Design Research Lead

About the FINCA Poverty Eradication Lab (FPEL)

The FINCA Poverty Eradication Lab (FPEL) combines insights from people living in poverty with FINCA’s 40 years of global expertise to expedite the development and scaling of innovative solutions aimed at poverty eradication. As a hub for human-centered innovation, FPEL focuses on designing, testing, and scaling sustainable poverty solutions that address issues like financial inclusion, gender equity, climate adaptation, food security, and healthcare. FPEL works collaboratively with a global network of internal and external partners, with a mission to drive impactful change in underserved communities.

Role Overview:

The Design Research Lead {Consultant} will lead research efforts focused on identifying needs and opportunities for intervention in livelihood, resilience, and education, specifically targeting smallholder farmers, micro and small businesses, and marginalized families. The research will serve as a critical foundation for the human-centered design (HCD) phase, where innovative solutions will be co-created and tested in collaboration with local communities. This role will also involve managing in-country research associates to ensure that the research is localized, context-specific, and actionable.

You will lead the design and execution of research projects aimed at informing social enterprise models that address poverty alleviation. Your leadership will ensure that the research findings are translated into actionable insights, guiding FPEL’s future interventions.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Research Planning and Execution

• Design, scope, and execute research aimed at uncovering livelihood, resilience, and education needs for smallholder farmers, micro and small businesses, and marginalized families.
• Lead strategic discussions to refine research questions and design methodologies that align with FPEL’s poverty eradication goals, focusing on opportunities for intervention in these key areas.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to ensure that research addresses the real-world challenges faced by smallholder farmers and micro-businesses, identifying sustainable and scalable solutions.
• Manage the research project lifecycle, ensuring timely execution, adherence to research protocols, and the delivery of high-quality data.
• Supervise in-country research associates to ensure localized insights are accurately captured, providing leadership and guidance throughout the research process.

2. Team Leadership and Management

• Manage and mentor a team of in-country research associates, ensuring they have the necessary resources, tools, and training to execute field research effectively.
• Coordinate data collection from field teams across multiple countries or regions, ensuring the incorporation of local context into research findings.
• Foster a culture of learning and collaboration within the research team, supporting the professional development of research associates.
• Ensure accurate and ethical data collection practices by the in-country teams, providing oversight and ensuring adherence to research protocols and ethical standards.

3. Data Analysis and Synthesis

• Collect and analyze both qualitative and quantitative data from multiple sources, focusing on the needs and barriers related to livelihoods, resilience, and education in underserved communities.
• Synthesize data to uncover key insights regarding the challenges faced by smallholder farmers, micro and small businesses, and marginalized families.
• Translate research findings into actionable recommendations for FPEL’s human-centered design (HCD) phase, ensuring that these recommendations are aligned with both local realities and global best practices.
• Communicate findings through reports, presentations, and workshops, ensuring stakeholders are equipped with clear, actionable insights for the next phase of intervention design.

4. Human-Centered Design Preparation

• Work closely with FPEL HCD team to ensure research findings directly inform the next phase of HCD.
• Facilitate the transition from research to HCD, ensuring that insights are carried forward into co-creation and solution testing activities.
• Provide ongoing support during the HCD phase, offering contextual insights and helping refine prototypes and solutions based on the research outcomes.

5. Collaboration and Partnership Development

• Collaborate with FINCA’s Research & Data team and other subsidiaries to ensure alignment and knowledge-sharing across research projects.
• Identify potential partnerships with local organizations, NGOs, academic institutions, and social enterprises to strengthen research efforts and expand impact.
• Support fundraising efforts by contributing research insights and strategic guidance for grant proposals focused on livelihood, resilience, and education interventions.

6. Strategic Engagement and Tool Development

• Participate in internal strategic discussions to identify priority areas for research and intervention in livelihood, resilience, and education.
• Develop tools, methodologies, and frameworks to facilitate the execution of research projects across multiple regions and contexts.
• Ensure the ethical approval process for research projects is handled in compliance with local, national, and international standards.
• Stay informed on the latest research trends in poverty eradication, livelihoods, and resilience, ensuring FPEL remains at the cutting edge of innovation in these areas.

Qualifications:

Education and Experience

• Advanced degree in Social Sciences, Development Studies, Anthropology, Economics, Public Policy, or a related field.
• A minimum of [5] years of experience in conducting design research, with a focus on poverty-related issues such as livelihood, resilience, and education.
• Proven track record in managing research teams, particularly in-country or field-based research associates.
• Experience conducting research in low-income or developing countries, with a focus on smallholder farmers, micro and small businesses, or marginalized communities.
• Strong background in both qualitative and quantitative research methods, including field research, surveys, and participatory methods.
• Experience working with social enterprises or organizations focused on poverty alleviation and sustainable development.

Skills and Competencies

• An understanding of human-centered design (HCD) methodologies and the ability to transition research findings into practical design processes.
• Strong leadership skills, with experience managing and mentoring research teams in diverse geographies.
• Excellent analytical skills with the ability to synthesize complex data into clear, actionable insights.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to present research findings and actionable insights to a variety of stakeholders.
• Proficiency in data collection tools (surveys, interviews, focus groups) and software for qualitative/quantitative analysis.
• Experience in grant writing and fundraising for research projects is a plus.
• Willingness to travel internationally to oversee field research and engage with local teams.

Personal Attributes

• A proactive leader with a collaborative mindset, passionate about poverty eradication and driven by a desire to make a tangible impact.
• Strong cultural sensitivity and commitment to ethical research practices, particularly in marginalized communities.
• Adaptability and resilience in complex, fast-paced environments.
• Willingness to travel internationally to oversee research activities and engage with field teams.