***Only candidates with the relevant right to work will be considered***

[Interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis and interested candidates are urged to apply immediately. Expected start date is September 10th, 2023]

KEY INFORMATION

Job Title: Researchers to conduct and transcribe interviews for Tasdeer’s Midline Assessment

Duration/Level of Effort: Short-Term Researcher Contract for 15 to 20 working days

Position Location: total of three researchers; two in the West Bank and one in Gaza

Reporting Lines and Managerial Responsibilities: This role reports to Tasdeer M&E Advisor

Terms of Reference

The Project: FCDO Trade Facilitation and Customs Support (Tasdeer)

The FCDO Trade Facilitation and Customs Support programme (Tasdeer) is a £15m programme financed by FCDO and implemented by a Cowater-led consortium and is operational from 2020 – 2025. The objective of Tasdeer is to improve the trade performance and customs capabilities in the OPTs. It will ultimately contribute to increased inclusive export-led economic growth. The programme is designed to be flexible, adaptable and ensures the diverse groups of women and men are benefiting from the opportunities and results of Tasdeer by applying Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) tools. Tasdeer will work politically and technically to make progress across the four-key interrelated workstreams.

· Workstream 1: Support to expedite the movement of goods and reduce transaction costs.

· Workstream 2: Support to improve Palestinian trade-related institutions and business enabling environment.

· Workstream 3: Support to improve the private sector’s skills and innovation to export and create jobs.

· Workstream 4: Support to improve PA’s customs readiness to assume functions from Israel and revenues from trade-related taxes.

The Midline Assessment

The purpose of the midline study is to update Tasdeer’s understanding of the trading system dynamics and how they have changed since the baseline study conducted in 2021. In addition to identifying possible changes in the system, the midline study also aims to point out how Tasdeer addressed the issues highlighted in the baseline report through the implemented interventions.

The selected candidates will need to be available to undertake this task for a period of three weeks of data collection across either the West Bank or Gaza starting on September 10, 2023.

Description of Role: RESEARCHERS

Under the supervision of TASDEER’s M&E team, and in close collaboration with the TASDEER team in Palestine, the researchers will conduct interviews to collect data from selected respondents, including translating and transcribing the details of the interviews. If interviews are conducted over video calls (computer), researchers will need to attend the remote calls and take the necessary notes. Whenever possible, interviews should be recorded.

Interviewees include women, men, youth and people with disabilities (PWD), located in different governorates. The researchers will be trained and provided with an interview guide that will include the instructions to be used during the interviews and a list of all individuals to be interviewed.

After the interviews, the transcripts and any additional interview notes (time, location and observations) will be submitted to the TASDEER team in English, and the researcher will be expected to address any concerns or queries. Once the data has been accepted, the researcher may be asked to participate in our brief session and assist in some initial part of the preliminary data analysis, which will be conducted by the M&E team.

We expect that a total list of 80-90 respondents will be identified for participation in the study. However, the quantity assigned for each researcher will be scheduled and confirmed with the successful candidate(s) upon selection.

The selected candidates will need to be available to undertake this task for a period of three weeks of data collection across either the West Bank or Gaza starting on September 10th, 2023.

Roles and Responsibilities

· Review the interview guide and make any recommendations to improve it.

· Participation in training organized by TASDEER. This may include any other personnel whom the researcher may engage to assist him/her in conducting/subscribing to the interviews.

· Conduct and transcribe interviews using the identified interviewees list.

· Maintain total fidelity to what was said by the interviewee and highlight the possible inaudible parts.

· Whenever needed, translate interview questions from English to Arabic and answers from Arabic into English. The final transcript should be submitted to TASDEER in English.

· Take the needed measures and be responsive to accommodate the interviewees’ most convenient environment; these include but not limited to infrastructure and location, times, safety, mobility requirements, and technologies.

· Respond to queries raised by the M&E team on the submitted data, recontacting respondents as required.

· Regularly update the KMRL director on progress and share any concerns in a timely manner.

· Submit a final reviewed copy of the raw English transcripts to the M&E team.

· Attend an out brief session on the nature of the interviews to keep in mind for this and future assessments.

· Where applicable, apply gender and inclusion analytical frameworks to highlight the constraints and opportunities for the marginalized groups, disaggregated by respondents’ sex, age, disability and location), reporting any specific recommendations to address throughout the implementation of the different interventions.

Duration

The successful candidates will be offered a short-term researcher contract for 15 to 20 working days, based on the number of interviews that are required. The contract will be completed before November 30th, 2023.

Deliverables

In line with these duties and accountabilities, the researcher is expected to deliver the below outputs within the given timeframe:

· Provide comments on the interview questionnaire and interview guide developed by the TASDEER team.

· Complete attendance in the training organized by the TASDEER team.

· Translation of questionnaires from English to Arabic.

· As an initial deliverable, submit a sample interview transcription for approval before commencing the remaining interviews.

· A list of all conducted interviews upon completion.

· A final copy of quality assured qualitative data (transcription), with all queries from the TASDEER team addressed in English.

· Attendance at the Out brief discussion on data collection.

Required Expertise and Competencies

· A university degree in a relevant discipline (Economic Development, Trade, Commerce, and/or Private Sector Development). A focus on qualitative analysis is a plus.

· Researchers, with proven experience in conducting qualitative research, social assessments.

· Demonstrate awareness of gender and inclusion issues in economic development and trade, familiar with using GESI analytical frameworks.

· Proven experience in using methods for qualitative data collection in programme assessments, with examples provided where possible.

· Demonstrate knowledge of the political, social and economic context in Palestine, and its impact on the private sector, including diverse groups of women and men across different locations, and their participation in economic and trade-related activities.

· Strong communication skills and sensitivity to participants of the study.

· Language Skills: Very good skills in Arabic and English: Speaking, Reading and Writing.

· Tasdeer offers equal employment opportunities, qualified women and men, Youth, PWDs are encouraged to apply.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible, no later than 4:00 pm Monday 28th of August 2023 to hr@tasdeer.ps  We will assess applications on a rolling basis.

Candidates must submit the following to be considered:

· Maximum 3-page CV.

· 1-page cover letter describing interest and qualifications.

· 2-3 references who can describe your qualifications in conducting qualitative research similar to this assignment.

· Letter of commitment to availability for the timeframe.

For your application to be considered, please upload your documents as follows: Candidate Last Name, First Name, date, Title of the Position.

Cowater International is an equal opportunity employer, basing employment on merit and qualifications as they relate to professional experience and position expectations. Cowater does not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of race, religion, sex, gender identity, disability, age, or any other basis protected by law.

We thank all applicants, however only those shortlisted will be contacted.

Interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis until all roles are filled. Interested candidates are urged to apply immediately.

ABOUT US

With more than 35 years’ experience, Cowater International is Canada’s global leader in management consulting services specializing in international development and has managed the implementation of over 800 projects in more than 80 countries around the globe. We work with governments, partner organizations, communities and civil society to design and implement sustainable solutions that generate lasting social, financial and environmental impacts. Our adaptive approach to management has led to our award-winning work and recognition as one of Canada’s Best Managed Companies in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021. Headquartered in Ottawa, Canada, Cowater International also has corporate offices in Montreal, Quebec; London, United Kingdom; Nairobi, Kenya; and Brussels, Belgium, in addition to project offices in a wide variety of other locations across Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia.

We thank you for your interest in building a better tomorrow with Cowater International.