Qualitative Researcher

Project Background
Women Empowered for Leadership (WE4L) is a five-year programme (2016-2020) managed by Hivos and implemented together with local partners in Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Jordan and Lebanon. Women Empowered for Leadership believes in a world with fair, just and inclusive societies that offer equal rights and opportunities to all people –women and men– to take part in decision-making processes that affect their lives. Despite important progress made particularly in terms of the numerical political presence of women at the national level, this still falls short of the broader goals for women’s equality and participation set out in international agreements. The women in our focus countries experience serious obstacles that limit their chances to acquire the training and experience to seek leadership positions in civic organisations, political parties and public institutions. This limits women’s ability to put their needs, ideas and priorities on the political agenda and have them taken into account by political and policy decisions. The lack of an enabling environment, reinforced by negative stereotypes in the media, also makes it difficult for aspiring women leaders to overcome these obstacles.

Project Description
Sexual harassment is one of the leading causes of women’s economic disempowerment. It is known that sexual harassment at the workplace impedes women and other vulnerable groups from achieving economic justice. The current Lebanese labor law does not cover issues related to bodily rights and the protection of women. As such, there are no legal texts that address any form of sexual harassment at the workplace. This creates a gap in the system that renders marginalized and minorities to be at risk of harassment and exploitation. This makes women and other marginalized groups in the labor market the most at risk of being sexually exploited by employers.

Qualitative Research Study Aim
The study aims to explore the link between gender discrimination, intimidation, sexual harassment and the effects this has on women’s empowerment at the social, economic and political levels.

Duties and Responsibilities
Co-designing the research methodology with Program Director
Conduct interviews
Conduct focus groups
Transcription
Research Report

Competencies
Strong Research skills
Strong Writing skills
Ability to work independently and make independent initiatives
Open and flexible when given feedback