Theirworld is hiring!

Theirworld is hiring for a Youth-Led Research Specialist position – and it’s fully remote!

Position Title: Consultant – Youth-Led Research Specialist
Location: Fully Remote (Global)
Application Deadline: 16 February 2024, 5:00 PM GMT
Contract Type: Consultancy (Project-based)
Estimated Duration: February – October 2024
Remuneration: To be specified in GBP, USD, or EUR (daily rate)

If you’re passionate about peace and security and youth empowerment, and have experience leading inclusive and participatory research, this could be the perfect opportunity for you.

About Theirworld

Founded over two decades ago, Theirworld is a prominent international children’s charity dedicated to ending the global education crisis and ensuring every child has access to quality education, safety, and opportunities for a better future.

Theirworld mobilizes a global movement of young leaders, policymakers, and stakeholders committed to transforming education systems and fostering peace and security worldwide.

Theirworld’s innovative approach includes empowering youth through the Global Youth Ambassador (GYA) programme, which connects over 2,000 young people from more than 140 countries.

These young leaders advocate for education, influence policy, and promote youth-led initiatives for positive change. Theirworld’s work emphasizes the importance of youth participation in peacebuilding, conflict prevention, and education.

Project Background

Conflict, violence, displacement, and instability continue to threaten peace and security across the globe, disproportionately affecting children and young people. These challenges disrupt access to quality education, which is a fundamental human right and a vital tool for peacebuilding, reconciliation, and sustainable development.

Theirworld’s Peace, Security, and Education Task Team aims to harness the potential of youth-led initiatives to foster peace and stability. The team works to:

Build leadership capacity among young people with lived experience of conflict and insecurity
Support youth-led peacebuilding initiatives that leverage education and learning

Generate evidence and recommendations grounded in youth perspectives
Elevate youth voices in policy discussions at national, regional, and global levels

A core component of this effort is a global youth consultation designed to understand young people’s experiences, perspectives, and actions concerning peace, security, and education. The consultation is youth-led, participatory, and aims to produce actionable insights to influence policy and programming.

Role Overview

The Consultant – Youth-Led Research Specialist will provide technical leadership and strategic guidance for designing and implementing the youth consultation process.

The consultant will ensure the process remains youth-led, inclusive, and aligned with Theirworld’s objectives, with particular focus on empowering young people to shape research tools, lead discussions, and analyze findings.

This is a remote consultancy position, suitable for experienced researchers, facilitators, and youth engagement specialists with a background in peacebuilding, conflict, or education sectors.

Key Responsibilities

1. Designing the Youth Consultation Framework

Develop a comprehensive and clear delivery framework for the youth-led consultation aligned with project goals and timelines.
Ensure the framework emphasizes youth participation at every stage, from question design to data analysis.
Coordinate the design of consultation tools, including qualitative surveys and focus group discussion guides, in collaboration with the Youth Team and Task Team members.

2. Capacity Building & Facilitation

Lead capacity-building sessions (virtual and in-person) to equip Task Team members with skills necessary to lead focus groups and analyze data.
Co-create facilitation guides and provide coaching for young leaders to independently facilitate focus groups.
Support the design of safeguarding policies and quality standards to ensure ethical and safe engagement.

3. Data Collection & Analysis

Oversee the implementation of the two-stage consultation process:
- Stage One: Conduct qualitative surveys to gather broad perspectives.
- Stage Two: Facilitate focus group discussions to validate initial findings and deepen insights.
Develop a robust data management and analysis system to organize findings coherently.
Lead thematic analysis of qualitative data, ensuring youth voices are front and center in interpretations.

4. Monitoring & Reporting

Regularly monitor progress and troubleshoot challenges during the consultation phases.
Facilitate reflection sessions with the Task Team to interpret findings, identify themes, and prioritize actions.
Draft comprehensive reports summarizing findings, insights, and recommendations, ensuring youth perspectives are accurately represented.
Support validation workshops, including an in-person three-day training, to confirm findings with young participants.

5. Youth Leadership & Engagement

Ensure that youth leadership remains central throughout the process.
Support young people to design questions, lead discussions, and analyze results.
Promote meaningful youth participation and capacity building for sustainable engagement.

Key Deliverables & Timeline

Phase One – Design & Preparation (February – April 2024)

Finalize the consultation framework collaboratively with the Youth Team.
Design qualitative survey tools, discussion guides, and data collection systems.

Conduct capacity-building workshops (at least two virtual sessions).
Establish safeguarding policies and quality standards.

Phase Two – Stage One Consultation & Initial Analysis (April – June 2024)

Support the rollout of the qualitative survey across diverse youth populations.
Monitor data collection, troubleshoot issues, and support initial analysis.

Facilitate reflection sessions to identify key themes.
Develop and deliver training for Task Team members on facilitating focus groups.

Phase Three – Stage Two Support & Final Reporting (July – October 2024)

Support the implementation of focus groups led by youth.
Analyze focus group data and draft a report highlighting youth insights.

Conduct validation workshops, including an in-person training session.
Finalize and submit a comprehensive report with actionable recommendations.

Consultant Profile & Qualifications

Essential Skills & Experience:

Proven expertise in youth participation and youth-led research methodologies.
Demonstrated experience leading participatory, qualitative research projects with young people, especially in peacebuilding, conflict, or education contexts.
Strong facilitation skills, with experience designing and delivering capacity-building sessions.

Familiarity with safeguarding policies and ethical considerations in youth engagement.
Experience working with marginalized or vulnerable youth populations, including displaced or conflict-affected young people.

Ability to translate research findings into policy or programmatic recommendations.
Excellent communication skills in English; additional languages are a plus.

Preferred Qualifications:

Advanced degree in social sciences, peace studies, international development, or related fields.
Experience working in international development or with NGOs on peace and security issues.

Knowledge of qualitative research tools, including surveys and focus group facilitation.
Experience with data analysis software and reporting.

MORE JOB OPENINGS:

Application Process

Interested applicants should submit:

A CV detailing relevant experience.
A one-page cover letter outlining previous experience with youth-led research, participatory methodologies, and how they meet the specifications outlined above.
Proposed daily rate in GBP, USD, or EUR.

Applications should be sent via email to Dawn Humphreys, Director of Youth Engagement, at dawn@theirworld.org. Please include “Youth-Led Research Specialist Application” in the subject line.

APPLY HERE FOR THIS ROLE

Submission Deadline

All applications must be received by 16 February 2024, 5:00 PM GMT. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and early submissions are encouraged.

Why Join Theirworld?

This is a unique opportunity to contribute meaningfully to global peacebuilding efforts by empowering youth voices. The consultant will work with a passionate team committed to making a tangible difference in children’s lives worldwide. The role offers flexibility, remote working, and the chance to influence policy and practice at the highest levels.

Theirworld is seeking a Consultant – Youth-Led Research Specialist (Remote)

Job Description