INOVASI 3 - Senior Qualitative Researcher – ethnographic studies (Consultant)

Background of The Project:
Indonesia’s Vision 2045 sets the goal for Indonesia to transition from a resource-based economy towards an advanced service, technology, and knowledge-based economy by the centenary of its independence (2045). The 2025-2045 National Long Term Development Plan emphasises the urgency of Indonesia’s human resource development to fully realise 2045 goals.
Faced however with persistent low student performance that is emblematic of a learning crisis, significant improvement in student learning will be required to reach Indonesia’s 2045 goals. Government of Indonesia (GoI) has started an ambitious program of education reforms. Successive education ministers have set out to modernise the education system through reforming the national curriculum and teaching and assessment approaches, to produce citizens with strong foundational skills, open minds, and inclusive values.
Australia is a long-term supporter of the Indonesian basic education sector, with continuous investments supporting education quality improvements for the past two decades, including through the INOVASI program (Phase 1 2016-2020; Phase 2 2020-2023) that focused on supporting acquisition of literacy and numeracy foundational skills in early grades classrooms; exploring local problems and solutions; and generating evidence to inform government policy development and practices.
This third phase of INOVASI (2024-2027) builds upon the existing program’s approach and lessons learned and takes the focus on the development of foundational skills through to the end of the primary grades. Phase 3 will engage with priority issues of Australia’s development policy: gender equality, effective inclusion of children with a disability, responses to the climate change challenge in education. It will focus on the challenge of policy implementation and the gaps that exist between national policies and practices at district and school levels and use the well attested-success of INOVASI’s local problem-based approach to continuously support policy development for effective fit between policy and implementation context.
INOVASI Phase 3 is implemented in 25 districts and cities across Indonesia, in the provinces of West Nusa Tenggara, East Nusa Tenggara, North Kalimantan, East Java, West Java, and Maluku. The program also works in Ibu Kota Nusantara (IKN)
The Program is managed by Palladium on behalf of the Government of Australia through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).
INOVASI will conduct qualitative studies, including an ethnographic study on remote areas and other future ethnographic studies.

Purpose of the Position:
This ToR outlines the scope of work for Senior Qualitative Researcher – ethnographic studies, to undertake qualitative studies, particularly applying ethnographic approach for exploring schooling in remote areas INOVASI Program in Malinau or Nunukan and Maluku Tengah.
Scope of works for future research will be determined when the research agenda have been set up.

Duties: Under the direction of Evaluation and Research Specialist, the Senior Qualitative Researcher – ethnographic studies will:

Design the qualitative study, applying ethnographic approach, including the research questions, methodology, and the instrumentsConduct qualitative studies applying particularly ethnographic approach as requested by INOVASIDocument data collectedDevelop draft reportFinalise reportFacilitate discussion to validate the findings when required

For future studies, the tasks of the researchers will be adjusted accordingly.

Duration of the contract/Timeline:
The duration of the contract is 12 months with maximum 100 of billable workdays, with a possible of extension subject to INOVASI’s needs and satisfactory performance assessment.

Qualifications and Experience:
The Senior Qualitative Researcher – ethnographic study will possess the following qualifications and experience:

Has substantial academic experience or conceptual knowledge on anthropology, sociology, or related field.Has fieldwork experience in conducting ethnographic research involving immersive fieldwork, observation, interviewing and data collection.Has strong qualitative research skills, as well as proficiency in qualitative data analysis.Has supportive attitudes of culturally sensitive and respectful of the community with whom the researcher will work.Has high writing and communication skills for documenting findings and presenting research in reports and presentations.Familiar with ethical considerations, including in obtaining ethical clearance.Has willingness to stay and immerse with the community during the data collection.

Working with children
Is this position likely to come into contact with children?                ☒ Yes                  ☐  No

INOVASI will assess candidates based on the previous experience as a qualitative researcher, ethnographic study, and sample of report/s or publication.

Application closes on 10 March 2025 at 23:59 Jakarta Time

Equity, Diversity & Inclusion - Palladium is committed to embedding equity, diversity, and inclusion into everything we do. We welcome applications from all sections of society and actively encourage diversity to drive innovation, creativity, success and good practice. We positively welcome and seek to ensure we achieve diversity in our workforce; and that all job applicants and employees receive equal and fair treatment regardless of their background or personal characteristics. These include: (but are not limited to) socio-economic background, age, race, gender identity and expression, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, nationality, veteran, marital or Indigenous status.
Women are encouraged to apply