COMMITMENT:  3-6 weeks (1-3 weeks in country)

LOCATION: Various locations in Sierra Leone

The Role:  

Street Child is seeking applications for individuals who would like to support the organisation through a research project in Sierra Leone. As our work is expanding there are many opportunities to get involved in research to help evaluate and further our programmes. In line with an overall effort of making our programmes grounded and led by evidence, this role allows a motivated individual to take on a significant study into a specific area of interest. We are looking for several different types of research projects to be done, ranging from short and smaller pieces of work to more time consuming projects. Research could be done in one of the following areas:

• Gender
• Disability
• Livelihood/ Family Business Support
• Street- connected children
• Evaluation Methods
• Teaching and Learning

The individual and a Street Child manager together decide on the research topic, depending on the current need and the individual’s availability and experience.

The role would entail desk-based research prior to the trip to Sierra Leone (1-2 weeks), followed by a short and intense period of research in country (1-3 weeks). After the trip, a period to write up a full report would be required (1-3 weeks).

The Ideal Candidate Would Possess the Following Attributes:

• Strong academic credentials, preferably with a Masters degree in a related field
• Experience with desk based research and preferably some field work experience
• Excellent written and communication skills.
• Hard working, pro-active and professional work ethic.
• Respectful of cultural differences and mindful of the position of a researcher
• Keen to gain experience working in Africa and be immersed in local culture.
• Independent and able to make decisions with little guidance.
• A strong interest in one or more of the research areas.

The Terms:  

The successful applicant must be prepared to live in basic conditions and to travel independently around the country. Food, accommodation and flights are at the applicant’s own expense. A more detailed breakdown of costs and expenses will be provided for those applicants selected for interview. A fundraising commitment is also required.

Whilst this is initially a voluntary role, for applicants with relevant experience able to prove their ability to add strategic value, there is the distinct possibility of attaining a more permanent position: almost all the charity’s paid staff began as interns or on a pro bono basis.

How to apply:

Send a CV and cover letter to eu-ambassadors@street-child.co.uk. In your application please indicate what research area you would be interested in and why, any experience with research projects to date and your availability. Please also mention in your email which website you found this job posting on.

The Charity:

Twelve years after its brutal civil war, Sierra Leone remains one of the poorest countries in the world.  While this small and beautiful West African country is now at peace, our own research indicates that there are around 50,000 children relying upon the streets of Sierra Leone for their survival; since the Ebola crisis took hold of the region, our research shows that a further 15,000 children have been orphaned by Ebola. We aim to help them all.

Street Child is a volunteer-led charity that works with street kids, out of school children and, more recently, those affected by Ebola.  Where necessary, we work towards reunifying children with their families but the ultimate goal for all of our projects is to help empower vulnerable children through sustainable access to education.

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