GDI (Gender, Diversity and Inclusion) Research Assistant

Position Title         : GDI Research Assistant            

Position Type         : Full Time , Service Contract on Daily basis

Location                : Gaza Sky Geeks Gaza

Duration               : Six Months

ABOUT MERCYCORPS:

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within. Now, and for the future.

PROGRAM/DEPARTMENT SUMMARY:

Gaza Sky Geeks (GSG) is Gaza’s leading co-working space, tech education hub, and startup accelerator, run by Mercy Corps, a nonprofit international relief and development organization with programs in the occupied Palestinian territories since the 1980s. Mercy Corps founded GSG in partnership with Google.org in 2011.  We bring together online freelancers, outsourcers, and startup founders together under one roof to share ideas, best practices, code, and build brighter futures through the power of the internet. Gaza Sky Geeks’ overarching goal is to build an internationally competitive technology ecosystem in Gaza through online freelancing, outsourcing, and startups.

GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY:

The GDI (Gender, Diversity and Inclusion) Research Assistant is a 6 months position that will  support gender based research projects and activities that GSG plans to conduct in the coming six month period as well supporting with ongoing GDI activities that will help to produce external materials and mainstreaming of GDI into GSG’s programs and interventions.

Ultimately the GDI Research Assistant role is a short term position to support the GDI function at GSG to achieve its research agenda and establish a long term learning and feedback process for its programming. Key immediate topics for the research include the gender pay gap faced by Palestinian freelancers as well as an exploratory analysis into the gendered-impact of unpaid care/work.

This is a limited tenure role with specific outcomes and objectives.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

The GDI Research Assistant is a highly energised, passionate, detail-oriented and practical researcher who will conduct and support desk research as well as obtaining primary evidence by conducting literature research, data analysis, surveys and interviews / focus groups.

The role will require close collaboration with the MEL and Program team.

Key activities for the role include:

1. Administrative assistance and facilitation for all of the ongoing gender and research projects at GSG.
2. Help on keeping up to date records of proceedings including notes, agendas, and setting meetings between relevant stakeholders at GSG and MC to facilitate smooth project delivery.
3. Help on preparing interview questions and summarizing results based on the research agenda outline and plan.
4. Help arrange, conduct and summarize findings of the regular focus groups conducted for Tech Education current participants and graduates.
5. Help Finalizing the updated Gender Pay Gap analysis second report.
6. Assist with producing the annual gender audit follow up report.
7. Assist with the need assessment for people with disabilities (PWD) in Gaza and WB.
8. Support GDI Officer with initial needs assessment and analysis.
9. Help on sharing clear guidelines and suggested interventions to the community and tech team to help decrease the gap.
10. Follow up on collaboration with female-focused incubators to share lessons learned regarding successful female entrepreneurs
11. Assist on the process collaboration with female-focused incubators to share lessons learned regarding successful female entrepreneurs.
12. Support on sharing one weekly knowledge piece (articles, videos, blogs etc) on Slack (internal) and Discord (community) about GDI.
13. With help of the community team support running a small inclusion audit for the community to measure the level of understanding of the gender, diversity and inclusion.
14. Other ad-hoc tasks as requested by management.

ACCOUNTABILITY

REPORTS DIRECTLY TO:   Gender, Diversity and Inclusion Officer    

WORKS DIRECTLY WITH:  MEL Team, Tech Education Team, Performance and Quality Team, Community Team and Business Development Team.  

Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners, other stakeholders, and to international standards guiding international relief and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

Team members, service contractors, volunteers, and interns are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.

Minimum Qualification & Transferable Skills

• University Degree in related fields and minimum 2 years experience equivalent experience on the field of Gender, Inclusivity and Research.
• Understanding of national and international policy frameworks on gender equality programming.
• Experience working in the gender and environment sector in Palestine.
• Strong verbal and written English language skills; highly skilled at writing and editing documents
• Excellent computer skills in Microsoft Office and Google Suite applications
• Strong teamwork and interpersonal skills
• Ability to work under pressure and manage competing priorities and deadlines
• Facilitate and encourage open communication and strive for effective communication.
• Ability to plan, prioritize and deliver a variety of tasks on time
• Ability to develop creative solutions for arising problems
• Excellent reporting and communication skills, especially in written and oral English
• Ability to travel to WB or Gaza if required.

Success Factors

1. Ability to work in a flat, fast paced environment with others who are passionate about supporting Gaza’s technology ecosystem.
2. Comfort with uncertainty and change—GSG is a small program but growing rapidly. Just like our program, we seek staff who are adaptable and pitch in on what needs to be done.
3. Strong listening abilities in order to understand the needs of Gaza’s freelancing community and

GSG’s tech community.

4. Superb attention to detail.
5. Positive attitude and passion for your work.
6. Proactive, get-stuff-done mentality that always prioritizes outcomes, not just inputs.
7. Excellent written and oral communication skills.
8. Strong interpersonal, conflict resolution and negotiation skills.
9. Excellent time and organizational management skills.
10. Up to date knowledge of technical and industry developments.
11. Excellent ability to work under pressure and carry out multiple tasks simultaneously.
12. Has experience related to Training Field, either as an organizer or a Trainer, being An alumni of GSG technical training is a plus

Ongoing Learning

In support of our belief that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities we serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further their personal and/or professional growth and development

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives.

We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained global impact.

We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.

Safeguarding & Ethics

Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct elearning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.

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Minimum Qualification & Transferable Skills

• University Degree in related fields and minimum 2 years experience equivalent experience on the field of Gender, Inclusivity and Research.
• Understanding of national and international policy frameworks on gender equality programming.
• Experience working in the gender and environment sector in Palestine.
• Strong verbal and written English language skills; highly skilled at writing and editing documents
• Excellent computer skills in Microsoft Office and Google Suite applications
• Strong teamwork and interpersonal skills
• Ability to work under pressure and manage competing priorities and deadlines
• Facilitate and encourage open communication and strive for effective communication.
• Ability to plan, prioritize and deliver a variety of tasks on time
• Ability to develop creative solutions for arising problems
• Excellent reporting and communication skills, especially in written and oral English
• Ability to travel to WB or Gaza if required. 

Success Factors

1. Ability to work in a flat, fast paced environment with others who are passionate about supporting Gaza’s technology ecosystem.
2. Comfort with uncertainty and change—GSG is a small program but growing rapidly. Just like our program, we seek staff who are adaptable and pitch in on what needs to be done.
3. Strong listening abilities in order to understand the needs of Gaza’s freelancing community and GSG’s tech community.

4. Superb attention to detail.
5. Positive attitude and passion for your work.
6. Proactive, get-stuff-done mentality that always prioritizes outcomes, not just inputs.
7. Excellent written and oral communication skills.
8. Strong interpersonal, conflict resolution and negotiation skills.
9. Excellent time and organizational management skills.
10. Up to date knowledge of technical and industry developments.
11. Excellent ability to work under pressure and carry out multiple tasks simultaneously.
12. Has experience related to Training Field, either as an organizer or a Trainer, being An alumni of GSG technical training is a plus

Qualified persons with disability are highly encouraged to apply.

Interested candidates are encouraged to submit an application online HERE no later than Thursday, 06 October 2022

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted. 

Please apply separate application for each position you are interested in.