up to 5,000 words, or two shorter pieces up to 2,500 words each. Excerpts are welcome. Writing samples of a grant proposal previously developed by the candidate are preferred. Please share documents as PDFs.
- A cover letter explaining why you are interested in this role. In your letter, please include relevant skills or previous experiences that would be advantageous in carrying out the described work. Please include your projected availability during the proposed duration of the consultancy.
Deadline: 18 Mar 2024