Research Coordinator
About the Employer
Job Description
Terms of Reference – Research Coordinator
Introduction and Background
The Community Strengthen Development Foundation (CSDF), with support from the Family Planning Association of Sri Lanka (FPA Sri Lanka), is undertaking a research project titled "Stigma, Discrimination, and Violence among Female Sex Workers in Colombo City, Sri Lanka." This project is funded by the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) Stream-2 Sex Work Consortium Grant. Female sex workers (FSWs) in Sri Lanka face widespread stigma and discrimination, which increases their vulnerability to violence and reduces their access to healthcare and legal protection. The research project aims to generate evidence on the nature and extent of these issues in Colombo City and to inform interventions that can improve the well-being and rights of FSWs. The study will employ a mixed-method cross-sectional design, including a quantitative survey using Respondent Driven Sampling approach, in-depth case studies of individual FSW experiences, and focus group discussions. This approach will provide both statistical and contextual insights into the challenges faced by FSWs.
Project objectives are threefold:
- To measure the prevalence and forms of stigma, discrimination, and violence experienced by female sex workers in Colombo City.
- To assess the factors associated with violence and their consequences on FSWs' physical health, mental well-being, and access to health and social services (e.g. HIV prevention, reproductive health, legal aid).
- To develop evidence-based recommendations for policies, programs, or advocacy initiatives that address the challenges faced by FSWs and improve their safety and well-being.
The Coordinator
The Research Coordinator (A full-time consultancy position) to lead and manage the implementation of the above research project. This is a full-time position for a duration of around eight (8) months. The Research Coordinator will be responsible for day-to-day coordination of all research activities, ensuring the project progresses according to plan and meets its objectives. He/She will work closely with the CSDF project team, FPA Sri Lanka health and social services, Public Health/GBV expert, the data/RDS analyst, and other stakeholders to ensure high-quality data collection, adherence to research ethics, and timely delivery of project outputs and writing the report and the proposal. The position will be based in Colombo, and will report to the CSDF management (and liaise with FPA Sri Lanka as required).
Key Responsibilities:
- Project Management: Oversee the overall implementation of the research project, managing the timeline, work plan, and budget. Monitor progress against project objectives and deliverables, and ensure adherence to deadlines and donor requirements.
- Ethical Compliance: Assist in the development and finalization of the research protocol and obtaining ethical approval from a recognized Ethical Review Committee in Sri Lanka. Ensure that all research activities adhere to approved ethical and safeguarding protocols, with particular attention to confidentiality and do-no-harm principles when working with vulnerable populations.
- Team Coordination: Recruit, train, and supervise the field research team (enumerators/interviewers and any peer navigators or coupon managers for RDS). Organize and facilitate training sessions (in collaboration with the GIV Consultant) to ensure data collectors are sensitized to working with FSWs and handling sensitive topics like gender-based violence.
- Data Collection Oversight: Coordinate and supervise all data collection activities. This includes managing the respondent-driven sampling (RDS) process for the quantitative survey - overseeing seed selection, coupon distribution and tracking, and monitoring recruitment waves - as well as scheduling and organizing qualitative interviews and focus group discussions. Ensure data collection is carried out safely, efficiently, and per the study protocol.
- Quality Control: Implement quality assurance measures for data collection and entry. Conduct routine monitoring visits to interview sites to ensure data collectors are following protocols and procedures. Make necessary adjustments as needed.
- Data Management and Analysis Support: Work with the data/RDS Analyst to ensure that all data (quantitative and qualitative) are properly collected, entered, and stored securely. Support the analyst by providing contextual information about data collection and participating in preliminary data review. Assist in interpretation of results by providing on-the-ground insights.
- Project Deliverables and Documentation: Ensure the timely preparation of all key project deliverables. Lead the drafting of the final research report (with contributions from the consultant and data analyst for their respective sections), including a synthesis of findings and actionable recommendations. Coordinate review and feedback processes for the report among the team and stakeholders.
- Dissemination: Plan and organize dissemination activities at the conclusion of the study. This includes arranging a dissemination seminar or workshop in Colombo to share the research findings with stakeholders (e.g. community members, health officials, policymakers, donors). Prepare presentation materials and facilitate the event, ensuring translation or interpretation as needed so that findings are accessible to all participants.
Person Specifications:
- Education: Bachelor’s degree or higher in public health, social sciences, development studies or a related field. A Master’s degree (e.g. MPH, MSc, MSW) is an advantage.
- Experience: At least 2 years of experience in managing or coordinating research projects or public health/social intervention projects. Prior experience with field research data collection is required; experience in studies involving key populations (such as sex workers or other vulnerable groups) or HIV/GBV-related projects is an advantage.
- Project Management Skills: Demonstrated ability to develop work plans, manage multiple tasks, and meet deadlines. Experience in budgeting and resource management for projects.
- Technical Knowledge: Familiarity with quantitative and qualitative research methods. Knowledge of respondent-driven sampling (RDS) or other participatory sampling methods is an asset. Understanding of gender, sexuality, and rights issues, especially as they pertain to sex workers and key populations.
- Communication: Excellent communication and interpersonal skills. Fluent in English and Sinhala (written and spoken). Proficiency in Tamil is an asset. Able to communicate effectively with diverse stakeholders, including community members, NGOs, and government officials.
- Computer Skills: Proficiency in MS Office (e.g., SPSS, Excel, or other data analysis tools) is a plus.
Deliverables:
- Inception Report and Work Plan: A detailed work plan at the start of the assignment, including a timeline of activities, training plans, and a finalized research protocol (ready for ethics submission).
- Ethical Approval Obtained: Coordination and submission of the study protocol to an Ethical Review Committee, resulting in an ethics clearance letter/approval for the research.
- Training Completion Report: Successful completion of training for all data collectors (enumerators, interviewers, and RDS coupon managers/peer recruiters). A brief report documenting the training conducted (dates, participants, topics) confirming that the field team is prepared to collect data per protocols.
- Data Collection Completion: Completion of field data collection for the survey (target of ~550 FSW respondents reached via RDS), as well as all planned qualitative interviews (case studies) and focus group discussions.
- Draft Final Report: A comprehensive draft research report compiling all findings (quantitative and qualitative) and recommendations, submitted to CSDF/FPA Sri Lanka for review by the end of the contract period.
- Final Research Report and Dissemination: The finalized research report, revised after feedback, and a successful dissemination event (workshop) conducted to present key findings to stakeholders. Presentation slides and a summary brief for dissemination should also be produced as part of this deliverable.
Effort Estimation:
8 months full-time (160 working days).
Time Frame:
The Research Coordinator is expected to be engaged from June 2025 to January 2026 (8-month period, full-time). Exact start and end dates will be finalized upon selection, and the schedule may be adjusted slightly based on project needs and timeline for ethical clearance and data collection.
Remuneration:
Negotiable
Email - [email protected] | [email protected]
