Country: Myanmar
Closing date: 13 Aug 2016
Title Lead Researcher, Political Economy Analysis, Yangon
Location
Department Name Program Delivery
Pact Overview
Pact enables systemic solutions that allow poor and marginalized people to earn a dignified living, be healthy, and take part in the benefits that nature provides. Pact accomplishes this by strengthening local capacity, forging effective governance systems, and transforming markets into a force for development.
Project Overview
Myanmar’s Political Transition
Myanmar is going through a period of rapid reform. The new government is indicating its desire for greater accountability and responsiveness to the will of the people. Many anticipate there will be more movement of fiscal and administrative authority away from the highly centralized state toward lower levels of government. This would entail a reconstitution of development planning processes from top-down to bottom-up, and eventually, elected decision making bodies at the township and village levels.
Shae Thot Program
Shae Thot is a 6.5-year $70 million USAID funded integrated community development program focused on four objectives: (A) maternal, newborn, and child health; (B) livelihoods; (C) water, sanitation, and hygiene; and (D) strengthening social and community institutions. Shae Thot is working with 1,128 village development committees (VDCs) across 21 townships in the Dry Zone and Kayah.
Shae Thot bases all sector-specific activity on the premise that an engaged and empowered community governance system is critical to building, maintaining, and sustaining meaningful improvements to health, wealth and development. Aligned with USAID’s strategy of advancing democratic reform in Myanmar, Shae Thot utilizes a consortium approach to partnering with communities to perform significant work that links them to greater emerging opportunities through the establishment and development of democratically elected VDCs.
Position Purpose
Political Economy Analysis
The purpose of this study is to make evidence-based recommendations on how international development assistance can contribute to improved local governance in Myanmar. By working in villages where the Shae Thot project operates, the research team will investigate communities’ relationships with:
communities
village/tract authorities
township authorities (including home affairs / the General Administration Department)
line ministries as represented at the township, district, and state/regional levels.
The analysis will also consider two additional aspects of village-level governance:
Where and when women impact decision making processes at the different levels. Especially as this applies to women’s issues;
Village Development Funds (VDFs) and the role of village managed savings and loan instruments in supporting more transparent decision making in the community
Core Question: What is the relationship between villages, village tracts and townships as it relates to meeting village development priorities? What are the barriers and opportunities?
The researchers will seek to identify factors that support and hinder inclusive, transparent, and accountable community governance and service provision, and to develop recommendations that respond to gaps in public sector accountability from the village to the township level. The study would consider similarities and differences in 1-2 Dry Zone townships and Kayah State.
Methodology
Report and academic literature review and analysis of secondary data
Development of Stakeholder Consultation tool
Data collected through primary field research:
Stakeholder interviews/consultations, focus group discussions
Stakeholder mapping and network analysis
Inclusion of Pact key staff in analysis and field work
Key Responsibilities
The lead researcher reports to the Shae Thot Chief of Party or his designee and is responsible for ensuring the successful and timely completion of this assignment. S/he will manage the research team and overall research effort; draft reports; and lead oral debriefs to the Country Director, Chief of Party, Program staff and USAID.
Level of Effort:
Lead Researcher: up to 30 work days
Research Assistants: up to 60 days combined
Deliverables
Inception report outlining key individuals and institutions, schedule, and literature review
Draft report
Oral Debriefing with PowerPoint presentation to Pact Myanmar and USAID
Final Report
Estimated Timing
Start Date: 8/15/2016
End Date: 10/14/2016
Basic Requirements
Qualifications
10 plus years of professional experience working on local governance, decentralization
Experience leading social science research teams
Familiarity with Applied Political Economy Analysis for development programs
MA or PhD in social sciences, preferably in anthropology, political science, economics or sociology
Familiarity with governance, decentralization issues in Myanmar
To inquire further, candidates can contact mmcdermott@pactworld.org.
How to apply:
Job Link: http://pactworld.force.com/careers/VanaHCM__Job_Detail?Id=a33j00000007AnUAAU