Research Associate - Consultant

Written By YLabs

NAMPULA, MOZAMBIQUE - REMOTE

ABOUT YLABS

YLabs is a leading global design and research organization designing technologies that amplify youth power, agency, and opportunity. Founded in 2014 at the Harvard Innovation Lab, YLabs partners with young people to co-create inclusive digital products and services that improve their lives. Our design process opens spaces where young people’s ideas can become a reality – where they are the architects of the solutions to their most pressing challenges.

YLabs multidisciplinary team delivers youth-driven innovation and impact at scale. Our team combines expertise in youth-driven design with adolescent health, climate, livelihoods, digital product design, behavioural science, and epidemiology. Based in Rwanda and the USA, we’ve worked in 18 countries to date on projects spanning three focus areas: optimum health and wellness, improved economic opportunity, and increased climate resilience.

Find out more about our projects here: https://www.ylabsglobal.org/work

JOB SUMMARY

We are seeking a Nampula-based, Portuguese-speaking Research Associate to support a project in Mozambique. The project aims to increase the realisation of sexual and reproductive health and protection rights for adolescents and young people in Nampula province. As a research associate, you will play a critical role in understanding SRH challenges through research and co-creating solutions, supporting the team in recruiting and interviewing youth, healthcare providers and other community members for an assessment to understand current SRHR-related issues young people face. You will also help the team to shape interventions tailored to the Mozambican context. This is a great opportunity to gain experience in the human-centred design approach while working to improve access to health services for youth.

JOB TYPE

This is a part-time, independent contractor (consultancy)  position based in Nampula province, Mozambique. The contract duration will be 12 months, with a possibility of renewal upon expiry. The anticipated start date for this contract is January 2024.

LOCATION
This is a remote role, based in Nampula province, Mozambique. The successful candidate should be based in Nampula as they will be required to do a lot of field visits within the province. They must be familiar with the region, including local cultures, languages, and logistical dynamics, to effectively engage with youth and community stakeholders.

ABOUT YLABS’ COMPENSATION

YLabs adheres to Project Fair’s principles and standards to establish equity in pay with the overriding principle of “equal pay for work of equal value” outlined in the Sustainable Development Goals. All salary ranges are based on level within the organization and are competitive to regional and national salary benchmarks, based on the respective office location.

PAY RATE

The pay range for this position is $120-$148 per day of engagement, commensurate with experience. This range is regionally benchmarked for a junior-level position in the East and South Africa regions. YLabs pays all full-time staff salaries in the local currency of the staff member’s permanent work location.

YOU WILL:

Research - 50%

  • Support with conducting interviews with young people, caretakers, healthcare providers and community leaders in Nampula to understand SRH-related issues young people face.

  • Co-facilitate co-design sessions with young people to create solutions to address challenges young people face.

  • Co-facilitate team training on conducting interviews and testing research tools.

  • Support the team with testing prototypes with community members.

  • Support recruitment of research participants

  • Support in ensuring the accurate and timely data collection during the interviews and field visits

Analysis - 40%

  • Support the team with qualitative data analysis and creating insights to inform the creation of potential solutions to test.

  • Co-facilitate shareback sessions with partners to communicate learnings from the field.

Logistics and Field Coordination - 10%

  • Support in the coordination of the field visits and logistics related to interviews, including securing venues, transport and others

YOU ARE:

  • Currently based in Nampula province, Mozambique.

  • Experienced in conducting qualitative research on sensitive topics such as SRH and with vulnerable groups

  • Experience working on sexual and reproductive health topics and/ or HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment initiatives 

  • Proactive in recommending how to adapt the research approach based on evidence.

  • An excellent collaborator who understands working with a diverse, multi-cultural team.

YOU HAVE:

  • 2-4 years of experience in qualitative user interviews and focus groups

  • Demonstrated ability to recruit research participants, especially youth

  • Knowledge of local cultural norms and gender dynamics in Nampula

  • Experience in community-based participatory research and facilitation with vulnerable populations, including adolescents and young people, is highly desirable. 

  • Experience in understanding and application of research practices. 

  • Fluency in Portuguese, eMakhuwa or Koti and English. Fluency in other languages spoken in Nampula is a plus.

  • Experience facilitating workshops or training is highly desirable.

APPLICATION PROCESS

This posting will be open from October 29 - November 29. 

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis by our Hiring Committee. YLabs recognizes the effort that goes into submitting an application; all applications received during the posting period will be reviewed, and all candidates will be notified of their application status once the hiring process begins.

All YLabs offers of employment are conditional on satisfactory background check and criminal record clearances.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

YLabs is committed to building teams and policies that promote equity, justice, and belonging at work.  We strongly encourage people from all cultures, races, educational backgrounds, socio-economic classes, sexual orientations, age, gender, and physical abilities to apply. We do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, familial status, marital status, caregiver status, or any other category protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

YLabs http://www.ylabsglobal.org
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