Jean Monnet Research Project - Land administration and EU Development Policy: gender empowerment, food security and climate change resilience

Terms of Reference: Field Researcher (Land, Jamalpur)

Background

A core component of the Jean Monnet Project “Land administration and EU Development Policy: gender empowerment, food security and climate change resilience” is an original research project focusing on the EU-supported “Sustainable Access to Land Equality” intervention, carried out between 2012 – 2017. The intervention was designed to ensure that marginalised populations and women were able to access a land survey process carried out by the Government of Bangladesh and thereby secure their rights to land. The intervention took place in three upazilas: Jamalpur, Amtali and Mohanpur.

The research will take place in Jamalpur and Mohanpur upazilas.

he research component addresses the following questions:

• Why did the EU choose to intervene on this issue, and in the way it did, specifically with a civil society component (SALE)?
• To the extent that the intervention did succeed, how and why was this possible?
• What were the key determining characteristics of the intervention that led to its success and to what extent are they replicable in Bangladesh and in other contexts?

Role of the Field Researcher (Land, Jamalpur)

The field researcher will play a central role in data collection and in assisting with data analysis, focusing on Jamalpur upazila. As the issues being explored are sensitive, an in-depth ethnographic approach is called for, with a methodological focus being semi-structured interviews. The Field Researcher will be expected to:

• Carry out rigorous semi-structured interviews (in the region of 80 – 120 during the fieldwork period)
• Reflect critically on data collected
• Feedback regularly to Research Supervisor on results and ways to improve the study
• Assist in data analysis
• Knowledge and understanding of research ethics in the field
• Identify and collect relevant primary materials
• Assist in translation of primary materials where necessary
• Assist in analysis of primary materials where necessary

Mandatory Qualifications, Skills and Competencies

• A Master’s degree in relevant discipline
• Minimum five years’ experience in conducting field research on sensitive topics
• Experience working with marginalised communities, especially religious and ethnic minorities
• Ability to think critically and analytically
• Gender aware
• In-depth awareness of issues of social exclusion and marginalisation and how such dynamics play out in Bangladeshi society
• Ability to build rapport swiftly and effectively with people from all social backgrounds
• Bilingual fluency, Bengali / Mandi
• Some knowledge of English

Salary and Working Conditions

Th research period will be from 1st January – 30th April 2020.

Salary: 30,000 taka per month

Per Diem: 500 taka per day for out of pocket expenses (including food and conveyance)

Other benefits: Accommodation in the field will be paid for by the project; limited, unpaid leave may be taken following consultation with the Research Supervisor