Short-Term Research Consultant, Bangalore

Job Description for Short-Term Research Consultant from Bengaluru

Background

Peoples Courage International (PCI) is an emerging alliance focused on addressing the challenges of domestic migration. One of the initiatives that PCI is involved in is the Migrants Resilience Collaborative (MRC), which has successfully set up a network-based movement in India, accessible at https://www.migrantresilience.org.

The Migrants Resilience Collaborative (MRC) is a pioneering initiative dedicated to supporting and empowering internal migrants in South and Southeast Asia. With a mission to strengthen social protection for vulnerable migrant communities, MRC collaborates with grassroots NGOs, government agencies, and other stakeholders to implement effective last-mile delivery systems and develop contextually appropriate models for social protection. This collaborative effort brings together diverse stakeholders, including non-governmental organisations, community leaders, policymakers, and volunteers, with the common goal of addressing the unique challenges and hardships faced by migrants. MRC strives to foster a sense of resilience among migrants, recognizing their strength, adaptability, and determination in the face of adversities. Through innovative programs and services, the collaborative seeks to provide social security and worker protection for internal migrants and their families.

The organisation is currently working on a project titled, Digital Platform Workers in Asia. The study aims to carry out an extensive landscaping exercise to understand the status of digital platform workers in the Asia region. Despite the proliferation of digital labour platforms across Asia, digital platform workers are, for the most part, excluded from labour rights protections and social security schemes. This research seeks to inform PCI’s programmatic work to advance the rights of migrant and other digital platform workers in South and Southeast Asia across 9 cities in five countries.

This project is a mixed-methods study aimed at generating knowledge about digital platform workers and their social protection. Our aim through the project is to conduct an in-depth study of working conditions, access to social security, and gaps in labour rights protections for South and Southeast Asian digital platform workers in the following sectors:

• ridesharing and taxi driving,
• delivery services,
• domestic work and home services,
• construction work

We are looking for a short-term research consultant from Bengaluru in India - who will assist in carrying out primary research for this project for a period of three months (February to April 2025) in these cities. The Consultant must be a resident of India and should be based in Bengaluru.

Scope of Work

In line with the broader scope of this assignment, the successful candidate is expected to focus on the following:

• Case and context study:
  • Conduct case and context study to map digital platform workers across four sectors in Bengaluru and to gain insights into their working hours, locations, and availability, thereby undertaking both quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews.
• Identify and map other relevant stakeholders for potential key informant interviews in Bengaluru.
• Inception meeting, data review and analysis meeting, and weekly meetings:
  • Participate in the inception meeting (online).
  • Participate in weekly meetings with the PCI research team and provide weekly progress reports/updates on primary data collection.
  • Participate in the data review and analysis meeting.
• Primary Data Collection:
  • Translate data collection tools from English to Kannada, and interview transcripts from the regional language to English.
  • Identify data collection sites as well as respondents.
  • Conduct mixed–method interviews (involving quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews) with digital platform workers working in the four sectors in Bengaluru.
  • Conduct key informant interviews (KIIs) with a mix of stakeholders including sampled digital platform companies, NGO leaders, civil society activists, labour department officials, and subject experts working directly within the digital platform sector.
  • Conduct additional case studies and field investigations as required.

*All research outputs must be provided in English.

Required Qualifications and Competencies

• Master’s degree in social sciences, labour studies, human rights, law, public policy, development studies, or relevant fields.
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience in undertaking research on issues related to labour/digital platform workers/internal migration for at least two to three years (compulsory); in-depth knowledge and experience working in the field of labour and migration within their country, focusing on protection of the rights of labourers and internal migrants, and in researching on issues related to digital platform workers/or working directly with digital platform workers (preferred).
• Excellent writing, editing, and oral communication skills in English and the respective regional languages.
• Previous experience in conducting mixed-method interviews and KIIs.
• Training and experience in Survey CTO (preferred).
• The consultant must be locally based in the city where the research is to be conducted.
• The consultant must have working knowledge of Kannada, Hindi and English.

Reporting structure

The Consultant will report twice weekly to the Project Supervisor.

Timeline

The Consultant will engage in the activities laid out in the scope of work for a period of 3 months, from February to April 2025.

Remuneration

The remuneration to the consultant will be based on industry standards and commensurate with experience, skills, etc.

Application process

Applications must be submitted by e-mail to the following addresses research@peoplescourageinternational.org and sangeeth.s@soulscale.org and must contain:

• The CV of the Consultant
• Letter of interest (max 1 page) explaining why they are interested in this project and are the most suitable for the work.
• At least two (2) writing samples that demonstrate their research experience in the field of digital platform workers/labour/internal migrants or link to previous publications.

The recruitment is on a rolling basis. Please apply as soon as possible and mention “Research

Consultant DPW study- Bengaluru” in the subject line.