Research Fellow

This is a 1 year, full-time position based out of New Delhi. Salary will be commensurate to the level of skills and experience.

**About Vidhi**:
The Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy (“ Vidhi ”) is an independent think tank doing legal research to make better laws and improve governance for the public good. Vidhi is committed to producing legal research of the highest standard with the aim of informing public debate and contributing to improved governance. Vidhi works with Ministries of the Government of India and State Governments, as well as other public institutions, providing research and drafting support at various stages of law-making.

Vidhi also conducts and freely disseminates independent research, which it believes is critical to India’s future. Vidhi is an equal opportunity employer and neither practices nor tolerates any kind of discriminatory behaviour.

**About Kotak Karma - Vidhi Inclusive Education Programme**:
This programme aims to identify and address the legal and policy gaps in relation to inclusive education in India, to create greater awareness within the government regarding these gaps, and to make recommendations for reform. It aims to achieve this through:
(i) Empirical, and/ or socio-legal research on the framework of rights and regulation in relation to inclusive education in India and its implementation

(ii) Outreach and advocacy to state government departments, teachers and special educators, parents and children, and NGOs and rights-based organisations, with the purpose of increasing awareness on rights of the child to inclusive education, entitlements for children in schools, and grievance redressal under law

The programme specifically looks at inclusion at the level of pre-primary and elementary schooling; inclusion in non-state schools; and inclusion of children with disabilities in ‘mainstream’ schools.

**Role Description**:
The Research Fellow will be expected to assist the team in:

- Designing and implementing empirical and/ or legal research to achieve the aims of the programme;
- Liaising with parents, students, educators, academics, government functionaries, civil society organisations, lawyers, and other relevant stakeholders; ; for the purpose of consultations, partnerships, and advocacy efforts
- Designing and implementing rights-based advocacy interventions and communications efforts, to create awareness about the legal and policy gaps in relation to inclusive education (as per research of the team) across various stakeholders;
- Writing research reports, academic articles, policy briefs, opinion-editorials to present the findings of the programme.

**Eligibility Criteria**:
**_Essential Requirements_**

Applicants must meet the following requirements:

- A graduate degree in social sciences such as history, development studies, anthropology, economics, or a related discipline.
- Strong academic writing skills and drafting skills - Demonstrable through authored academic papers, reports, policy briefs, and / or op-eds
- 2-5 years experience working in a relevant research position, with demonstrable skills and training in legal research.
- Demonstrable interest in the field of education, gender, and/ or disability rights will be preferred.
- Ability to work independently

**_Preferable Requirements_**

Willingness to travel

Experience in designing primary research studies, data collection tools (quantitative or qualitative) and conducting / supervising data collection will be preferred

Demonstrable skills in communications and advocacy work

**Application Process**:

- Latest Curriculum Vitae (CV) in not more than two A4 pages;
- Names and contact details of two professional referees who may be contacted for references.