Country: Bangladesh
Closing date: 22 Dec 2019
Sociolinguist - Rohingya refugee response
The mission of Translators without Borders is to provide people with access to vital knowledge in their language. We do this by building language technology, increasing language translation capacity at a local level, providing language and simplification services that are culturally appropriate, accessible and open source, and raising awareness globally of language barriers.
Contract length: one year, with a possibility of extension
Hours: Full-time
Location: Cox’s Bazar - Bangladesh
Travel: Minimal
Reporting to: Bangladesh Program Director
Application deadline: 22 December 2019
Due to the urgency of the vacancy, screening and interviews will commence immediately and the candidate can be selected at any stage before the closing date.
About Translators without Borders
Translators without Borders (TWB) envisions a world where knowledge knows no language barriers. The US-based non-profit provides people access to vital knowledge in their language by connecting non-profit organizations with a community of language professionals, building local language translation capacity, and raising awareness of language barriers. Originally founded in 1993 in France (as Traducteurs sans Frontières), TWB translates millions of words of life-saving and life-changing information every year.
We offer in addition to salary:
an innovative work environment with a diverse and passionate team
location-specific hardship allowance
accommodation
a 3-month Rest & Recuperation cycle, including additional leave and travel
20 days of annual leave and 10 days of floating holidays
Background
Extreme violence in Myanmar has driven more than 700,000 Rohingya refugees across the border into Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. This is one of the largest refugee crises in the world. This refugee population has distinct humanitarian needs such as food, shelter, and actionable information in a language they understand. The only language that everyone in this community speaks and understands is Rohingya; a language that has no written form and has, in the past, attracted very little research into terminology and structure.
To best respond to the Rohingya community’s acute information needs, TWB is working with partners to generate research and create tools to assist humanitarian actors to communicate effectively, in the appropriate language.
Role
The Sociolinguist is responsible for ensuring that TWB is best placed to advise humanitarian and development partners on issues related to the language, social and cultural factors that influence communication in Bangladesh. S/he will focus primarily on the Rohingya response in Cox’s Bazar District.
The Sociolinguist will report to the Bangladesh Program Director and will work in close cooperation with the Country Director and the TWB team.
The role will evolve as projects and activities are developed to respond to communication and information needs. Flexibility and the willingness to adapt to constantly changing circumstances is important.
Responsibilities
Linguistic knowledge gathering, documenting and sharing
Regularly and systematically increase TWB’s knowledge and understanding of Bangla, Burmese, Rohingya and Chittagonian and the factors influencing communication in these languages/dialects. This will include supporting and drawing on the skills of the team working in Bangladesh and initiating and maintaining contacts with various organisations and individuals within Bangladesh and abroad.
Liaise with a wide range of organizations to advocate for the role of language in humanitarian response and gather information to adapt TWB’s outputs and activities to evolving language and communication practices within the humanitarian response
Research and remain informed on current debates surrounding the development of and use of Rohingya scripts, particularly in terms of educational outcomes
Design and coordinate sociolinguistic research projects to inform programmatic deliverables such as orientation, awareness, information and training sessions, consortium newsletter, fact sheets, language guidance documents, etc...
Support TWB team members with the design of research workflows for glossary development, mother tongue education research, development of evaluation tools, etc...
Contribute to comprehension research to field-test the effectiveness of various written, audio, and video communication products
Contribute to evidence-based recommendations and guidelines related to communication and language to support other humanitarian agencies across the response.
Support to program delivery
Support Language Leads by advising, reviewing translations, providing contextual inputs, etc... to ensure TWB’s written and audio translation work is of the highest standards
Lead in the creation of language tools such as sectoral glossaries
Contribute to advancing TWB’s global Gamayun initiative as requested.
Reporting
Contribute to tracking the outputs of various language-related activities, including, but not limited to: translations of documents and messages, advocacy, training, and capacity building of interpreters
Contribute as necessary to the design and implementation of project evaluations
Input into TWB’s contribution to the weekly CwC sector updates and other required reports
Any other duties as required.
Qualifications
The Sociolinguist should be a creative self-starter with a strong sense of initiative and enthusiastic about the importance of increasing access to knowledge through language. The right candidate is an energetic team player who agrees with TWB´s Core Values and can work in field locations and virtually to collaborate with team members based around the world.
Requirements
Master’s degree in a relevant subject. (e.g. linguistics, sociolinguistics, language studies, research etc)
experience or knowledge of humanitarian and/or development contexts
Understanding of language as a barrier in humanitarian responses
Demonstrated experience initiating and implementing innovative learning, evidence gathering and/or impact measuring at the field level,
Experience designing, coordinating, and implementing field-based research projects utilizing quantitative and/or qualitative methodologies
Strong writing skills and the ability to communicate scientific data to communities, program staff, and partners in a simple and clear manner
Training and presentation skills
Verbal and written fluency in English
A working knowledge of origins and influences of the Rohingya language
Verbal or written fluency in Bangla, Chittagonian, Rohingya and/or Burmese, a plus
Experience working in Bangladesh and/or Myanmar, a plus
Core Values
Translators without Borders employees and volunteers are made of people who believe passionately about the value of this work and take personal responsibility for achieving the mission. Translators without Borders’ mission and organizational spirit embody the core values established in its strategic framework:
Excellence: As the leading voice for communicating humanitarian information in the right language, Translators without Borders is a leader in the translation industry and in the non-profit sector.
Integrity: Translators without Borders believes that every person, whether it is the people who we serve, our volunteers or our staff, has value, deserves respect and has inherent dignity.
Empowerment: Translators without Borders believes in using language to empower people around the world to control their own development and destiny.
Innovation: Translators without Borders recognizes and celebrates the power of innovation to address humanitarian and crisis issues around the world.
Sustainability: Translators without Borders recognizes that meeting our mission necessitates establishment and maintenance of a solid financial and organizational infrastructure.
Tolerance: Our staff and volunteers are highly knowledgeable and skilled; value each other, our partner and our recipients; create a supportive work environment; and, conduct themselves professionally at all times.
Translators without Borders is an equal-opportunity employer, committed to diversity and inclusion, and encourages qualified candidates of all genders and from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organization.
How to apply: