Continental Advisors X3

**Job Advert Summary**:
**EQUITABLE **EDUCATION AND **ECONOMIES **(EEE)**

In delivering ‘social science that makes a difference’ the Research Divisions, Units, Institutes and Centres of the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) undertake policy-oriented research from its offices in Pretoria, Cape Town, Durban, and Pietermaritzburg. Our public purpose mandate is set out in the Human Sciences Research Council Act of 2008.

The Equitable Education and Economies (EEE) division undertakes research to transform educational outcomes and increase economic participation. It recognises that education and the economy have long been linked, and conducts research to understand educational performance and improve learning outcomes, and to interrogate social, spatial and structural obstacles to economic participation.

EEE is looking to appoint **3 Continental Advisors **for a period of 5 years as freelancers, commencing **1 May 2024**. The project for which this appointment is to be made is called _U’Good_, and aims to test and further develop relational approaches to wellbeing; and generate empirical insights into key contemporary challenges to young people’s wellbeing, and how they are addressing these. Through the adoption of a relational wellbeing framework, it embraces people-centred, collaborative and participatory approaches to conducting research to generate insights into how the relational aspect of multiple domains may make contributions to well-being. The programme is structured into four thematic areas that act as entry points for investigations on the wellbeing of Young People: Livelihoods, Climate change, Digitalisation and Mental Health.

Young people are the most important grouping in this programme and we seek to incorporate them in a variety of ways that will ensure that their voices and lived experiences inform the work at programmatic and research project levels. As a multi-country programme we are aware of the difficulties that contextual and language diversity brings to meaningful partnership and collaboration with young people, and also the relevance of research findings. It is with this recognition that we seek Continental Consultants to support the research programme in ensuring its work is accessible to a geographically diverse audience.

**Continental Advisors X3 (Research Manager/Research Specialist) (Freelancers)**

**Ref. No: U’GOOD-CC**

**Minimum Requirements**:

- **Resident** in any of the 3 regions of Latin America, Asia or Africa.
- **Expertise** in one of the following focus areas: Relational Wellbeing, Youth Wellbeing, Youth Studies.
- A **Masters degree in the Social Sciences** (a doctoral degree would be advantageous).
- Access to **reliable, high-quality, and stable internet**
- **Available to travel** to attend a minimum of 3 research project conferences.
- At least 10 years’ **research experience**.
- Exposure to **multi-stakeholder and/or multi-country research **would be an advantage.
- **Availability** to contribute to the programme over a 5-year period as a freelancer
- A track-record of **peer reviewed, accredited publications** (at least 10 publications, with some first authored and some international).
- An understanding of research processes and activities.
- **Fluency** in English with excellent written and verbal **communication**
- **Fluency** in one or more of the following languages would be an advantage: Spanish and French.
- Competency in **computer programmes** such as Word, OneDrive, Excel, PowerPoint, referencing software.
- **Academic/Youth related Non-governmental Organisation (NGO) affiliation** will be an advantage.15.Availability to contribute to the programme over a 5-year period as a freelancer

16.A track-record of peer reviewed, accredited publications (at least 10 publications, with some first authored and some international).

17.An understanding of research processes and activities.

18.Fluency in English with excellent written and verbal communication skills.

19.Fluency in one or more of the following languages would be an advantage: Spanish and French.

20.Competency in computer programmes such as Word, OneDrive, Excel, PowerPoint, referencing software.

21.Academic/Youth related Non-governmental Organisation (NGO) affiliation will be an advantage.

**Duties and Responsibilities**:

- As part of a large multi-country research team under the leadership and guidance of the Principal Investigators, **provide expert insights drawing from your particular regional context**, to **improve cultural and linguistic diversity** across the programme.
- **Review and editing** of selected programme outputs towards improving cultural accessibility (for eg. synthesis report, mid-term report).
- **Ability to support translation** of abstracts (where appropriate) for selected programme outputs might be required.
- **Advise on key project outputs** towards more accessible, useful and contextually appropriate evidence for decision-makers in policy and