Researcher

Mercy Corps • Lebanon, PA

2d

About The Position

Mercy Corps is seeking a Researcher to support the 'Strengthening Regional Policy Dialogue and Partnerships on Solutions' project, funded by the RDPP. This project aims to promote adaptive solutions for Syrian refugees through evidence-based policy dialogue, advocacy, and strategic alliance-building. The Researcher will contribute to a study exploring market opportunities and MSME potential in Lebanon, focusing on cross-border cooperation with Syria. The goal is to generate evidence that helps advocacy and policy actors identify where private sector engagement can contribute to shared prosperity, while also providing operational relevance for programs seeking to build partnerships or design interventions that link refugee livelihoods to sustainable market systems. The analysis will be descriptive, explanatory, qualitative, and interpretive, examining trade channels, predominant sectors, growth potential, incentives, barriers, and the role of digital platforms in cross-border market linkages.

Requirements

• Experience in identifying and sharing relevant existing studies, articles, and other documents.
• Ability to contextualize and translate KII interview guides into Arabic.
• Skills in identifying and engaging with key informants and conducting KIIs.
• Proficiency in producing KIIs transcripts and KII summaries.
• Experience in anonymizing data and importing it into a qualitative coding structure.
• Ability to review and contribute to qualitative research methodology design.
• Capacity to review and contribute to desk research.
• Skills in validating analytical findings.
• Experience in reviewing and contributing to report drafts and final versions.
• Ability to co-present findings internally and externally.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in the context of Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, or Ukraine.
• Familiarity with the humanitarian response in the region.
• Understanding of private sector engagement in development contexts.
• Knowledge of refugee livelihoods and self-reliance strategies.
• Experience with market systems analysis.
• Familiarity with advocacy and policy dialogue processes.
• Experience working with UNDP or other UN agencies.
• Knowledge of cross-border trade dynamics and MSME development.

Responsibilities

• Identifying and sharing relevant existing studies, articles, and other documents related to the research questions.
• Contextualizing and translating KII interview guides into Arabic.
• Identifying and engaging with key informants and conducting KIIs with an agreed list of stakeholders.
• Producing KIIs transcripts and KII summaries, ensuring they are anonymized and imported into a qualitative coding structure.
• Reviewing and contributing to the lead consultant’s design of the qualitative research methodology.
• Reviewing and contributing to the lead consultant’s desk research.
• Validating analytical findings with the lead consultant and the CA regional manager for external stakeholder engagement.
• Reviewing and contributing to the lead consultant’s drafts and final versions of the inception and final reports, and possibly required presentations.
• Co-presenting initial findings internally to Mercy Corps and UNDP, and externally.

Benefits

• Equal employment opportunities to all employees and qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristics protected under applicable law.
• Commitment to ensuring that all individuals are treated with respect and dignity.
• Adherence to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse.
• A safe and inclusive work environment.
• Professional conduct, respect for local laws and customs, and adherence to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values.
• Mandatory Code of Conduct elearning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed