Senior Researcher – Tertiary Risk Prevention Activity

Senior Researcher – Tertiary Risk Prevention Activity 

Background: LACLEARN’s Tertiary Risk Prevention Activity seeks to advance a detailed understanding of how to implement effective tertiary risk prevention interventions for youth, via the development of a practitioner’s handbook and fidelity assessment report. This handbook’s primary audience will be development practitioners; it will highlight the original models, best practices in adaptation, implementation processes and evaluation standards behind the interventions identified through existing USAID-funded literature. It will also expand upon US-based and other interventions that have been field tested and adapted to the Latin American and Caribbean context. 

This activity will be developed through several milestones:

1. A 50-page practitioner’s guide (handbook) - focused on expanding the information on the tertiary risk prevention interventions identified through the updated Crime and Violence Field Guide. This guide will provide practitioner-level details on implementation processes for effective tertiary prevention interventions based on the field research.
2. An Implementation Fidelity Assessment Report which describes how tertiary risk prevention interventions implemented in LAC have been adapted from core and/or original intervention models.
3. An annex to the practitioner’s guide/handbook which uses findings from the implementation fidelity assessment report to guide practitioners regarding when certain adaptations may be advisable or not (e.g. based on relevant contextual factors).
4. Dissemination of study findings and effective tertiary risk prevention interventions, which may include a virtual webinar, training(s), and/or presentation(s) as requested.

Role of Consultant: The consultant will serve as a Senior Researcher for the Tertiary Risk Prevention Activity. The consultant will ensure the overall implementation of the activity in line with the Concept Note and approved Work Plan, including providing technical and operational support throughout planning and implementation. The consultant will be responsible for the development and finalization of all activity deliverables, with oversight from the LACLEARN team. The consultant will work with other members of the study team, including the Team Lead, research assistants, and will report to the LACLEARN Chief of Party and Citizen Security Advisor.

The assignment is expected to take place from December 2022 - September 2023, with some international travel anticipated for qualitative fieldwork (April 2023).

Specific tasks and responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

●        Participate in team meetings, as well as meetings and briefings with USAID and other stakeholders.

●        Develop and finalize the activity’s work plan, in consultation with the LACLEARN team and building upon the final Concept Note. The work plan will further detail the proposed methodology, key milestones, team structure, and timeline.

●        Conduct a desk review of existing resources and programs in LAC, focusing on the broad range of tertiary risk prevention interventions, as detailed in the Concept Note and work plan.

o   Organize the collection and review of relevant materials and secondary data, as appropriate.

o   Establish a typology for tertiary risk prevention programs and identify core intervention models for each type of program.

o   Identify up to three case studies of select interventions, at least one in Latin America and one in the Caribbean, in consultation with USAID.

o   Develop a brief report (up to 20 pages with corresponding links to bibliography) summarizing the findings from the desk review.

●        Lead qualitative data collection efforts (with team support) to inform the implementation fidelity assessment and practitioner’s guide/handbook:

o   Identify and conduct (remote) key informant interviews in collaboration with the senior researchers and research assistants.

o   Develop and finalize interview protocols, questionnaires, and other data collection instruments.

o   Throughout data collection, ensure methodology and analysis is consistent and in line with the protocols established in the work plan.

o   Conduct detailed review and analysis of 2-3 case studies of specific programs, which will include primary qualitative data collection as noted.

▪          Develop 5-page reports per case study for inclusion in the practitioner’s guide.

●        Support the development of the practitioner’s guide/handbook, in collaboration with the Team Lead, incorporating findings from the previously detailed steps.

o   This will include an annex summarizing key findings, recommendations, and lessons learned from the implementation fidelity assessment report.

●        Lead the development of the implementation fidelity assessment report, in collaboration with the Team Lead, incorporating findings from the previously detailed steps.   

●        Plan, develop, and implement a webinar and/or training(s) for USAID and other stakeholders in English and Spanish, in line with findings and recommendations from the practitioner’s guide/handbook, implementation fidelity assessment, and desk review/case studies.

●        Conduct additional presentations as requested by USAID and other stakeholders.

●        Finalize all deliverables in line with comments by USAID, LACLEARN, and other stakeholders.

Deliverables: Specific deliverables with tentative deadlines are outlined below.  

Illustrative LOE: The table below lists illustrative LOE estimates per sub-activity. The LOE estimates are fungible across sub-activities; however, the consultant may not exceed the total LOE for the overall activity as listed below.

Interested individuals please send CV to Jordan Sticklin (jsticklin@developmentpi.com) by April 10^th