Researcher: language and communication issues in relation to gender-based violence and sexual and reproductive health in Rohingya communities in Bangladesh

Terms of reference

Contract length: June-August 2022

Hours: maximum 40 days’ work over this period, full-time equivalent

Location: Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh

Travel: in-person research to take place June-July; research oversight may happen remotely

Reporting to: Bangladesh Country Director

Application deadline: 26 May 2022

Due to the urgency of filling this position, interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis and the position may be filled before the deadline.
 
Translators without Borders is an equal-opportunity employer, committed to having a diverse team where individuals of all backgrounds collaborate and learn from one another. We believe we can be most effective with diverse experience and expertise in our team. We recruit on merit, actively seek diverse applicant pools and encourage candidates of all backgrounds to apply. We do not discriminate on the basis of disability, age, gender identity and expression, national origin, race and ethnicity, religious beliefs, marital or parental status, or sexual orientation, and welcome all types of diversity.

Background

TWB has conducted extensive research since 2017 on language and communication issues affecting Rohingya communities in Bangladesh and their access to and influence on humanitarian services. Building on that basis and on learning from other relevant research and programming, we are seeking a research consultancy to conduct two research studies, specifically on gender-based violence and sexual and reproductive health. TWB aims to understand how people prefer to speak and hear about these issues, how this is informed by sociocultural factors, and their experience and expectations of communication and services from the humanitarian community. The result will be findings and recommendations of practical relevance for humanitarian service providers and other operational stakeholders.

The role

The researcher/research team will lead TWB’s studies on GBV and SRH, including fieldwork in Rohingya camps in the Cox’s Bazar area, speaking with camp residents and other relevant stakeholders. They will work with remote support and oversight from TWB’s global research lead and in consultation with TWB’s Bangladesh team. The research will explore how people prefer to speak and hear about issues related to GBV and SRH, their experience and expectations of related communication and services from the humanitarian community in particular, how they prefer to communicate in these cases, and the socio-cultural aspects and reasoning that underpin their communication strategies, preferences and choices. The researcher will draw on dialogue with communities to develop two reports of the findings, one on GBV and one on SRH, that can be used by service providers to improve the inclusiveness, accessibility and effectiveness of their communication on these topics and in the services they offer.

Responsibilities

• On the basis of literature review and email and remote consultation with TWB staff, develop a methodology and FGD/KII tools for community research and detailed plan for the research
• Recruit and train the research team
• Pre-test the research tools and adjust as necessary, and subsequently lead the field research, in collaboration with TWB staff
• Produce a report of the findings and finalize it in consultation with other members of the research team and the TWB team

Training impact assessments

• Creating Kobo tools for entering training evaluation data
• Emailing previous training participants with pre-prepared surveys regarding training experiences and impacts (and modifying as needed)
• Analysing training evaluation and follow up data, including providing spreadsheets presenting data for individual trainings and participants

Translation product reach/impact evaluation

• Contacting partners (via email) who have requested translation services to fill in pre-prepared spreadsheets with key details of the use and reach of the translated product
• Analysing reach data, including providing spreadsheets presenting overall and monthly reach data

Deliverables

• A complete set of research tools and supporting documents, agreed and signed off by TWB
• Audio files (if applicable) and transcription/translation of all data collected during the assessment
• Final report of the findings, in English
• Producing short reports on findings from analysis of training evaluation and follow up data for internal and partner/donor use
•  Translation product reach/impact evaluation: producing short reports on findings from analysis of reach data for internal and partner/donor use

Qualifications and requirements

• Research background, lead researcher having at least Masters-level research qualifications, preferably specializing in language-related or anthropological study
• Demonstrated understanding of language barriers in relation to health, protection, communication for development, or other humanitarian or development issues
• Experience of conducting research on sensitive issues; lead researcher to have experience of recruiting, training and managing teams with capacity for researching sensitive topics
• Familiarity with the Rohingya camp context in Bangladesh and capacity to conduct face-to-face interviews with community members in the Rohingya language
• Strong information management skills and a track record of producing analysis clearly grounded in original data
• Demonstrable understanding of ethical data collection and data protection practices
• Excellent writing skills in English with a capacity for plain-language communication
• Rohingya and Chittagonian/Bangla language skills essential for team members conducting face-to-face interviews
• Mature and collaborative personality, self-starter, flexible and committed
• A track record of field research into the concepts evidenced by language and their implications for community engagement and behavior change would be a plus

Terms and conditions
The consultant’s fees will be paid as follows: 20% payable within 30 days of contract signature, 40% payable on satisfactory delivery of audio files, research notes and transcribed/translated data, 40% payable on satisfactory completion of the work and provision of all deliverables.

The researcher/research team will be expected to provide their own equipment and supplies (laptop, mobile phone, any recording equipment, etc.) and cover all costs related to the assignment. Research team members will not be considered employees of TWB. The research team will have to make their own arrangements for cam visits, TWB can assist with relevant letters/documents if necessary in doing so.

How to apply

To apply for this consultancy please send the following documents:

1. A technical and financial offer to include:

• a brief description (no more than two sides of A4) of how you would tackle this role
• a proposed work plan (including the number of days required for each task)
• a financial offer, specifying daily fees and including all costs

2. Curriculum vitae of the lead researcher highlighting experience from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) and at least three professional references; information on the profiles, number, experience and expertise of other research team members.

Please upload the technical and financial offer as one document under “cover letter” and present the CV(s) of the expert(s) proposed in one document under “CV”.

About Translators without Borders
Translators without Borders’ mission is to help people get information and be heard, whatever their language. We work with nonprofit partners and a global community of language professionals to build local language translation capacity, and raise awareness of language barriers. Originally founded in 1993 in France (as Traducteurs sans Frontières), TWB translates millions of words of life-saving and life-changing information a year.

Core Values
Translators without Borders employees and volunteers are people who believe passionately about the value of this work and take personal responsibility for achieving the mission. Translators without Borders’ mission and organizational spirit embody the core values established in its strategic framework:

Excellence: As the leading voice for communicating humanitarian information in the right language, Translators without Borders is a leader in the translation industry and in the non-profit sector.
Integrity: Translators without Borders believes that every person, whether it’s the people who we serve, our volunteers or our staff, has value, deserves respect and has inherent dignity.
Empowerment: Translators without Borders believes in using language to empower people around the world to control their own development and destiny.
Innovation: Translators without Borders recognizes and celebrates the power of innovation to address humanitarian and crisis issues around the world.
Sustainability: Translators without Borders recognizes that meeting our mission necessitates establishment and maintenance of a solid financial and organizational infrastructure.
Tolerance: Our staff and volunteers are highly knowledgeable and skilled; value each other, our partner and our recipients; create a supportive work environment; and conduct themselves professionally at all times.

To apply, please click here