National NGO Study and Service Centre (NSSC) Research and Design - Senior and Junior Network Analysts

Program Background   ·         Over the last 15 years CSOs and NGOs in Indonesia have been among the key drivers of political, economic and social reform as part of Indonesia’s transition towards a democratic, middle-income country, including on issues such as women’s rights, corruption, and freedom of information.  Indonesian civil society organisations have also made critical contributions to enhancing inclusive and sustainable development, ensuring that those most in need are able to live healthy and productive lives. ·         NGOs in Indonesia operate in all DFAT – Australian Aid priority development areas and therefore the improved functioning of NGOs as organisations, and the NGO sector more broadly, would support significant development impacts. ·         While the NGO sector in Indonesia has considerable strengths, it also has many challenges that cannot be addressed through donor programs that are focused solely on project outcomes. These challenges include dependence on donor funding, high staff turnover, poor use of research, limited documentation of work, lack of an effective intermediary and support sub-sector, and poor public accountability. Successfully addressing these challenges would lead to improved NGO efficiency and effectiveness, and in turn poverty reduction outcomes in Indonesia. ·         A project is underway to design a facility for the National NGO Study and Service Centre for Poverty Reduction and Development (NSSC).  The facility will provide analytical and policy support to NGOs from across the country to action plan together and address challenges in and to the NGO sector. It is also expected that the NSSC can complement and reinforce DFAT and GOI’s ongoing programs of frontline service delivery, which will be the key feature of development cooperation between the two governments to address poverty and development issues in Indonesia for the years to come. ·         A significant part of the design process has been field and desk based research, including a field survey in 7 different Indonesian districts, qualitative interviews and focus groups in those locations, and an extensive review of data from DFAT programs working with NGOs. The design process has also built on and expanded an extensive network of NGOs throughout the country. A network analysis will deepen our understanding of the structure of relationships within the Indonesian NGO sector to help develop a deeper understanding of NGO networks, capacities and resources. The key assumption behind the network analysis is that relationships matter and their structures have consequences. Relationships mean mutual influence and exchanges of materials, services and ideas. Through the networks and relations with other organizations and stakeholders, NGOs have better connections with and receive more from larger/more resourced organizations; at the same time with better networks, NGO potentially can have better social, economic, and policy leverage for their constituents ·         To carry out the NGO network analysis the NSSC R&D team is seeking expressions of interest from 1-2 individual network analysts. (One qualified individual may undertake the whole job or two individuals may be contracted to serve as senior and junior network analysts)   Objectives Using data generated and gathered by the NSSC R&D team, examine relationships (connections) between and among Indonesian NGOs; between NGOs, government actors, and private sector actors; and between NGOs and donor agencies, in particular DFAT Australian Aid, related to the centrality, density, structure, and stability of connections; their utility and impact; and the influence on flow of information/services/materials exchanges. Draw conclusion about what network characteristics lead to  better support/resource exchanges and an improved  enabling environment for NGOs and what various actor can do to encourage development of these characteristics in the Indonesian NGO environment.     Duties Under supervision of the Deputy Team Leader/Qualitative Research Analyst and a Research Findings Editor, the analyst(s) will apply network analysis methods to existing data from survey, qualitative study and other data available at the NSSC R&D.  Specifics tasks are expected to include: ·         Review background materials and existing data  including from survey, qualitative study, DFAT program review and other related data; ·         Propose and finalize the NGO network analysis design including the methods (e.g. research questions, data preparation; and proposed network data analysis such as cluster or one and two-mode analysis using relevant network analysis software); ·         Prepare and conduct the NGO network analysis research including recoding/preparing the existing data and analysing the data; ·         Produce a 15 page report on findings, in line with the outline and format set by the Editor, with substantial technical annexes; ·         Present, revise and finalize the reports as needed; ·         Communicate as necessary/requested with the NSSC R&D team on research content and technical network analysis implementation.  Should two individuals be contracted, the senior network analyst will lead and take primary responsibility for conducting the NGO network analysis and communicate with supervisors as necessary/requested. Junior network analyst will assist the senior analyst to prepare and conduct the analysis and produce the results/report.   Qualifications and Experience ·         Both senior and junior analysts should at least have master’s degree/S2 in relevant field (research; management of non profits/NGOs, public policy, social work/social welfare, sociology, international development, etc.), or S1 and significant relevant experience; ·         Demonstrated experience conducting high-standard mapping/network analysis research, including network analysis design, data preparation, data analysis, and writing network data analysis results and reports; Senior analyst is expected to have done three or more network analyses projects and reports; Junior analyst is expected to have done at least one network analysis project and report.     ·         Both senior and junior analysts demonstrate experience using  network analysis software for quantitative and qualitative data such as UCINet; Gephi or its equivalent; ·         Exceptional analytical, writing, and verbal ability in English for senior analyst, including an ability to produce high quality research findings and reports. Good writing and verbal ability in English for junior analyst.    Desirable ·         Critical understanding of the NGO Sector in Indonesia and its relationships with other sectors (including government and private sector, general public, and donor agencies); ·         Experience or past contributions to preparing research findings for evidence-based design in international development programs/contexts.   Timing and compensation The position is/positions are expected to start as soon as possible and finish substantively by mid June 2015, with some additional time for responding to editorial comments into July 2015. The position will allow for up to 50 days of work total for one individual or 20-30 days for a senior and 15-20 days for a junior, with the more exact division of labour likely to be clarified during work planning. Compensation will be negotiated in line with local market rates. The position can be done remotely, working with a team based in Jakarta.   How to apply By no later than Sunday, 26 April 2015 midnight Jakarta time, please submit a current resume or CV that captures your relevant experience for the position with a one (1) page cover letter addressing the above criteria and outlining your interest in the position.  Submit via email to info@nssc.or.id . Note that interviews will be done on a rolling basis so early submission of applications is strongly encouraged.   If you are submitting applications as a paired senior and junior analyst (for example, 2 researchers from the same organization) please submit your application as one package and indicate which applicant is “senior” and which is “junior.” If you are applying as an individual, please indicate (1) whether you consider yourself qualified as a senior/individual analyst or as a junior analyst and (2) if senior/individual, whether you wish to take the role on as an individual or paired with a junior analyst.   Please use the subject line “network analyst application” and note whether “senior” or “junior” or “dual submission"  to ensure proper processing of your application. Include contact details (phone number and email address) of at least two (2) professional references who can speak to the qualifications listed above. in your application.   Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.