Research Associate

**Designation**:
**Research Associate**

**Scope of Work**:
Research is an important component of the support system. The team works on action-based research projects, market research projects, and research for advocacy. The Research team works closely with the Managing-Director and Sr Research Associate(s) to develop and implement a strong research team strategy and vision within the larger vision of SEWA Cooperative Federation to enable women workers and their enterprises to achieve full employment and self-reliance.

**Location**:
Ahmedabad

**Experience**:

- 1-3 years of relevant experience in related field
- Experience in Development Sector with been an advantage

**Eligibility**:

- Educational Background: Bachelor's or Master’s degree in a relevant field such as Public Policy, Social work, Development Studies, Climate change, Economics, or related disciplines.
- Work Experience: 1-3 years of relevant experience in research, data analysis, strategy, or program support, preferably in a social impact of development-focused organization.
- Analytical Skills: Strong skills in qualitative and/or quantitative research methods, data interpretation, and critical thinking.
- Communication Skills: Ability to write clearly and concisely for diverse audiences; experience in creating reports, briefs, and presentations.
- Technical Proficiency: Experience of working with tools KoboTool, XLSForm, Ms Excel, Google suite. Familiarity with Python, or data visualization software (e.g., Power BI, Tableau) is desirable.
- Teamwork & Initiative: Demonstrated ability to work independently as well as collaboratively in multidisciplinary teams.
- Willingness for overnight field travel for up to 20 days each quarter.
- Ability to work independently, as well as collaboratively, with different teams while managing the full lifecycle of research and pilot projects.
- **Non-negotiable**:

- Willing to work on full time basis with physical presence in office.
- An interest in working and engaging with informal women workers and exploring women’s cooperatives as a pathway for empowerment.
- Excellent written and verbal communication in English, and in any other Indian Language.
- Willingness to immerse oneself in Gujarati culture, and also learn the language.
- Demonstrated ability to consolidate and simplify technical information, and put together presentations and infographics.

**Skills**:

- **Market Assessment, and Scoping Studies to support women’s cooperatives**:

- Conduct primary and secondary research to support market-oriented research for women-led nano-enterprises (cooperatives/collective-run businesses), specifically in the agricultural and handicraft sector.
- Review and understand existing documents (reports, photos, films etc) on informal women workers’ cooperatives supported by the Federation since 1992.
- Design studies and conduct data analysis to (a) generate evidence for business planning and policy action for ease of business for women’s cooperatives, (b) measure programme impacts, and (c) support organizational decision-making.
- Support innovation and design of new research projects for SEWA Cooperative Federation across sectors and themes (esp. Climate Change, Women’s Leadership, and Youth inclusion).
- Development of research outputs which can be shared with external audiences as well as cooperative members and grassroots leaders, and CSO partners
- Support standardization of research processes at the Federations, contributing to SOP development efforts being conducted by the research team.
- **Climate Lens Integration**:

- Lead and initiate efforts for capacity
- building of Federation team members to develop an understanding of key concepts related to climate change, via partnerships, organizing expert interactions etc.
- Document and unpack climate co-benefits of the federation’s existing work, as well as tacit traditional knowledge of grassroot women cooperators working in agriculture, handicraft and dairy sectors.
- Generate research insights, and best practices in adaptation and resilience building for grassroots women’s cooperatives in accessible formats, to support knowledge sharing and strengthen institutional knowledge.
- Provide data-related support to different teams; consolidating, evaluating secondary data and contextualizing it to Federation needs.
- Develop notes, reports, papers linked to research and advocacy at various levels - local, national and international resilience for cooperatives in light of the external environment (including market, technology, and climate change)
- **Project Management**:

- Implementing, monitoring all research-related work, managing existing and new research and pilot projects, as assigned by the lead.
- Maintaining regular contact with the cooperative members and grassroots partners - leading coordination efforts to support on-going research activities.
- Explore and leverage opportunities for the Federation and research team: Network with stakeholders,