Consultant for Documentation of First-Time Voters' Perspectives

Job Posting Organization:
Relief International (RI) is a humanitarian organization dedicated to alleviating human suffering and supporting those in need through effective and sustainable solutions. Established with a mission to provide assistance in crisis situations, RI operates in various countries, focusing on health, education, and economic development. The organization emphasizes the importance of safeguarding and ethical practices in all its operations, ensuring that the rights and dignity of individuals are respected. RI values integrity, adaptability, collaboration, inclusivity, and sustainability, and is committed to the core humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence. The organization has a diverse workforce and engages in numerous programs aimed at empowering communities and fostering resilience.

Job Overview:
The consultancy position involves developing an engaging, evidence-based feature article that captures the voices and experiences of first-time voters following their participation in the electoral process. The consultant will be responsible for reviewing relevant program materials, analyzing findings from focus group discussions (FGDs), and identifying key themes and insights. The article should not only describe the activities conducted by the Y-LEAD program but also delve into the emotions and reflections of young voters, exploring their learning experiences and how they perceive their roles in democratic participation. The consultant will need to conduct follow-up interviews if necessary and ensure that the final article is suitable for publication and external communication, adhering to the guidelines set by RI and Y-LEAD.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant's duties will include reviewing Y-LEAD program materials and documentation, analyzing findings from four FGDs conducted with students, identifying key themes and insights across the schools, capturing the perspectives of youth peer facilitators, and identifying compelling participant voices for inclusion in the article. The consultant will also conduct limited follow-up interviews to enrich the findings, develop a coherent feature article of approximately 1,500–2,000 words, and revise the draft based on feedback from Y-LEAD/RI. Additionally, the consultant must maintain political neutrality, ensuring that the article does not promote or criticize any political parties or candidates, and must comply with safeguarding and protection requirements throughout the assignment.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must demonstrate experience in journalism, feature writing, communications, qualitative research, or documentation. Strong writing and editing skills in English are essential, along with experience in conducting or analyzing interviews and FGDs. The ability to transform qualitative findings into compelling narratives is crucial. Experience working with youth or development programs is advantageous, as is an understanding of the BARMM context. A demonstrated understanding of safeguarding, confidentiality, and politically sensitive documentation is also required.

Educational Background:
While specific educational qualifications are not explicitly stated, candidates are likely expected to possess a degree in journalism, communications, social sciences, or a related field that supports the skills necessary for qualitative research and feature writing.

Experience:
The position requires demonstrated experience in relevant fields such as journalism, communications, or qualitative research. Candidates should have a proven track record of conducting interviews and analyzing qualitative data, as well as experience in writing compelling narratives based on research findings. Familiarity with youth engagement and development programs is considered an asset, and understanding the socio-political context of the BARMM region is desirable.

Languages:
Fluency in English is mandatory, as strong writing and editing skills in English are essential for the role. Knowledge of additional languages may be beneficial but is not specified as a requirement.

Additional Notes:
The consultancy will run from October 15 to November 13, 2026, following the elections held on September 24, 202

• The consultant will report to the Y-LEAD BARMM Project Manager and will coordinate closely with the Y-LEAD team throughout the assignment. All major deliverables will be subject to review and approval by Y-LEAD/RI. The consultant must adhere to strict political neutrality and comply with safeguarding and ethical standards throughout the assignment. The role is expected to be part-time, focusing on the deliverables outlined in the job description.