Fast Forward 2030 Lebanon – SDGs Researcher

 About Fast Forward

Fast Forward 2030 was launched in 2015 by Professor Dame Henrietta Moore, Director of University College London’s Institute for Global Prosperity, and Arthur Kay, Chief Executive of bio-bean. The UN Global Compact has since recognized it.

Fast Forward 2030 promotes speculative models for enterprise and behaviors that will help deliver the Sustainable Development Goals. Comprising a handful of young innovators, Fast Forward 2030 reaches out to the next generation of leaders who, by 2030, will be the shapers of institutions, directors of businesses, producers of knowledge, and inventors of the technology.

Fast Forward 2030 Lebanon was set up in 2018 following a series of scoping conversations with entrepreneurs working with the SDGs to uncover the innovations happening in Lebanon that address challenges in sustainable development. 

In Lebanon, Fast Forward 2030 Lebanon is a network and collaborative platform for businesses that incorporate the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into their business models, and use entrepreneurship to solve some of the country's biggest problems. The creation of Fast Forward 2030 London and Lebanon provides an opportunity for entrepreneurs working in both countries to speak with and learn from each other.

About the Job:

The researcher works in all aspects of the development and implementation of the research program. This task entails reviewing the initial proposal to develop the existing research questions and supporting the team in designing the questionnaires, conducting a full literature review on the subject matter in collaboration with the Fast Forward 2030 Lebanon board members , and evaluating and analyzing the data gathered in compliance with the overall objectives of the project. High proficiency in communication skills, regularly reporting back to the board, as well as administrative and time management skills are required to accomplish tasks and responsibilities.

About the project

 The project is aligned with the general and specific objectives that enable society to address Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) through introducing innovative, sustainable, and effective social businesses. As Lebanon is passing through hardships, Fast Forward 2030 Lebanon aims to create a coordination and cooperation project within the society to find solutions for pressing problems. 

 The overall objective of Fast Forward 2030 Lebanon is to enable CSOs and Social Businesses (SBs) in Lebanon to advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) using innovative and efficient tools and means with impactful and measurable results. 

 To achieve this, the first objective will be to support CSOs and SBs in understanding the SDGs’ challenges and opportunities in Lebanon in order to mainstream them within their daily business. 

 This research paper will map CSOs and SBs, social entrepreneurs, and the communities’ needs, to identify and assess existing challenges to SDGs in Lebanon and opportunities to be seized. The research will adopt a participatory approach to identify the main challenges faced in these areas and will consist of the following components:

• Conducting desk research and development of a literature review
• Organizing consultative workshops as well as in-depth interviews
• Transcribing interviews and workshops
• Developing, producing, and disseminating the final report

 The results of this study will allow to inform CSOs, SBs, and community groups, on the real market challenges and current opportunities for realizing SDGs in the Lebanese context, and will form the blueprint of future project design by Fast Forward 2030 Lebanon, or other institutions, interested in bringing forth the SDGs.

Description: Fast Forward 2030 Lebanon, in collaboration with RELIEF Centre, is looking to hire a research assistant on a two months research project in Lebanon. 

Tasks include but are not limited to:  

• Desk research and literature review on SDGs
• Consultative workshops
• In-depth interviews 
• Qualitative analysis 
• Drafting report

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Organize and design qualitative fieldwork that will be conducted often with marginalized or vulnerable people in different locations and contexts. 
• Conduct qualitative analysis of data gathered through interviews, focus groups, workshops or other methods.
• Work closely with others as part of a team and with external stakeholders to manage relationships and deliver work. 
• Produce high quality and varied research outputs for a range of audiences including analysis, report writing and presentations where necessary. 
• Make sure work is participatory, including working with peer researchers and valuing the importance of communicating with different audiences. 
• Take responsibility for data and project management and administration as it relates to delivering work. 
• Manage project-related correspondence.
• Review and edit data to ensure completeness and accuracy of information.

Competencies and Skills:

• Experience in designing quantitative and qualitative research tools.
• Experience in conducting and organizing qualitative fieldwork.
• Experience in conducting qualitative analysis using Excel, Word.
• Experience in conducting robust desk research.
• Evidence of ability to grasp complex concepts, debate quickly, and engage with these effectively through research.
• Evidence of having worked in group settings and/or as part of a cross-organizational or inter-organizational team.
• Evidence of having delivered or contributed to the delivery of high quality social research output.
• Ability to communicate effectively – in writing and in person - about research findings to a range of audiences.
• Ability to communicate clearly with internal and external stakeholders as a representative of Fast Forward 2030 Lebanon. This includes effective negotiation and representation skills
• Working with trustworthiness and integrity and having a clear commitment to Fast Forward 2030 Lebanon core values.
• Well planned and organized, with a capacity for initiative and decision-making 
• Fluent in Arabic and English. 
• Ability to follow citation styles. (bibtex, APA)
• Ability to conduct interviews and hold workshops.
• Knowledge of sustainable development goals and relevant initiatives and solutions, circular economy.