Research Assistant (Turkish Speaking)

United Nations Development Program (UNDP) works to support the ongoing peace and confidence building process by promoting initiatives that encourage dialogue and cooperation between the communities of Cyprus.

With funding from the EU and implementation by UNDP the “Support Facility to the Bi-Communal Technical Committees” provides financial, conceptual, and operational support in the preparation and realization of small, ad-hoc activities as well as more substantive projects and interventions.

Bi-Technical Committee on Crime and Criminal Matters, in collaboration with Bi-Communal Technical Committee on Education is now implementing a bi-communal Action, “Prevalence, Correlates and prevention of conventional bullying in schools and cyberbullying”. Implementation of this Action will include the following activities:

Collection and Analysis of Data: Random sampling of primary and secondary schools will be conducted in the two communities with sample around 1000 within each community. The data will be utilized to:

• Calculate the prevalence of bullying, victimization, cyberbullying and cyber victimization among Turkish- Cypriot and Greek-Cypriot primary and secondary school pupils.
• Identify both the major risk and protective factors of bullying, victimization, cyberbullying, cyber victimization, as well as collect systematic data on stereotypes, prejudice, trust, school climate, in-group norms, and intergroup contact.
• map out the extent and nature of the phenomenon and, also, provide knowledge to be utilized in the training of teachers

Teachers’ Training Workshops: Two bi-communal teacher’s training workshops will be conducted for Greek-Cypriot and Turkish- Cypriot teachers.

A half- day conference for dissemination of results: A bi-communal conference will be organized to disseminate results and key findings of the study and project outcomes.

Within this context, UNDP is two Research Assistants (1 Greek Speaking and 1 Turkish Speaking)  to work jointly on a part time basis for the coordination, promotion, administration, analysis, and reporting of the questionnaires.

Under the overall guidance of the Programme and Communications Analyst and with substantive inputs from Technical Committee on Crime and Criminal Matters, and Technical Committee on Education, the Consultant will be responsible for working closely with the technical team (Research Coordinators and Research Assistants) to undertake the followings:

• Assist the Research Coordinators with the design of survey questionnaire in accordance with Action’s objectives
• Assist the Research Coordinators with calibration of the questionnaire to the local context in both communities
• Assist the Research Coordinators to conduct a pilot study (approximately 30 samples) in order to validate and fine-tune the survey questions.
• Translate the survey questionnaire into Greek
• Assist the Research Coordinators to administer the survey questionnaire for 1000 students (aged between 10 and 18) in the Greek Cypriot community
• Assist the Research Coordinators to record and code data in the database
• Assist the Research Coordinators  to analyze data from the surveys using statistical software.
• Prepare and present summaries and analyses of survey data, including tables, graphs, and fact sheets that describe survey techniques and results.
• Assist the Research Coordinators to produce documentation of the questionnaire development process, data collection methods, sampling designs, and decisions related to sample statistical weighting.
• Collaborate with other team members (Research Coordinators and Research Assistants) in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of surveys.
• Assist in  the planning, design, organization and delivery of Teachers’ Training Workshops and Bi-Communal conference to be organized for dissemination of results.

Deliverables

• Development of questionnaire
• Piloting of questionnaire
• Administration of questionnaire to target groups
• Analysis of data and preparation of report
• Organization of two Teachers’ Training Workshops
• Organization of a Bi-Communal conference

Professionalism

• Shows pride in work and in achievements.
• Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter.
• Is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results.
• Is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns.
• Shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations.

Communication

• Speaks and writes clearly and effectively.
• Listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately.
• Asks questions to clarify and exhibits interest in having two-way communication.
• Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

Planning & Organizing

• Identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required.
• Allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work.
• Foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning.
• Monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary.
• Uses time efficiently.

Education:

• B.A. Degree in Psychology or in another relevant Social Science is required
• Master’s Degree in Psychology, School Psychology or in another relevant Social Science will be considered an advantage

Experience:

• Knowledge of SPSS is required
• Previous experience of minimum 1 year with questionnaire surveys and data coding, analysis and write-up will be considered an advantage
• Previous experience in bi-communal projects will be considered an advantage

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English and Turkish is required

Other Requirements:

• Valid driving license
• Ability and willingness to travel island wide

Application:

Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications:

CV or Personal History (P11): Applicants are required to submit CV or a P11 Form. The UNDP P11 Form can be downloaded from:  http://www.undp.org/content/dam/undp/library/corporate/Careers/P11_Personal_history_form.doc

Reference; Contact details of 3 references

Financial Proposal: The expected assignment will be on a part time basis, 10 days per month for 6 months. The applicants are requested to submit a financial proposal (daily fee) in Euro for up to 60 working days. A working day will be calculated as 8 hours in total – half an hour break and 7.5 hours of work) that could be pro-rated to the actual hours works, and shall cover all expenditures including fees, health insurance, vaccination, international (all travel to join duty station/repatriation travel) or local travel (place of residence to office and office to place of residence), cost of living and any other relevant expenses related to the performance of services. Leave benefits (annual, sick, paternity, maternity) are not applicable to Individual Contractor and absent days including weekends and office holidays are not payable.

Logistics of the Assignment:

The Consultant shall arrange her/his own local travel. The consultant  will need to work remotely, and will be required to provide his/her  own laptop, mobile phone and other relevant equipment for working purposes.

Evaluation / Selection Process

All applicants will be screened against qualifications set above. Candidates fully meeting the requirements will be further evaluated based on the criteria below.

Technical Criteria (CV review and interviews/desk review) – 70% of total evaluation– max. 70 points

CV review: 20 points:

Educational qualification as defined in the ToR (10 points)

Experience as defined in the ToR (10 points)

Only candidates who obtained at least 70% of points from the CV review (who will score at least 14 points) will be eligible to be invited for an interview/desk review.

Interview/Desk review: 50 points

Master’s degree (8 points)

Knowledge of SPSS (20 points)

Previous experience with questionnaire surveys and data coding, analysis and write-up (16 points)

Previous experience in bi-communal projects (6 points)

Only those individual consultants who obtained at least 70% of points from the CV review and Interview/desk review (49 out of 70) will be considered for financial proposal evaluation.

Financial Criteria – 30% of total evaluation – max. 30 points.

Financial scores will be calculated using the formula [lowest offer / financial offer of the candidate x 30].

UNDP applies the “Best value for money approach” – the final selection will be based on the combination of the applicants’ qualification and financial proposal.

Payment Term:

Monthly payable upon submission of the monthly, certification of payment form, time-sheet and the monthly report upon approval of UNDP.