Position Purpose

This project seeks to tackle escalating water-related conflicts in small lake systems. The selected study area is the Namal Valley in Mianwali, Pakistan which is home to the Namal Dam Reservoir. The conflict surrounding the lake is driven by competing interests of stakeholders (for instance agricultural water demand of downstream farmers versus flood risk control of the upstream villagers). Important drivers of risk include (among others) the absence of a scientific information base in decision-making for reservoir operations, deteriorating infrastructure, unpredictable weather patterns, and an apparent lack of empathy among stakeholders. The primary goal of this project is to mitigate water-related conflicts through a series of targeted interventions designed to understand, analyze, and address the underlying causes of conflict in small lake systems, particularly the Namal Valley. A team of researchers will work together on data collection, socio-hydrological modelling, and the design of serious games to observe individual behaviours in conflict situations.The project will deliver a conflict profiling system, comprehensive stakeholder analysis, educational workshops, and documentary material aimed towards capacity building for
sustainable resolution of water-related conflict in small lake systems. The significance of the project lies in its focus on small lake systems, often overshadowed by research on larger lake systems in hydrology and conflict studies. The potential impact of the planned activities extends beyond the Namal Valley, unlocking vital insights for over 60 small lake systems in the Potohar region and beyond.

Main responsibilities

• The field team lead will be responsible for the design and execution of all data collection activities. These include household surveys, semi-structured interviews, knowledge-sharing workshops, and public gaming sessions. 
• The lead will supervise a team of two local field associates from NUML, to conduct the data collection and dissemination. 
• The lead will have expertise in quantitative and qualitative methods for social research, supervise field staff, and facilitate coordination within the project team and with external entities.

The tasks include
-  Design and conduct semi-structured and in-depth interviews.
-  Perform thematic analysis to interpret qualitative data
- Organize and facilitate focus group discussions. 
- Design and administer surveys and questionnaires. 
- Conduct statistical analysis using software such as SPSS, R, or SAS. 
-  Engage with the local community to gain insights related to the project. 
-  Lead and manage a team of field staff. 
-  Coordinate with other team members to align data collection with the modelling and game design activities. 
- Manage frequent travel to research sites as required.

Experience:

1 to 2 years of relevant experience