Researcher (Consultancy)

The Researcher, in coordination with the Casework Manager and Programs Officer at Anti-Racism Movement (ARM), will produce a report on labor violations that migrant workers in Lebanon face, based on ARM’s data covering 500+ documented cases. The report will also analyze the successes and opportunities for change in ARM’s case management strategies, and seek to document ARM’s feminist and participatory approach to casework with migrant workers. ARM’s casework, and this report, mainly focuses on the situation of migrant domestic workers from different countries as well, as Sudanese refugees and asylum seekers.

This research is part of ARM’s project, “Defending and Advocating for the Rights of Migrant and LGBTQ Workers in Lebanon,” in partnership with Helem. The project aims to improve access to justice for migrant workers in Lebanon through legal casework and information sessions, and build public awareness of these issues.

This project is funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, under the “My Work, My Rights!” project in partnership with Oxfam in Lebanon, the Lebanese Observatory for Workers’ and Employees’ Rights and the Legal Agenda. The goal of the “My Work, My Rights!” project is to contribute to improved protection for individuals involved in the formal and informal labour market in Lebanon.

About Anti-Racism Movement and the Migrant Community Centers

ARM’s mission is to decrease racist discrimination and abuse in Lebanon on the social and institutional levels by advocating for changes in the systems that perpetuate racist exploitative practices, through sensitization, awareness raising, advocacy, and community building for more just social and institutional frameworks in Lebanon. The main focus of our work is on women migrant domestic workers (MDW).

Building on our philosophy that recognizes the importance of community-building work, ARM created the Migrant Community Centers (MCCs). The MCCs are free and safe spaces tailored to migrant workers and evolving according to their needs, where they can meet, learn new skills, work together, and access information, resources and assistance. The MCCs’ mission is to make meaningful improvements in the quality of life of migrant workers in Lebanon and their capacity to self-advocate to advance their socio-economic rights, and to contribute to a strong and powerful migrant civil society, with a focus on women as leaders of change.

About the Project and Report

The report’s objective is to improve ARM’s capacity to document and address labor violations that face migrant workers in Lebanon.

The researcher will help analyze 500+ cases documented and addressed by ARM, to better understand violations facing migrant workers in Lebanon and past strategies used to address them. Findings of the internal report will inform ARM’s advocacy, capacity-building, and movement-building work around MDWs rights in Lebanon. In addition, three short external guides will be produced summarizing the various sections of the report, in order to share findings around violations, case strategies, and feminist casework approaches.

Researcher responsibilities include:

1. Attend orientation and training sessions on relevant research procedures and ARM casework with the Casework Manager and Programs Officer.

2. Lead in the development of research strategies for data collection and analysis.

3. Implement data protection procedures to maintain the confidentiality of sensitive data and the safety of individuals involved in research activities.

4. Conduct research activities that include:

   1. Cleaning, categorization, and analysis of casework data (500+ cases of labor and other human rights violations currently facing migrant workers in Lebanon)

   2. Conduct ~5 interviews with caseworkers and other individuals who can provide helpful information for the study

   3. Review literature related to (a) the social, economic, and legal situation of migrant workers in Lebanon and (b) effective feminist radical social work/casework strategies.

   4. Overall data analysis, in collaboration with the Casework Manager and Programs Officer.

   5. Produce a high-quality internal report within the project deadline (see details below)

   6. Producing three brief Arabic/English external guides based on the various sections of the report (see details below)

The internal report (a minimum of 15 pages) should cover:

1. Brief background

2. Methodology (quantitative and qualitative review of cases, interviews, literature review)

3. Analysis

   1. Types of labor and other human rights violations currently facing migrant workers in Lebanon

   2. Types of cases that ARM is/is not able to successfully address, based on our capacities and systemic barriers

   3. Existing and possible effective feminist casework strategies and interventions that can be used by caseworkers, NGOs, and interested activists in Lebanon

4. Recommendations

   1. How can ARM casework improve in order to be able to more effectively respond to different types of cases, in a manner that both respects the person's agency and addresses their underlying needs?

   2. What are the best practices for feminist casweork, for ARM and beyond?   

The brief external guides will include:

1. Three brief Arabic/English external guides (1-2 pages each), adapted from the various sections of the report. Each guide will summarize one aspect of the report:

   1. Types of labor and other human rights violations facing migrant workers in Lebanon

   2. Successful/unsuccessful case strategies, and related analysis of capacities and systemic barriers

   3. Feminist casework strategies

Deliverables

1. Internal research report (a minimum of 15 pages)

2. Three brief Arabic/English external guides (1-2 pages each).

Work schedule and duration of contract

• 17 hours per week (or 72 hours/month).

• The consultancy agreement covers two months of work (approximately 18 full days of work).

• Start date: preferably from the end of April 2019.

Remuneration & Benefits

• A sum of $1300-$1400 payable over two installments (one at the beginning of the consultancy and one after the submission of the final report).

Desired Qualifications

• An advanced degree in social sciences or related studies (or equivalent work experience) that placed a strong emphasis on both research methodology and context analysis.

• Training and/or experience with qualitative and quantitative research techniques.

• A minimum of two years of work experience in a related field.

• Ability to work with a high degree of autonomy within the research project (strong initiative and follow-through, capacity to think creatively and strategically, excellent editing skills).

• Ability to engage with and analyze relevant literature.

• Ability and sensitivity to conduct interviews with a wide range of people.

• Ability to produce high-quality written material within the required deadlines.

• Proficiency in English (spoken-read-written) and Arabic (spoken-read-written).

• Patience, tolerance, in addition to strong planning and organizational skills.

• Interest in gender, racial, and socioeconomic justice.

• Knowledge about the Kafala system and the situation of migrant workers in Lebanon is a plus.