Paid Research Internship: Mapping Legal Aid Needs of Palestinian Refugee Youth in Jordan, Lebanon and Palestine

As part of Al Nahda Thought Center for Research’s theme "The Question of Palestine," the Arab Renaissance for Democracy and Development (ARDD) invites young researchers in Jordan, Palestine and Lebanon to apply to a paid internship opportunity. The internship will include a training on action research (methodology and writing). The interns will be tasked to collect data from their communities on legal aid needs for Palestinian refugee youths. Findings of the research will be disseminated regionally, including during a regional meeting.

Kindly apply by sending your motivation letter and CV to Hadeel Qatamin: hqatamin@ardd-jo.org.

The deadline for submitting applications is December 10, 2020.

The timeframe for the study is from 15 December 2020 to 25 January 2021. The training will be for three days (15-17 December 2020).

Terms of Reference for Research

Mapping Legal Aid Needs of Palestinian Refugee Youth in Jordan, Lebanon and Palestine

BACKGROUND/Introduction

Justice is an essential part of the democratic system. Inability to access justice for all persons causes the courts and laws to fail in enabling the rights guaranteed by legislation. Building on the understanding of the fundamentality of access to justice, ARDD contributes by supporting marginalized individuals and communities—including refugees and migrants — in acquiring and enjoying their social, political and economic rights. It does so through the Aid Department’s provision of legal aid and through evidence-based knowledge production at ARDD’s Al Nahda Thought Center for Research. Services encapsulate mediation, consultation and court representation services, in addition to legal education to these groups through awareness raising sessions. The focus of this study is on legal aid needs for Palestinian refugee youths (aged 15 to 24) in specific, which are living in the camps in Jordan, Lebanon and Palestine. Legal status issues, political fragmentation, dire economic conditions, and insufficient political support often characterize systematic difficulties Palestinian refugees in the region experience. The study will address the main legal challenges experienced by youths and build upon ARDD’s previous work on Palestinian refugees in the region.

Problem Statement

Palestinian refugee youths in the region face various legal restrictions depending on their legal status, which also limits opportunities for social and political participation. The problems are often linked directly to protracted displacement, precarious legal status and social stigma, but also reflect general problems that youths encounter in relation to employment, housing, personal injury, harassment, marriage and/or divorce, and other law-related matters as Palestinian refugees. Young women are particularly vulnerable due to patriarchal cultural norms that may negatively impact their access to education and reproductive rights.  

Objectives

Overall Objective: raise awareness of key legal services, legal needs, challenges, opportunities, and gaps for the youth communities of Palestinian refugees in each of their countries of domicile (Jordan, Lebanon and Palestine).  and opportunities to bridge gaps of legal aid need.

Specific Objectives:

1.     Contribute to the visibility of active actors providing legal aid to Palestinian refugee youths;

2.     Improve self-help and community education to help Palestinian refugees understand their rights and responsibilities.

Activities

The study consists of a desk review part and a field research part in Palestinian refugee camps in Jordan, Lebanon and Palestine:

• Receiving training on research methodology: Structure of the research document; awareness of research sources and how to access them, the design of questionnaires and how to conduct an interview; research ethics, consent forms, compiling data, and structuring the final products.
• Conducting desk and field research related activities (interviews)
• Communicating the results, summaries and findings with the Al Nahda team member (focal point).
• Reviewing the research report with the focal point.
• Presenting the research in a joint regional workshop by the researcher. 

Qualifications

ARDD will mobilize the services of three dedicated Research Interns that are familiar with the various issues related to the living conditions and legal aid provided for Palestinian refugees in Jordan, Lebanon and Palestine. In addition to:

·       Minimum of one-year of demonstrated practical experience in volunteering in refugee communities and/or assisting in research on socio-economic issues related to Palestinian youth;

·       Demonstrated interest in policy and research;

· Native-level ability to communicate effectively in Arabic;

·       High levels of emotional intelligence, flexibility, and ability to work in a fast-paced environment.

·       Familiarity with the legal and social context in Jordan and Lebanon;

·       Familiarity with existing CBOs in Palestinian refugee camps; 

·       Knowledge of issues related to international protection and national legislation;

·       Proficiency in English is desirable;

·       Excellent analytical, writing, and organizational skills;

·       Experience handling sensitive information preferred.

Reporting requirements and specifications

The timeframe for the study is from 15 December 2020 to 25 January 2021 (one month). The training will be for three days (15-17 December 2020).

·       Data collection and desk research will be during 18-31 December 2020.

·       The first draft will be delivered by 7 January 2021.

·       The final draft is due by 15 January 2021.

·       The presentation is on 18 January 2021.

·       A complete, comprehensive report is to be completed by 25 January 2021. 

Remuneration

The remuneration for the assignment is JOD 180 per intern.

Response Date

Applications to be sent in a form of motivation letter and CV to hqatamin@ardd-jo.org 

Final date for the receipt of applications is 10 December 2020.