Researcher: Engaging Marginalised Majority Populations and Communities in European Cities
The At Home in Europe project of the Open Society Foundations works to advance the social inclusion of vulnerable communities in a changing Europe. Through its research and advocacy tools, the project explores the social, political, cultural and economic participation of minority and other marginalised communities in Western Europe. It places a high priority on local community and city level practices that mitigate discrimination and seek to ensure equal treatment for all.
We are conducting a comparative policy oriented set of studies in seven select cities in the European Union examining local level approaches to engaging with, and addressing, the needs of marginalised majority populations and communities. This research builds on some of the key findings arising from the Muslims in 11 EU cities work in which commonalities of concerns across participants highlighted the need for a concerted focus on issues faced by segments of the majority populations when examining social cohesion and participation. For the purposes of this research project ‘marginalised majority populations and communities’ is used to denote those who identify themselves as belonging to the ‘ethnic’ and ‘religious’ majority in areas which experience high levels of economic, social and political exclusion.
We invite institutes, organisations and individuals, on a part time consultant basis, to apply to the At Home in Europe project to carry out the research in relation to one of the six cities.
This research project will begin in October 2012 until July 2013. The focus of the research is the local level and one city will be selected in each of the following seven countries: Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden and the United Kingdom. In each city, research will focus on the experiences and concerns of a number of residents from the majority community in relation to key areas of life: identity and belonging; education; employment; housing; health and social protection; safety and security; civil and political life; and the role of the media. As well as detailing key issues and concerns, the reports will review recent research and policy literature, identify local level initiatives towards inclusion and offer concrete policy oriented recommendations addressed at the city, national and international levels.
In each city, on the basis of a detailed methodology prepared by the At Home in Europe Project, the researcher will:
- Create a local based team of individuals who will assist with the identification of a variety of residents from a select neighbourhood of the city who are willing to take part in focus groups
- Organise, convene and facilitate 12 focus groups on the experiences of marginalized majority communities living in the city;
- Carry out extensive interviews with, but not limited to, city officials, community leaders, think tanks, journalists and civil society members, as part of the field research;
- Analyse the field data and available academic and policy literature on the experiences of socially disadvantaged majority communities in the city and the challenges that impact on integration and social inclusion;
- Assess, through fieldwork and desk research of existing material, the engagement of municipalities with their citizens and the level of consultation and participation in key decision making;
- Examine current city initiatives and policies in place, and the extent to which they are succeeding and/or failing the integration and inclusion of economically and socially deprived communities;
- Write a report which includes field and desk based data outlined above and ensure that it offers specific, concrete and constructive recommendations which will be addressed to the relevant municipalities and governments;
The researcher will be responsible for the preparation of a final report of maximum 70 pages, in English, together with a detailed bibliography of all relevant sources (both in English and other languages). Each draft report will be submitted to a roundtable discussion (with a variety of local and national stakeholders) which the researcher will assist in organizing. Reports will also be reviewed by members of the project’s board and will be edited by the At Home in Europe Project and finalized jointly with the researcher. The duration of the report is expected to be for 10 months (part time). Successful applicants will be requested to be part of the advocacy stage of the findings for each report.
We are seeking researchers with the following profile:
Essential:
- postgraduate qualification in the disciplines of political science and social sciences;
- wide field experience working on race, class, social mobility and inequality issues;
- significant research and writing experience (writing samples will be requested);
- experience of conducting focus groups and individual interviews
- excellent English language skills (written and spoken);
- very good knowledge of the language(s) of the selected city/country;
Preferable:
- previous policy oriented research experience;
The research is expected to start in October 2012, and the first draft submitted by March 2013. The expected publication date is mid-2013 and advocacy activities based on the key findings will be conducted thereafter.
If you are interested in applying for this consultancy, please submit your application—including your CV, a short cover letter and a sample of your writing—online at https://athomeineurope.wufoo.eu/forms/at-home-in-europe-project-call-for-researchers/.
Should you experience any difficulties submitting your application using the online application tool, please contact Helene Irving, Programme Coordinator, At Home in Europe Project by email at helene.irving@osf-eu.org with the subject line “Engaging Marginalised Majority Populations.”
Successful shortlisted applicants will be notified 2 weeks after the closing date.
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