Land Conflict Watch (LCW)
About the Organization
Land Conflict Watch (LCW) is an award-winning, multidisciplinary research agency that generates data and insights from the field to address systemic issues underlying natural-resource governance, climate change and environment. It has built the country’s first and the largest database of ongoing land disputes, mapping data from over 800 sites in the country, in which the public is contesting changes in land use or ownership. LCW’s public-facing research goes out in many forms, including media articles, research reports, policy briefs, newsletters, blogs, social media posts and videos.
Job Purpose
The Legal/Policy Research Associate will manage and lead research projects at the intersection of law, policy and natural-resource governance, and will provide legal/policy inputs to other teams within the organisation.
Duration of Contract
One year (renewable)
Remuneration: ₹60,000-80,000 per month, based on experience and skills
What Will You Do
- Lead LCW’s legal/policy research, including our ongoing projects on the governance of commons, forests rights, land acquisition, water resources and the conflicts surrounding them. You can check out examples of our earlier research projects here and here.
- Conduct legal reviews of land-conflict case studies documented by our field researchers, through an independent analysis of applicable laws and policies involved in the conflict. Here is the example of a land conflict case study.
- Conduct doctrinal analysis of relevant legislations, case laws, court affidavits, government documents and data and break them down into accessible explainers
- Help writers and researchers with legal/policy inputs to aid their on-ground research.
- Contribute to other public-facing work of LCW including monthly newsletters, policy briefs etc.
Apply if This is You
- Have a Master’s/Bachelor’s degree in Law, with a minimum of two years of experience in conducting research around environmental/socio-economic issues
OR
Have a Master’s/Bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences with a minimum of three years of experience in research involving environmental laws, policies and natural resource governance
- Have excellent writing, editing and communication skills in English. (Proficiency in any other language spoken in India would be preferred.)
- Have ability to comprehend dense socio-economic and legal research and complex data
Skills That Will Boost Your Chances
- Ability to work with an interdisciplinary team in a fast-paced environment and meet strict deadlines
- Project management experience including experience of managing long term research projects, managing deadlines, coordinating with funders etc
- You are self driven, take initiative and are on top of news about relevant policy developments
- You have past experience of working on journalistic research
Who Can Apply
Lawyers or policy researchers with demonstrable experience in conducting research involving laws, policies, and quantitative and qualitative data around land, environment and natural-resource governance.
To Apply
Land Conflict Watch is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of religion, caste, gender, sexual orientation, disability, race or class. Candidates from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.
For any queries, please write to anindita@landconflictwatch.org
