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Research Consultant - Social Innovation Camp

Internews® Network is an international media development organization based in Arcata, CA and Washington, D.C. whose mission is to empower people worldwide with the news and information they need, the ability to connect, and the means to make their voices heard.

General Function:

Based in Washington, DC and operating globally, the Center for Innovation & Learning aims to harness the potential of digital technologies and innovative approaches to better meet the information needs of communities around the world. The Center will also serve as a hub to inform and engage others in the fields of media, information technology and development.

Social Innovation Camp Internews (SICamp-Internews) brings together social innovators from the non-profit, media, commercial and public sector and talented software developers and designers. Over the course of 48 hours, teams will build effective web-based solutions to real social problems. SICamp-Internews aims to jumpstart online communities across Central and Eastern Europe, Southeastern Europe, and Central Asia, committed to using information and communication technologies and developing useful tools for positive social change.

The Internews Center for Innovation & Learning is looking for a consultant for a short-term research project to study how an organization adapts or resists new innovations in the context of the Social Innovation Camp that will take place on 9-10 July 2011 in Bosnia and Herzegovina. By studying the Social Innovation Camp and the trajectory of the projects that come out of the camp, the researcher will observe the ways in which the process does or does not spark innovation as a transformative process within Internews and other partner organizations.

Scope of Work:

•Conduct a literature review focusing on innovation and organizational change •Provide a refined design for the research study •Phone interviews with key actors before the Social Innovation Camp •Observe and document the social innovation camp; conduct interviews and focus groups with participants during the camp and in the day before and day after the camp •Track the progress of the various projects and their impact on different organizations in the 4 months after the camp •Provide a final report with findings, recommendations, and a design for a longer study (if appropriate)

Final output: •A report identifying the drivers and constraints to innovation related to the Social Innovation Camp and the following 6 months.

Qualifications

Required:•7-10 years experience working in qualitative research, at least half of which in an applied setting •Proven research and writing skills •Capacity to design and conduct innovative research •Understanding of media, communications, and information challenges in developing contexts •Great interpersonal and communications skills •Independent and reliable researcher •Masters or PhD in cultural anthropology, sociology, or a related discipline preferred.

Preferred: •Experience in organizational and behavior change research •Familiarity with change management theories and processes •Knowledge of or experience working in Europe and Eurasia

To Apply:

Interested candidates meeting the qualifications should forward a cover letter and resume to 876-in(at) internews (dot) org (re-write in standard format), placing “RC - CIL – in” in the subject line.

Please include the following with your application: •CV with names and contacts of three (3) references (CV_name_surname) •Cover letter briefly stating your previous related experience (250 words max) (Cover Note_name_surname) •2 writing samples of previous related work, or links to these products, if available (01_writing_sample_ name_surname and 02_writing_sample_ name_surname)