MEDIA SECTOR RESEARCHER, USAID/ WEST BANK/GAZA MENA MELS ACTIVITY, REMOTE

Management Systems International (MSI), a Tetra Tech Company, is a Washington, D.C. metro area management consultancy with a 40-year history of delivering results for our clients. Our expertise is in the fields of monitoring and evaluation; democracy and governance; peace and stability; rule of law and accountability; education; gender and inclusion; strategic communications; and leadership and organizational development. MSI has implemented projects in 90 countries around the world such as Colombia, Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Syria and Ukraine, and works domestically. We support clients ranging from the U.S. Government (e.g., the U.S. Agency for International Development, U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Departments of State and Labor, and the Millennium Challenge Corporation) to large bilateral and multilateral donors (e.g., the World Bank and the United Nations Development Program). We also work with national and local governments, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), think tanks, foundations and universities. For more information, please visit our website at www.msiworldwide.com.

Project Summary:

MSI implements USAID’s Middle East & North Africa Monitoring, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Services (MENA MELS) Activity, which supports the design and implementation of rigorous research, assessments, evaluations and learning activities for USAID’s Middle East Bureau and its operating units (OU) in 10 countries in the Middle East and North Africa, including the West Bank and Gaza. The USAID/ West Bank and Gaza (WBG) Mission’s Democracy, Rights and Governance team commissioned a rapid assessment of the democracy, rights and governance sector in the West Bank. The rapid assessment is being carried out in two phases; phase one (completed) studied local governance institutions and ecosystems in the West Bank. Phase two will examine the broader DRG sector at the national level, including the key actors, institutions, organizations and government and donor funded initiatives that advance good governance at the national level. The purpose is to identify entry points for USAID programming and provide USAID/WBG with actionable and specific programmatic recommendations in the following areas: governance transparency, accountability and anti-corruption, legal education, media in the West Bank and Gaza, and inclusion of women, youth, and people with disabilities (PWD) in government and semi-government institutions, including access to government and public services, and initiatives by civil society and non-governmental organizations working in the governance space. The period of performance is on/about February 24, 2023 – April 20, 2023, with up to 45 days of LOE.

**Please note: All Palestinian citizens are eligible for this position.**

Position Summary:

The Media Sector Researcher will identify how media outlets and organizations currently support good governance in ways that can be expanded or amplified by USAID under the direct supervision of the Team Lead, and in close collaboration with the other members of the research team. There will be a particular focus on what independent media institutions need in order to contribute more effectively to better and more accountable governance across the West Bank and Gaza. The Researcher will identify potential partners and entry points for USAID support that offer practical approaches and programmatic interventions that support the role of the media in promoting democratic governance and civic participation. The Researcher will also explore the extent to which women, youth, and people with disabilities are employed by media organizations and outlets and are represented in media programming, along with recommendations for increasing their access and participation. This role will be located in West Bank.

Responsibilities:

• Participate in a kick-off planning workshop to review the approved rapid assessment work plan, including research approach and methods, roles and responsibilities of team members, activity timeline and deliverables, communication protocols, and draft data collections tool.
• Identify key national-level actors, government, semi-government, and non-governmental institutions and organizations for their respective focus area, along with key informants and further refine the data collection tools for their focus area. 
• Conduct desk research as well as organize and conduct key informant interviews with media stakeholders or those with a view of the media landscape. 
• Provide typed notes from interviews need to be uploaded on a shared folder within 48 hours of interviews being completed.
• Identify potential entry points and partners for USAID programming to strengthen media interventions that promote good governance, accountability, and transparency.
• Submit to the Team Lead and Activity Manager an internal report in English with summary findings and recommendations to inform development of the rapid assessment draft report.
• Participate in weekly check-in calls with the Team Lead, MSI Activity Manager and MSI WBG buy-in Team Lead to share information and insights, discuss findings and emerging recommendations, ensure overall coherence and consistency of the research across focus, and mainstream inclusion and other cross cutting themes that emerge. 

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Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in social science, public policy and/or research, or related subjects required.
• Minimum eight years of relevant experience, including in the West Bank and Gaza, required.
• Experience and knowledge of the media landscapes in West Bank and Gaza, including international donor support for independent media strengthening required.
• Experience researching, including conducting literature review/desk study and in-person semi structured interviews required.
• Experience with USAID WBG Mission is highly preferred.
• Established existing networks with senior officials and technical staff of media institutions and initiatives, as well as other experts in the field among academics and civil society required.
• Ability to travel to the West Bank at short notice.
• Ability to conduct remote interviews with stakeholders in Gaza is required while travel to Gaza is not necessary.
• Strong communication, presentation, and writing skills required.
• Fluency in written and spoken English and Arabic is required.

MSI is an equal opportunity employer that values diversity and inclusion. We strive to develop and maintain a culture that honors the perspectives and identities of our employees, our communities and those impacted by our work.

We do not discriminate on the basis of any protected attribute, including race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital or veteran status, pregnancy or disability, or any other basis protected under applicable law. In accordance with applicable law, we make reasonable accommodations for applicants’ and employees’ religious practices and beliefs, as well as any mental health or physical disability needs.

MSI is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action/Americans with Disabilities/Veterans Employer.

Reasonable Accommodations:

MSI is dedicated to hiring an inclusive workforce. If you would like to request reasonable accommodations during the application process, please visit Tetra Tech’s Disability Assistance Page. Our recruitment team looks forward to engaging in an interactive process to provide reasonable accommodations for candidates.

Only candidates who have been selected for an interview will be contacted. No phone calls, please.

Interested and qualified candidates can apply online through Apply Now-button below