Research Consultant, Let's Read

The Asia Foundation is a nonprofit international development organization committed to improving lives and expanding opportunities across Asia and the Pacific. Informed by 70 years of experience and deep local knowledge, our work is focused on governance, climate action, gender equality, education and leadership, inclusive growth, and international cooperation. We work in more than 20 countries through our 17 permanent country offices and programs across Asia and the Pacific, supported by a headquarters in San Francisco and an office in Washington, DC.

Since 2016, the Foundation’s Let’s Read initiative has implemented an innovative, community-based, technologically enhanced approach to catalyze children’s publishing and create impactful reading opportunities with children, families, and communities to help children reach important developmental milestones.

Let’s Read seeks to contract with a consultant who is a current graduate student and has expertise in early literacy development to conduct a literature review of academic and professional research that supports the program’s overarching theory of change and specific programmatic interventions. This body of research may include the science of reading, learning sciences, early childhood development, culturally responsive research, etc. Because Let’s Read works with communities in Asia and the Pacific, priority will be given to research conducted within the context of Asia and the Pacific.

The consultant will report to Educational Design Specialist Wendy Xiao and participate in weekly check-ins.

Deliverables

• Conduct a literature review of academic and professional research on read-alouds, literacy-rich environments, digital and physical libraries, culturally relevant texts, access to diverse books, early childhood interventions and programs, etc.
• Create a database of research citations
• Create an annotated bibliography in APA format that summarizes each of the sources.

Timeline

• June 2024: Conduct initial literature review and provide an outline of research sources
• July 2024: Create the finalized database of research citations and start to draft the annotated bibliography
• August 2024: Submit the finalized annotated bibliography

Please include “Application for Research Consultant Position” in the email subject line.

Interested applicants should submit a cover letter and CV as one file by June 14, 2024 to wendy.xiao@asiafoundation.org with the position title listed in the subject line. The Asia Foundation is an equal opportunity employer, EOE/M/F/D/V. No phone calls, please.

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