Junior Researcher

About CLS: The Centre for Lebanese Studies (CLS) is an independent academic institution established in 1984 to undertake impartial and balanced research and contribute to Lebanon’s development. CLS’s vision is to develop and advance global and national knowledge, policies, theories and practices to promote a cohesive, equitable and just society.

About the VULNER Project: The project is entitled “How does the law asses, address, shape and produce vulnerabilities of the protection seeks?”. A three year’s comparative research project, VULNER investigates the implementation of the concept of the vulnerability of protection seekers in Lebanon. Involving a legal and empirical study, the project aims to document, evaluate and reflect on how the “vulnerabilities” of protection seekers are being assessed and addressed in the protection regime of Lebanon.

VULNER is a partnership research project between the Centre for Lebanese Studies at the Lebanese American University and Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology, Population Europe/Max-Planck-Institut für demografische Forschung (PE), Catholic University of Louvain, Martin Luther University of Halle Wittenberg, Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, Institutt for Samfunnsforskning (ISF) (Institute for Social Research) in Norway, a Canadian Consortium (the University of Ottawa (uOttawa-ISS), McGill University and York University. It is part of EU’s Horizon 2020 grant.

Main Responsibilities

• Conduct research tasks including mapping and analyzing legislations, regulations, case laws and policies in Lebanon in the field of forced migration
• Support in drafting memos and summaries on legal issues in close coordination with the senior research staff
• Conduct research interviews with key stakeholders such as civil servants, experts and refugees/displaced
• Support fieldwork and data collection
• Support in coding, transcription and data analysis
• Coordinate the project implementation in close collaboration with the senior research staff
• Support in organizing meetings and/or conferences
• Work with a strict framework of research ethics and confidentiality
• Support in other tasks when requested
   

Other Responsibilities

• Represent the Centre in meetings, workshops and conferences in Lebanon
• Support in gathering data for the development of research proposals
• Support the work of the legal program at the Centre if requested

 Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor degree in law. A Masters’ degree in international law and human rights is desirable.
• Minimum of two years’ relevant experience in a research environment.
• Experience in conducting interviews and transcribing data is a plus.
• Proficiency in Arabic and English.
• Analytical and research skills.
• Proven ability to work as part of a team.

The Junior Researcher will communicate her/his activities to the senior research staff at the Centre for Lebanese Studies. The Researcher is expected to travel frequently inside Lebanon to conduct meetings and interviews. All transportation expenses will be covered by the project.