Temporary research assistant sought on older Roma issues

Organisation profile

AGE Platform Europe brings together seniors’ organisations and other civil society organisations representing and working with and for older people from across the European Union to give a strong and credible voice to the views, needs and interests of older and retired people at national and European level.

Since its creation in January 2001, AGE aims to voice and promote the interests of the 150 million inhabitants aged 50+ in the European Union.  AGE aims to act as a bridge between its member associations and the EU Institutions, supporting its members in their daily advocacy activities at national level, actively representing their interests and agreed policy positions at European level, and raising awareness of the issues that truly concern older people.

AGE is a non-profit making EU membership association, financed by membership fees and subsidies from the European Commission.

Research Assistant profile

To assist the AGE Secretariat in gathering material for an eventual joint position with ERIO on older Roma and the difficulties and challenges they face. This will form the basis for the development of a joint AGE-ERIO publication to mark the 2010 European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion and will be issued on the occasion of the Annual Roundtable on Social Inclusion and Poverty on 18-19 October. This publication will seek to raise awareness of the situation of older Roma women and men in the EU and will consider issues related to their access to fundamental rights including access to employment, decent housing, minimum income, building of pension rights, health and long-term care etc. It will also address the impact of their circumstances and living conditions on their quality of life and life expectancy.

AGE and ERIO wish to obtain a realistic picture of where the problems are and what are the barriers preventing older Roma from enjoying equal opportunities and to draw recommendations to the different political levels to address these. We will require the research assistant to gather testimonies, collect details of case studies, quotes from individual Roma, and any other relevant data.

The research assistant will be employed in the AGE office for up to 6 weeks. They will receive support and desk space from AGE and will also be provided with guidance and contacts from ERIO.

For information, we foresee the following timeline for the publication on older Roma: 

• Early Summer - assistant carries out research and gathers material;
• Late Summer - drafting of position paper;
• Autumn - adoption of position by our organisations; translation and production of publication.

Profile

-          Excellent knowledge of the Roma community;

-          Interest in issues related to ageing, fundamental rights and social inclusion;

-          Excellent writing skills;

-          Some experience in preparing and carrying out interviews;

-          Well-developed research skills;

-          Fluency in English and Romany language;

-          Ability to work independently and prioritise own work;

-          Good computer skills;

-          Ability to work in a multicultural environment;

-          Respect for confidentiality;

-          Willingness to travel (intra-EU).

The assistant will be asked to spend up to 6 weeks in the AGE office in Brussels and (budget permitting) to travel to a few countries to interview older Roma persons. Monthly gross salary: 1.600€ + lunch vouchers (7€/worked day).

To apply

 Send a CV and cover letter including motivational statement and outline of how you would carry out this research to Rachel Buchanan, Policy Officer, AGE Platform Europe, email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Deadline: 26 May 2010.

We would want the assistant to start as soon as possible and by end of June at the latest.

Last Updated on Wednesday, 09 June 2010 11:17