Qualitative Researcher (Türkiye) At Ground Truth Solutions

TERMS OF REFERENCE: Qualitative researcher (Türkiye)

Understanding the perceptions of aid recipients to support an improved humanitarian response in Türkiye.

Duration: 3-4 months (up to 80 working days but final amount to be agreed with GTS)

Location: Türkiye

Reports to: Senior Programme Manager

Ground Truth Solutions seeks the services of a research firm or independent consultant(s) to conduct a qualitative study exploring community perceptions of humanitarian aid in Türkiye. This study is part of a project implemented by GTS and funded by the H2H Fund.

About Ground Truth Solutions (GTS)

Our mission is to ensure that people affected by crises have a say in humanitarian action, from individual aid projects to global humanitarian reform. To achieve this, we collect feedback from people at the receiving end of aid. We challenge and support aid agencies to use this feedback to optimise their work. We help agencies to understand and communicate the resulting insight back to affected communities. We work with policymakers, governments, and aid agencies to bring about the change we want to see.

About the project

The response to the earthquakes in Türkiye will be long, and already it is throwing up a host of complexities including access, prioritisation and challenges navigating complex relations between refugees and hosting communities. This is a response where national and local groups have been at the forefront, and as the international architecture expands its footprint, an understanding not just of evolving need but of trust dynamics, relationships between local and international responders and complex dynamics impacting inclusion will be essential.

The funding from H2H will allow GTS to complete phase one of a projected longer-term programme of work at a critical time. The phase one project’s objectives will be two-fold:

• To complete a scoping mission, enabling GTS to formulate a context-specific mixed-methods methodology, sensitise response actors to the need for ongoing perceptions tracking, embed perceptions work into response processes from an early-enough stage that it becomes common practice; and identify local partners for longevity of the work.
• To find out the views of affected people. We will complete qualitative consultations and primary qualitative data collection with affected people and local frontline aid workers to produce bulletin snapshots for responders and policymakers on community views on themes of access, trust, local capacities and information, as well as views from local responders on how best to maximise collaboration between local/national and international groups.

Using methods adapted from Key Informant Interviews, Focus Groups and Oral Histories/User stories, we will gather and analyse data which we will share via 2 bulletins and presentations to help inform programming, and lay the groundwork for a more substantial study further down the line.

The consultancy

GTS seeks the services of a research firm or independent consultant(s) to conduct a qualitative study exploring community perceptions of humanitarian aid in Türkiye. The findings from the study will be used to generate recommendations directed at the humanitarian actors on how to strengthen programming in line with community feedback. It is also intended that this qualitative study will be used to inform the design of a longer term mixed-methods perception tracking study.

Methodology

Research questions – Is the humanitarian response accountable to people’s needs, priorities, and expectations? How can aid be more responsive to the unfolding needs of the affected population in Türkiye?

Sample – the target population is people in need of humanitarian aid living in Türkiye and local aid workers in Türkiye. We want to talk to:

• General population living in affected provinces (urban & rural)
• IDPs in:
  • Affected provinces (urban & rural)
  • Unaffected neighbouring provinces (urban & rural)
  • Other major urban areas (urban)
• Vulnerable populations, such as:
  • Older persons
  • People with disabilities
  • Syrian refugees and other refugee groups
  • Other relevant vulnerable groups, e.g., Roma, Kurds, and other ethnic minority groups, LGBTQIA+.

The total number of interviews and focus groups is to be agreed together with GTS, but it will require a robust data set recognising the different target groups in our sample.

Interviews can – when possible – be conducted face-to-face. The alternative preferred method would be via video call.

Geographic scope – Türkiye (the precise geographic scope will be refined in collaboration with GTS)

Scope of work

• Attend orientation meeting with GTS
• Conduct desk review
• Develop communication plan with GTS team, including regular check-ins
• Write inception report, including a summary of the desk review and proposed methodology
• Co-design interview guides with GTS
• Identify eligible respondents in collaboration with GTS
• Conduct and record in-depth interviews/focus group discussions, translate verbatim transcripts
• Draft two bulletins on community perceptions of humanitarian aid in Türkiye and submit for review by GTS
• Revise bulletins responding to, and integrating feedback
• Present research findings, in collaboration with GTS, to relevant stakeholders, including participating communities.

Deliverables

1. Inception report outlining communication plan, methodology and research tools
2. Transcripts and audio recordings of qualitative interviews
3. Draft two bulletins on community perceptions of humanitarian aid
4. Final two bulletins on community perceptions of humanitarian aid
5. Slide deck and delivery of presentation on key findings.

Timeline

It is anticipated that all tasks will be completed by 15 August 2023 with the potential for an extension. A detailed work plan will be agreed at the beginning of the consultancy.

Relevant experience & skills

• A degree in Social Sciences, International Development, Humanitarian Action, or any other related area of study/equivalent experience.
• A strong and proven background (e.g., through prior publications or references) in international development or humanitarian action.
• Familiarity with the context of Türkiye, preferably with experience working with Civil Society Organisations and humanitarian actors and organisations.
• Proven research skills, including in both quantitative and qualitative analysis.
• Excellent analytical and reporting skills.
• Fluency in written and spoken English and Turkish. Excellent written English. An understanding of Arabic and Kurdish would be an advantage (a separate budget for translation services can be agreed with GTS if necessary).