Local Researchers

JOB OVERVIEW

The local researchers undertake a research project to investigate, audit, and review selected municipal policies, decisions, expenditure, programs, investments contributing to promoting the rights and addressing the needs of PWD at the local level for three municipalities located in North Lebanon, Central Lebanon, and Bekaa; and then report their findings. The local researchers in direct orientation and supervision from the main researcher will use a variety of methods to gather their information; this can include questionnaires, focus groups, and key informant interviews.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Review of literature: will cover:

- Municipalities policy documents.

- Investments documents from the targeted municipalities.

- The service map in the targeted municipalities’ areas.

- Disability-specific extracts from the municipalities database.

- Assessment of the PWDs in the targeted areas if applicable.

- Other monitoring mechanisms, and guidelines if applicable.

1. Directing and undertaking the development and implementation of KIIs / FGDs schedule: 

The main research consultants will develop interview and focus group formats based on literature/database, and provide one training day for the local researchers.

The local researchers will pilot interviews and focus groups, and then review those interviews, and refine interview/focus group schedules.

1. Collecting, analyzing, and interpreting qualitative and/or quantitative data

• Exercise of the checklist filling with each municipality.

• Individual in-depth interviews with municipalities’ mayors.

• In-depth online focus groups with municipalities’ employees, local development center, and municipal board, in each municipality.

• Individual in-depth interviews with the organizations providing services and programs for PWDs in the area of the 3 municipalities to discuss the services they provide and the dynamics of change in service provision. 

• Individual in-depth interviews with people with disabilities in each municipality area. 

• Online Focus group with 3 community members (local authorities and active members) that will be selected by the municipalities. Focus groups will discuss community perceptions of support to people with disabilities and the dynamics of change in support.

• Online Focus group with 6 groups of people with disabilities to review outcomes of the research.

1. Writing reports
2. Identifying and advising about possible local strategies.