How to apply for Social Science Researcher - Volunteer

About International Women's Initiative

The International Women's Initiative is a human rights organization that studies and addresses the suppression of women and girls in countries worldwide. Its research team, The Working Group, shapes the organization's policy decisions and social reforms. The role is remote and volunteer-based, so it suits people who want to contribute research skills to a cause without relocating.

About the role

Social Science Researchers on The Working Group study human rights liberties and suppressions of women and girls within each country. They design methodologies, write survey questionnaires, gather data through document analysis, surveys, case studies and interviews, and report findings. The work directly informs IWI's policy decisions, social reforms, and social interactions.

A typical day

A typical day might involve reviewing literature and documents, drafting survey questions, conducting or coordinating interviews, and analyzing data. You would also prepare reports, briefings, or presentations and communicate with field interviewers or team members remotely. Exact routines depend on the project, so ask about current projects and team structure during the interview.

Who International Women's Initiative is looking for

• Has training or experience in social science research methods, including qualitative and quantitative techniques.
• Can design research projects from research questions through methodology, data collection, and analysis.
• Is comfortable writing survey questionnaires, conducting interviews, and reviewing literature.
• Can analyze data using analysis packages and present results in reports, briefings, and presentations.
• Can liaise with and direct field interviewers and manage fieldwork remotely.

Tips for this application

• State clearly in your application that you understand this is a volunteer, remote, full-time role.
• Show examples of research projects you have designed, not just participated in.
• Name the specific research techniques you have used, such as document analysis, case studies, or interviews.
• Mention any experience directing field interviewers or coordinating qualitative fieldwork.
• List the analysis packages you use by name, since the role requires interpreting data with them.
• If you have written tenders or responded to research tenders, describe that work directly.

What to cover in your cover letter

Explain how you would design a research project on women's rights in a specific country, from research question to methodology. Describe your experience writing survey questionnaires and conducting interviews. Give an example of analyzing qualitative or quantitative data and reporting findings. State your availability for a remote, volunteer, full-time commitment.

Research before applying

• Read IWI's published research or reports to see how The Working Group presents findings.
• Look at IWI's policy positions or social reform campaigns to understand how research feeds into them.
• Check which countries or regions IWI currently focuses on, if that information is public.
• Find out how IWI defines its research questions and what audiences its briefings target.

Likely interview topics

Based on the job description, expect questions about:

• How would you design a methodology to answer a research question about women's rights in a specific country?
• Walk through how you have written a survey questionnaire and what you considered.
• Describe a time you directed field interviewers or managed qualitative fieldwork.
• Which analysis packages do you use, and how have you interpreted data for a report or briefing?
• How would you present research findings to shape policy decisions or social reforms?

Common mistakes to avoid

• Treating this as a paid position or ignoring that it is volunteer and remote.
• Describing research interest in general terms without naming methods, techniques, or analysis packages.
• Focusing only on data collection and omitting methodology design, questionnaire writing, or reporting.