Call for National Researchers
27 November 2020
The ERRC is looking for national researchers – one researcher per country - to support the work of a lead researcher for a project on mapping the situation of Romani children in institutional care in North Macedonia and Ukraine, and also conducting qualitative interviews in Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, and the Czech Republic.
Terms of reference:
The ERRC is accepting applications for national researchers for its research project on mapping the situation of Romani children in the child protection system in North Macedonia and Ukraine, and to follow up with qualitative work and supporting advocacy on the previous research published by the ERRC on this topic in Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, and the Czech Republic.
In North Macedonia and Ukraine national researchers are expected to support work on policy and legal reviews, and in all of the countries they are expected to facilitate interviews and provide support in producing reports comprised of desk and field research that will provide an overview of the situation, and the extent to which Romani children are overrepresented in the care systems. In Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, and the Czech Republic national researchers are expected to provide support to advocacy work and also in conducting interviews with Roma who have spent time in care, parents, child care professionals, and child rights defenders in order to explore the emotional impact of removals on family life.
Background:
The ERRC’s previous research in this area showed that Romani children are overrepresented in institutional care compared to their proportion of the population as a whole in several European countries. Many factors contribute to this overrepresentation, including discrimination, poverty and material conditions (such as unemployment, indebtedness, and inadequate housing), school absenteeism, single parenthood, unwanted pregnancies, and migration. Preventative measures are often inadequate, and there are an insufficient number of skilled social workers and an absence of community level prevention services in isolated Romani neighbourhoods due to insufficient funding. Given that a disproportionate number of Romani children are in institutional care, that they are unlikely to return to their biological families, and that many are passed up for adoption, a large proportion of Romani children spend their whole childhood in an institutional setting. Romani children are disadvantaged on multiple grounds when it comes to child protection placement, in-care treatment, and leaving, on the basis of their ethnicity, poverty, disability, and institutionalised status. More information about the previous research can be found here. The ERRC is currently finalizing a new report on this topic that will be published soon.
Length of engagement
Start date: January 2021
End date: October 2021
During this period it is projected that the national researchers will support the work of the lead researcher, and follow a schedule set by them. The fee will be calculated on a lump sum basis.
How to apply?
- Provide a CV including two references;
- Provide a letter of interest demonstrating how your qualifications and previous experience will aid and enhance the implementation of the research;
- Submit examples of previous published work if applicable.
For informal inquiries about the post, and to submit your application package please contact marek.balaz@errc.org
While actual recruitment to all ERRC jobs is based strictly on merit, the organisation strives to increase the number of persons of Romani origin in its staff and therefore specifically encourages Romani candidates to apply.
Application deadline:13th December 2020
