HLP Consultant

SAWA for Development and Aid is a Civil Society Organization founded initially as a spontaneous initiative in December 2011 to respond to the arrival of the first 40 Syrian families displaced from Syria into the North of Lebanon.

This initiative then grew to include individual activists, locals and internationals, who worked together (literally meaning ‘SAWA’ in Arabic) to share their knowledge and exchange their experiences in order to support Syrians, internally displaced or refugees in neighboring countries, united by their belief in their right to live in dignity, freedom, and to be active individuals in their communities and wherever they are.

SAWA sees itself as part and parcel of the society, and that it is on a continuous learning journey based on a participatory relationship at all levels with the communities that it works with, whether host or displaced, as well as with local and international partners.

SAWA believes that humanitarian, developmental, and civic work has to always strive to achieve social justice, and so it aims to work with individuals and communities through holistic interventions towards a society based on democracy, pluralism, and the values of citizenship and human rights.

Objective of the Role:

IDPs and refugees face particular difficulties in attaining their housing, land, and property (HLP) rights.

The majority of Syrian, be they IDPs or refugees or even remainees, have lost their houses and properties and were forced to flee. Finding shelter in displacement can be one of the toughest challenges, while accessing housings and properties post-return is restricted by many factors, i.e. accessibility to areas of origin, expropriation, level of destruction and the ability of renovation, etc. 

The researcher needs to have knowledge on HLP rights, which entitle IDPs and refugees to a safe and dignified housings, free from eviction. HLP rights are an essential stepping stone for displaced and refugees to rebuild their lives. 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 Assistant Researcher, and evaluate and analyze the data gathered in compliance with the overall objectives of the project.
High proficiency in communication skills, monthly or bi-weekly meetings, as well as administrative and time management skills are required to accomplish tasks and responsibilities.

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 
•    Delivery of particular work strands relating to our research. This will include taking personal responsibility for key elements of work as well as supporting others in the team.
•    Manages and replies to 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 of having conducted robust desk research and knowledge of a range of methodologies for doing this
•    Evidence of ability to grasp complex concepts, debates quickly, and engages with these effectively through research
•    Evidence of having worked in group settings and/or as part of a cross-organizational or inter-organizational team
•    Ability to communicate effectively – in writing and in person - about research findings to a range of audiences
•    Evidence of having delivered or contributed to the delivery of high quality social research output
•    Written and oral communication skills; able to communicate clearly and sensitively with internal and external stakeholders as a representative of SAWA. This includes effective negotiation and representation skills
•    Works with trustworthiness and integrity and has a clear commitment to SAWA’s core values and humanitarian principles
Well planned and organized even within a fluid working environment and has the capacity for initiative and decision-making with competent analytical and problem-solving skills