Research Consultant: Inclusion of language and terminology issues in results-based protection measures

Duration: up to 19 days (full-time equivalent)

Location: home-based, remote

Travel: none

Reporting to: Global Researcher

Deadline for applications: 24 November 2023*

*Due to the urgency of this project, screening and interviews will commence immediately and the candidate can be selected at any stage before the closing date.

How to apply

To apply for this consultancy please submit the following documents (applications not presented as specified may be rejected without review):

1. A technical and financial offer to include:

• a brief description (no more than two sides of A4) of how you would tackle this role
• a proposed work plan (including the number of days required for each task)
• a financial offer, specifying daily fees including all costs and taxes (if applicable). Please enter the daily fee again in the ‘Desired Salary’ field of the application

2. Curriculum vitae highlighting experience from similar projects, and the contact details (email and telephone number) of at least three professional references.

Please upload the technical and financial offer as one document under “cover letter” and present the CV(s) of the expert(s) proposed in one document under “CV”.

The candidate can be selected at any stage before the closing date.

The role

The consultant will design, lead and report on the inclusion of language and terminology issues in results-based protection measures, specifically in the context of food security, as a collaboration with project partners to incorporate these issues in their training, data collection and analysis.

Context

Communication in the right language and using terminology and concepts that are understood and accepted is critical to understanding, preventing and responding to protection risks related to food security. Concepts related to protection can be culturally specific, some terms may be stigmatizing or taboo for certain sections of the population, and the use of broad labels may obscure critical distinctions and specific patterns of risk and exposure.

InterAction, in collaboration with CARE, NRC and WFP, is conducting community-based research in Colombia, Niger and Somalia in support of a results-based protection initiative. Findings from participatory community assessments of protection threats, risk and vulnerability related to food insecurity will inform the development of theories of change intended to reduce risk and vulnerability. These theories of change will be reviewed with and validated by communities and will form the basis for protection-focused strategies by humanitarian organizations in the food security sector. Ongoing engagement with communities is planned to track the impact of the action taken over time and enable course correction where needed. The current funding cycle goes to the end of March 2024.

Community engagement throughout this process can be enhanced by communication tailored to communities’ situation, understanding and preferences. InterAction has asked CLEAR Global to support them in identifying what concepts are relevant to the protection threats communities face and which words and expressions different sections of society use to describe them.

Aim of the research

This project aims to provide the tools to support an initial rapid assessment in Somalia and subsequent validation in all 3 countries. Further, it aims to provide an evidence basis and a better understanding of protection-related concepts in languages where these concepts aren’t mainstream. It will do this by:

• Starting the discussion on and raising awareness of language and terminology issues in community protection with the Somalia country group
• Identifying key protection concepts and possible translation issues
• Informing training activities on participatory data collection techniques
• Developing questions and prompts to be incorporated in the participatory initial assessment and validation methodologies to gather data on language and terminology
• Reviewing community validation methodology and advising on ways to take account of local languages and dialects in the process
• Analyzing data collected and learning from the process and providing accessible summaries to inform further project development and wider protection work

The study will be led by InterAction, with input and analysis of language-related data conducted by CLEAR Global.

Responsibilities

Activity 1 - Initial protection terminology development (Somalia):

• Prepare and conduct an introductory session with InterAction and country group members on language and terminology issues.
• On that basis, develop a short initial list of key terms and concepts and translation issues to inform concept mapping.

Activity 2 - Protection concept mapping (Somalia):

• Develop questions and prompts to be incorporated into the participatory initial assessment methodology, for community mobilizers to collect some basic data and insights around the use and translation of key terms and concepts relating to protection.
• Develop training activities to be incorporated into the participatory data collection techniques training for community mobilizers.
• Analyze findings (provided in English) from country teams, in discussion with the InterAction project team, and summarize in a short report (in English).
• Revise methodology for future use based on outcomes and feedback.

Activity 3 - Language analysis and protection concept mapping in the validation process (Somalia, Niger, Colombia):

• Review community validation methodology and advise on ways to take account of local languages and dialects in the process.
• Develop questions and prompts for data collection to be incorporated in the country-specific methodologies for the validation exercise, refining/building on the Somalia concept mapping.
• Develop training activities to be incorporated in the preparatory sessions for community mobilizers to support them in taking language considerations on board in the validation exercise
• Analyze findings from the validation exercise (provided in English) into a short report for each country (in English).

Activity 4 - Case example write-up (Somalia, Niger, Colombia):

• For each context, review learning and challenges from previous stages, consulting/surveying relevant stakeholders as needed
• Analyze, summarize findings and recommendations into a short report (around 5 pages) in English
• Revise/refine tools based on findings and recommendations

The consultant is expected to comply with CLEAR Global’s ethical, research and data protection policies and Code of Conduct at all times during this assignment.

Deliverables

Activity 1:

• short write-up of outcomes, including key terms and issues identified

Activity 2:

• data collection questions and prompts in English;
• training materials in English, to be incorporated into the main training;
• short write-up of findings in English, including a list of key terms with notes and possible translations obtained from community consultation
• revised methodology for future use based on outcomes and feedback.

Activity 3:

• data collection questions and prompts in English;
• country-level methodologies and training materials in English;
• short write-up of findings for all contexts in English, including a list of key terms with notes and possible translations obtained from community consultation

Activity 4:

• accessible, practical short report on learning and recommendations for future action in English (around 5 pages)

The Consultant will coordinate with CLEAR Global’s global teams on the sequencing of the work, which must be completed, with submission of all deliverables, by 31st March 2024.

Requirements

• Masters-level research qualifications, preferably specializing in language-related or anthropological study
• Demonstrated experience in research on protection and sensitive topics
• Demonstrated understanding of language barriers in relation to gender, communication for development, or other humanitarian or development issues
• Experience designing and implementing social science research in humanitarian contexts
• Familiarity with humanitarian programming, particularly communication, community engagement and accountability
• Experience of the Somali, Niger or Colombian context and demonstrated understanding of the social and cultural context strongly preferred
• Verbal and written fluency in English; strong writing skills with a capacity for plain-language communication
• Strong information management skills and a track record of producing analysis clearly grounded in original data
• Demonstrable understanding of ethical data collection and data protection practices
• Mature and collaborative personality, self-starter, flexible and committed

Terms and conditions

The Consultant’s fees will be paid as follows:

• An advance of 20% of the total contract value within 30 days of the signature of the contract
• Interim payments based on deliverables
• A final installment of 20% of the total contract value payable on satisfactory completion of the work and presentation of all deliverables.

The Consultant will be expected to use their own equipment and supplies (laptop, mobile phone, any recording equipment, etc.) and certify that they have their own insurance cover. CLEAR Global will cover the agreed costs related to the assignment.

About CLEAR Global

CLEAR Global exists to help people get vital information, and be heard, whatever language they speak. We believe that everyone has the right to give and receive information in a language and format they understand. We work with nonprofit partners and a global community of language professionals to build local language translation capacity, and raise awareness of language barriers. Our network of over 100,000 community members translate millions of words of life-saving and life-changing information a year.

Core Values

CLEAR Global employees and volunteers are people who believe passionately about the value of this work and take personal responsibility for achieving the mission. CLEAR Global’s mission and organizational spirit embody the core values established in its strategic framework:

Excellence: As the leading voice for communicating humanitarian information in the right language, CLEAR Global is a leader in the translation industry and in the non-profit sector.

Integrity: CLEAR Global believes that every person, whether it is the people who we serve, our volunteers or our staff, has value, deserves respect and has inherent dignity.

Empowerment: CLEAR Global believes in using language to empower people around the world to control their own development and destiny.

Innovation: CLEAR Global recognizes and celebrates the power of innovation to address humanitarian and crisis issues around the world.

Sustainability: CLEAR Global recognizes that meeting our mission necessitates establishment and maintenance of a solid financial and organizational infrastructure.

Tolerance: Our staff and volunteers are highly knowledgeable and skilled; value each other, our partner and our recipients; create a supportive work environment; and, conduct themselves professionally at all times.