Mercy Corps:Consultant – Markets and Conflict Research Assistant-New York
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Location:
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Salary:negotiable / YEAR
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Job type:CONTRACTOR
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Posted:2 weeks ago
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Category:Peace and Security, Research and Data
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Deadline:07/12/2025
JOB DESCRIPTION
Description
Background
Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. At Mercy Corps, we aim to be on the cutting edge of developing more efficient, effective paths to social impact at scale. We believe that solutions – to even the most “sticky” problems – are within reach, be that at the community level or the global level. Our years of experience have taught us that often, to break through on a particularly tough challenge, we have to be bold in our thinking and disrupt, we have to innovate, to achieve a lasting and transformative solution. For solutions to advance along a pathway to scale, data, research, and evidence are needed at key stages. Mercy Corps is committed to generating and using evidence to understand and improve our impact, and to enhance the humanitarian and development community’s ability to address the world’s most complex challenges.
As part of this commitment, Mercy Corps is a member of the Supporting Pastoralism & Agriculture in Recurrent & Protracted Crises (SPARC) consortium led by Cowater International in partnership with the Overseas Development Institute and the International Livestock Research Institute. SPARC is a six-year (2020-2026) initiative funded by FCDO. The goal is to generate and promote the application of evidence on what works to strengthen the resilience of agricultural and pastoral livelihoods in fragile, drylands contexts in Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East. The program aims to advance research on livelihoods, agriculture and pastoralism that can be used by FCDO and other agencies to guide decisions on programs and policies to support livelihoods resilience in the drylands. Through research and evidence, SPARC will develop knowledge to enhance the ability of FCDO, the donor community, NGOs, local and national governments and other stakeholders to assist pastoralists, agro-pastoralists and farmers in the context of conflict, climate change, and other shocks and stressors.
Project Description:
In consultation with SPARC stakeholders, Mercy Corps proposed a12-month study on ‘Understanding markets and trade in a context of extreme conflict and humanitarian crisis, with limited access, in Darfur, Sudan’. This study will be co-led by a team of international and Sudanese researchers. The Research Assistant, will work closely with the lead researchers to manage study data and support the research team to: a) generate evidence and improved understanding of trade and markets in the severe conflict-affected dryland environment of Darfur, to inform humanitarian policy and programming; b) through creative and conflict-sensitive adaptation of conventional approaches to market monitoring and research, to inform how data and information can be gathered and analysed in a highly challenging protracted conflict crisis.
Consultant Objectives:
Mercy Corps seeks one research assistant to support researchers to collect, analyse and manage quantitative and qualitative data.
Consultant Activities:
The Consultant will:
- Establish and maintain Excel spreadsheets and input quantitative data: from the project’s own primary data collection and some data from other sources eg price data
- Collate and organize qualitative data
- Support the International Senior Researcher to maintain contact with the researcher network in Darfur
- Collaborate with Research Co-Leads and with the International Senior Researcher to analyse qualitative and quantitative data.
- Source relevant literature on issues relevant to the project and document/upload into digital system established for this study
- Track information and updates on market monitoring activities related to Darfur/ Sudan.
- Participate in study working group meetings to analyse findings and prepare data and information for the project’s written outputs.
- Manage contact list and populate with relevant experts and potential key informants
- Upon request, conduct key informant interviews.
- Be available for other relevant tasks as specified by the co-team leaders
Consultant Deliverables:
The Consultant will submit:
- Monthly timesheet with time allocated to different activities.
Timeframe / Schedule:
- The consultant will work an average of 3-4 days each month.
- The work schedule and urgency of tasks will evolve as the study progresses.
The Consultant will report to:
- SPARC Team Lead & Director Evidence & Learning, Resilient Dryland Production Systems in consultation with
- Understanding Markets co-leads and researchers based in Sudan, Egypt and the UK
The Consultant will work closely with:
- Additional researchers engaged in this study
- MC Sudan staff as needed, in coordination with the project team leaders
- MC Regional and Global staff members as needed
Qualifications (Desired & Required)
- Demonstrated experience cleaning, organizing, and managing quantitative and qualitative data.
- Advanced working knowledge of Excel and using Excel for data analysis.
- Familiarity of working with market or economic data.
- Demonstrated experience conducting and documenting in-depth interviews.
- Demonstrated experience sourcing, organizing, reviewing and summarizing diverse sources of literature including from peer-reviewed journals, sector publications, reports from governments and intergovernmental institutions, and mass media.
- Fluent English, verbal and written
- Fluent Sudanese Arabic/Arabic, verbal.
- Based in Sudan or Egypt preferred.
- Innate curiosity, willingness to ask questions and share thoughts.
- Experience designing qualitative and quantitative socio-economic or market studies.
- Objectivity and willingness to check own assumptions, explore under-represented viewpoints and commitment to moving beyond rote regurgitation of general information preferred.
- BSc or MSc in agriculture economics, economics, livestock, agri-business/business or other socio-economic discipline preferred.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives.
Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives.
We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.
Equal Employment Opportunity
We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.
We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.
Safeguarding & Ethics
Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our stakeholders and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC’s policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.
Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our stakeholders and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC’s policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.
Level of Education: Bachelor Degree
Work Hours: 8
Experience in Months: No requirements
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