ThaiNGO

Terms of Reference

Human Centered Design Workshop Facilitator, Thailand Climate Resilience Study

Role: 1x Human Centered Design Workshop Facilitator, Chiang Mai (or ability to travel to Chiang Mai)

*note: only Thai-speaking candidates are eligible for this position

Reports to: Principal Investigators, Chiang Mai/Hanoi

Work type: Contractor

Location: Chiang Mai, Thailand and other field locations (Chiang Rai and Lamphun province)

Duration: These contract positions will start in May and involve a few days of training/on-boarding (May) and 2.5 months of work, the bulk of which is between mid-June and mid-August 2021. Travel and stay in remote fieldwork sites is required for some days in June, July and August, with up to 12 days in June/July and up to 5 days in August.

1. Overview of the organization:

International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) exists to advance science for a food secure, climate resilient and environmentally sustainable future. We have several on-going projects in the land-use sector that seek to prepare low-income farmers for more climate change resilience and zero-deforestation production. We work with sustainability-minded companies buying in the APAC region, who know the practices needed to adapt to climate change and protect the environment, but need support learning how to improve sustainable adoption of those practices.

2. Project Description

In 2020, CIAT completed a Phase 1 of a Climate Resilience Study for Thailand, which modeled future climate scenarios for Thailand and assessed the impacts that climate will have the ability of potato farmers in north and northeastern Thailand to continue growing potatoes in these key regions. The Phase 1 climate assessment resulted in a number of key adaptation recommendations for improving farmer and crop resilience; however, Phase 1 results do not consider the sociocultural contexts of farmers, their interests, and ability to increase yields through the recommended practices.

This study will use traditional social science research methods (qualitative data collection) for assessing farmer contexts; additionally, it will draw on problem-solving tools from human-centered design thinking. The objective of this research in CIAT Phase 2 is to understand the current challenges that potato farmers currently face in growing potatoes and the contextual factors that prohibit and enable them to increase their yield in response to climate change. Phase 2 will draw from an understanding of potato farmers in order to develop “farmer-centered” strategies for improving farmer resilience to climate change.

3. Scope of Work

Phase 2 will be conducted in two potato growing regions in north and northeastern Thailand (Lamphun and Chiang Rai).

The Phase 2 methodology is an iterative 3-step process that works to simultaneously collect social, cultural and contextual information on farmers and their supply chain and social networks while also targeting these findings towards the development of farmer-centered solution. The role of the Human Centered Design Workshop Facilitator will be to support the Principal Investigators in the following:

Pre-fieldwork: Research and ethics training / Strategy (May 2021, approximately 2 days, virtual remote based)

The local research team (including the HCD workshop facilitator) will participate in on-boarding and research and ethics training, including IRB training. The HCD Workshop facilitator will also participate in strategy planning meetings with our research team. This is a required pre-fieldwork activity that will prepare the team for the next stages.

Stage 1: Strategy Planning off of Qual Research (May 2021, 3-5 days virtual remote-based)

• Participate in debriefing sessions and analysis with Principal Investigators who are in the field collecting qualitative data.

• Support in planning co-design workshop strategy.

Stage 2: Human Centered Design for Developing Solutions (mid-June through July, approximately 20 days, 10 days in the field)

The HCD workshop facilitator will support in facilitating co-design workshop activities, which will draw from qualitative research to design solutions to increase farmers’ yields in potatoes.

• Facilitation of all required workshop activities for farmers (~5-6 workshops).

• Leading development of visual tools for ideation.

• Participate in debriefing sessions and insight analysis with Principal Investigators.

• Design of solutions based on workshop results.

• Support with workshop planning and strategy.

Stage 3: Field Monitoring and Feedback on Solutions (end of July -August 2021, approximately 20 days, 5 days in the field)

• Support with all required in-field rapid prototyping activities for farmers (design, further feedback).

• Participate in debriefing sessions and analysis with Principal Investigators.

4. Required skills and qualifications

Qualified candidates are those with degrees in design or business and experience in human centered design, UX research, co-design workshop facilitation.

Required:

• Knowledge and experience of leading/facilitating co-design workshops

• Knowledge of human centered design/user-centered design

• Demonstrated communication skills

• Professional proficiency in written and spoken English and Thai

• Skills in visual representation of ideas

• Availability to undertake fieldwork (including travel) for the time period of the project.

• Pro-active and flexible approach to research

Desirable (but not required)

• Experience with research on agriculture or rural development is a plus.

• Solid understanding of the Thai rural context for collecting data (e.g., local regulations, social norms, etc.)

5. Compensation

The full-time Human Centered Design Researcher will be paid on a monthly basis from mid-June until mid-August in accordance with experience. The Local researchers will also be compensated for 5-7 days of virtual training/on-boarding and strategy in May. Travel to Chiang Mai will be covered by CIAT for those based outsides of this region. Travel and accommodations in field sites will also be covered.

Note: Local Researchers are expected to have their own laptop, mobile phone and internet connectivity. Researchers are also expected to cover their own housing and living expenses in Chiang Mai.

6. Application details

Please send the following documents to e.nguyen@cgiar.org with the subject line: Application for HCD Facilitator Chiang Mai

1. A copy of your most recent CV

2. The names and contacts of 2 references (preferably English-speaking) who best know your work

3. A short sample of an English-language writing piece you have authored. This can be a published article, unpublished report or any other example of your professional writing.

Deadline: April 23, 2021.