SPARC Principal Researcher – Innovations in Fragile Contexts

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Position Title: SPARC Principal Researcher – Innovations in Fragile Contexts
Location: Remote
Country: United States
Deadline Date: 24 February

Job Details

Job Posting Organization:
Mercy Corps is a leading global organization established with the mission to create a better world through innovative solutions to complex social issues. The organization has been operational for several years and employs a diverse workforce dedicated to social impact. Mercy Corps operates in multiple countries, focusing on humanitarian aid and development initiatives, particularly in fragile contexts. The organization is committed to using evidence and research to enhance its impact and improve the effectiveness of its programs.

Job Overview:
The SPARC Principal Researcher will play a crucial role in the SPARC consortium, which aims to strengthen the resilience of agricultural and pastoral livelihoods in fragile drylands. This position involves refreshing the original innovation landscape review and synthesizing research findings to extract lessons learned and propose investment areas for donors and governments. The researcher will collaborate with SPARC researchers and industry experts to analyze the innovation ecosystem and ensure that innovations are evidence-based and scalable. The role requires strategic engagement with various stakeholders to design an Innovation Facility that fosters beneficial innovations in dryland communities.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant will be responsible for reviewing existing SPARC documents to identify cross-cutting recommendations, consulting with industry experts to gather insights on successful innovations, and collaborating with SPARC leadership to develop a dissemination and policy influence strategy. Specific activities include providing technical feedback on internal documents, soliciting feedback from consortium members, mapping innovation archetypes through stakeholder interviews, summarizing lessons learned and investment gaps, and participating in weekly check-in calls. Deliverables include an overview document on innovation in drylands, a dissemination strategy, final study products, and an internal close-out report.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess strong analytical skills, experience in research and evaluation, and a deep understanding of innovation ecosystems in fragile contexts. They should have a proven track record of engaging with diverse stakeholders, including government agencies, NGOs, and private sector actors. Familiarity with agricultural and pastoral livelihoods, as well as experience in policy influence and dissemination strategies, is essential. The ability to work independently and collaboratively in a remote setting is also required.

Educational Background:
A master's degree in a relevant field such as social sciences, development studies, or agricultural economics is required. A Ph.D. is preferred but not mandatory. Candidates should have a strong academic background with a focus on research methodologies and data analysis.

Experience:
The position requires at least 5-7 years of relevant experience in research, particularly in fragile contexts. Experience working with international organizations, donor agencies, or NGOs is highly desirable. Candidates should demonstrate expertise in conducting qualitative and quantitative research, as well as experience in policy advocacy and stakeholder engagement.

Languages:
Fluency in English is mandatory. Proficiency in additional languages relevant to the regions of focus, such as Arabic or French, is considered an asset.

Additional Notes:
The consultancy is remote and is expected to last up to 25 days of full-time equivalent (FTE) work. The consultant will report to the Mercy Corps SPARC Team Lead and will work closely with various team members. The timeline for the consultancy includes specific deadlines for deliverables, with the initial overview document due by 24 February and the final study report due by 31 July.