LEAD RESEARCHER - MAKING JUSTICE WORK FOR WOMEN

Purpose/ Rationale

While war and conflict inflict has a negative effect on everyone, women and girls are disproportionately affected. In post conflict and disaster settings, they often suffer from lack of security and are excluded from decision making and participation in economic, social, and political spheres.  According to the report by the Commission of Inquiry into the Post Election Violence in Kenya, sexual violence against women and girls took the form of individual and gang rapes, many of which were ethnically driven, as well as female and male genital mutilation. The report further states that 3,000 women were raped and another 100,000 displaced.
 

Transition justice is one of the measures that are taken up to seek redress to victims and creates and enhances opportunities for the transformation of the political systems, conflicts, and other conditions that may have been at the root of the violence and abuses. However, it is unclear as to whether transitional justice caters for the interest of women and there is little focus on the role of women in humanitarian law.

ActionAid International Kenya with support from Actionaid Australia is involved in a project that investigates the efficacy of transitional justice for women considering the realities of women’s lives in conflict and post-conflict contexts and their experiences of recurrent violence in northern Uganda, Kenya and Democratic Republic of Congo.  

To co-ordinate and lead it’s evidence-based research to support policies to build resilience in the context of transitional justice, Actionaid International Kenya seeks a dynamic, highly organized and proactive professional, committed to stronger democratic participation in human rights research and policy. The lead researcher will spearhead AAIK’s research in Kenya in          close collaboration with investigators from Actionaid Australia, University of Sydney and AAIK women’s rights team.

Key responsibilities

1. Conduct Semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions with women affected by violence, including both those who have accessed transitional justice and those who have not.
2. Conduct Key informant interviews with those working directly within the judiciary will be conducted, including judges, lawyers, police and social workers.
3. Interviews special women’s lawyers and advocates who offer pro-bono services to women who have experienced violence
4. Interview local women’s and human rights organisations in Kenya as well as regional and international organisations working in these countries on transitional justice. 
5. Collect and analyse relevant documentation pertaining to existing transitional justice processes including formal legal mechanisms and less formal processes. 
6. Observe transitional justice processes and review existing legislation and procedures to address violence against women.

Outputs and Deliverables

1. A research report detailing women’s experiences with transitional justice in Kenya that informs how transitional justice contributes to the promotion and protection of women’s rights.
2. A policy analysis on transitional justice for Kenya directed to informing dialogue between policy makers, women survivors of violence, women’s rights organisations and transitional justice advocacy groups.
3.  A proposed model for transitional justice that addresses the needs and priorities of women, provides access to justice, and promotes and protects women’s rights in transitional justice –e.g. development of more women centred processes such as a Women’s Court Model.
4.  Strategic tracking of a series of case studies to inform and promote long-term advocacy on transitional justice that addresses women’s rights concerns.

Required skills and experience

• Master’s Degree (minimum) in law, social sciences, political science or another relevant field, with strong background in field research.
• At least 6 years’ professional experience in the field of Transitional Justice or human rights,
• Demonstrable experience in conducting and the supervision of research (academic and/or public policy) from set-up to conclusion, with experience using a range of methodologies;
• Outstanding written and oral communication skills; 
• Fluency in English and Swahili;

Method of Application

Interested applicants should submit their technical and financial proposal as well as their Curriculum Vitae and Statement of Capability to naomi.wambui@actionaid.org and agnes.kola@actionaid.org not later than 8^th July 2013:

Categories: NGO, RESEARCH