Job Description

PROGRAM/ DEPARTMENT SUMMARY:

Since February 2014, Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) has wreaked havoc across five West African nations, with Liberia suffering over half of the 6553 regional cases as of September 23, 2014. While the Government of Liberia (GOL) and others are expanding care and treatment through significant construction and expansion of Ebola Treatment Units (ETUs) and community level Community Care Centers (ECCs), a gap remains in health communications. Social mobilization through community-led, bottom-up channels will be critical to bringing about the needed behavior change. To catalyze nationwide behavioral change, social mobilization needs to happen rapidly, at scale and aligned with national policy while adapting to the evolving situation.

The Ebola Community Action Platform (E-CAP), to be implemented by Mercy Corps (E-CAP) and Population Services International (PSI) (sub), will contribute to significantly reducing or eliminating the transmission of EVD nationally through a community-led social mobilization campaign. Activation of community-based networks through a subgrant platform will target both international and Liberian implementing partners (IPs), and the program will work in lock-step with international, GOL and local stakeholders responding to EVD through technical and operational coordination.

IPs will be supported through rapid subgrants, training and materials, nationwide digital outreach and mass media communications. ECAP will coordinate its IPs through mapping coverage; conduct rapid surveys and studies including through mobile phones; conduct learning events; and use data and learning for adaptive management to adjust in real-time. This will involve surveys regularly completed by 1,000 enumerators using tablets and ODK/Ona (up to ~20,000/month), and rapid research projects.

DEPARTMENT SUMMARY

The Learning and Results Measurement Team is tasked with all monitoring, evaluation, and learning in the E-CAP program. It includes the following components:

Name/What is it/What it will provide/Who will do it/When

LRMS1

Baseline/end line

Rapid KAP survey (10-20 multiple choice Qs) on ODK

Situational analysis Impact data

Master Trainers & M&E Teams

Start of program (after community selection, pre- task force training)/Endline (last month of program)

LRMS2

Monthly Task Force Report

Short survey (~20 Qs) on ODK covering Task Force activity and small sample rapid KAP

Coverage info Activity info Situational update

Master Trainers/End of every month (one for each

LRMS3

Training Log

Micro survey (3 Qs) on ODK

Activity update Coverage

Master Trainers

At every training

LRMS4

Learning Workshops

Workshops and presentations on findings from EIS

Lessons learned Inform strategy Inform research projects

Reps from all partners. Hosted by E-CAP

Every 2 months, 2-day workshop

LRMS5

Rapid Research Projects

Individual research projects to examine findings from LRMS1-4 or other requests form partners

Lessons learned

E-CAP Rapid Research Team

Based on research demands

GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY:

This Rapid Research Manager will support the start-up of the Rapid Research Team and the execution of research studies, within the Learning and Results Measurement team of the E-CAP program (in collaboration with the Learning and Results Measurement Manager). The Rapid Research Team will be tasked with conducting research projects on emerging findings coming out of the quantitative components of the LRM system, and other issues of interest arising from field-level implementation.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Management of studies (20%)

Provide overall leadership in research project implementation and ensure quality and timeliness of research project activities, outputs and reports

Manage and coordinate work of rapid research team and any consultants

Coordinate research activities with, and ensure communications/updates to relevant ECAP team members

Ensure the studies meet any other required approvals or standards

Support in training rap

Research design (10%):

Lead in the refinement of research designs, including defining/refining the research questions, sampling strategies, site selection, data collection methods and instruments, analysis plans, and dissemination strategies

Conduct literature reviews, as needed, to inform the research questions and instruments, and to serve as essential background information within the research reports / products

Fieldwork (25%)

Manage Rapid Research Team to ensure the timeliness and quality of preparations for fieldwork, including hiring enumerators (if needed), organizing vehicles, and developing logistics plans

Lead training of enumerators / data collectors and supervisors on sampling procedures, administering data collection instruments, and data quality control

Lead the piloting / testing and refinement of the data collection instruments.

Manage and provide oversight/quality assurance of data collection, including managing the supervisors and troubleshooting

Develop data entry templates, and manage data entry and transcription

Data analysis (20%):

Prepare data for analysis, including cleaning, organizing and (re)coding

Conduct descriptive and inferential statistical analyses to test hypotheses and estimate program impacts

Conduct systematic, thematic qualitative analysis

Triangulate and reconcile findings across data sources

Communication of research (20%):

Draft full research reports, solicit and incorporate input from review team members, and produce high quality final reports for studies

Develop policy briefs, journal articles, and other tailored research products

Support dissemination and uptake of research results among internal and external audiences, including through presentations and publications

Accountability:

The Rapid Research Manager will report directly to the Learning and Results Measurement Manager, or the Program Director if the LRM Manager is not yet in place. He will work closely with the Research and Learning Advisor, Learning and Results Measurement Team, Program Director, and other staff involved in E-CAP set-up.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

The Rapid Research Manager will oversee a four Research Assistants who comprise the Rapid Research Team

Organizational Learning (5%):

As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve - we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

BA (MA or MSc, preferred) in international development or other relevant social science

At least three years of experience working in international humanitarian and development programs or organizations

Demonstrated skills with quantitative and qualitative research methodologies

Experience with experimental and quasi-experimental research designs

Proficiency using SPSS, STATA, or other statistical analysis package

Demonstrated ability to explain research findings, both visually and in writing

English proficiency required

SUCCESS FACTORS:

The successful candidate will have excellent analytical and problem-solving skills as well as excellent written/verbal communication skills, including report writing. S/he will have good organizational skills and an ability to work under time constraints with flexibility to adapt to changing conditions and requirements.

LIVING CONDITIONS/ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS:

The position will be based in Monrovia, and may require travel to outlying counties and communities throughout Liberia. The security situation is stable but could change quickly in localized circumstances, although general unrest is not anticipated because of a significant presence of UN, US military and local police forces to maintain public safety. Monrovia is served by an international airport and has many hotels, restaurants and grocery stores. Health services are currently limited and while we have made provisions for emergency care, team members should not anticipate an environment where casual outpatient services are available. Because safe access to health services should not be anticipated, a degree of self-sufficiency in first aid and medications should be considered. Candidates must consider taking anti-malarials as a preventative measure and other measures to lower their risk of requiring medical services. Candidates with chronic health issues should consider disclosing and self-eliminating from this recruitment process. Currently there is an 11 pm curfew, which could change at any time, and staff should expect some interruption of movement as the government manages the Ebola situation. Housing will either be at private residences as group housing or at nearby hotels. Traveling in and out of Liberia is increasingly complicated with many commercial airlines suspending service and many countries closing their borders (air, land and sea) to individuals coming from Liberia. Two commercial airlines continue to serve Liberia (Brussels Air and Air Maroc) and UNHAS is currently working to establish air service to Dakar, Senegal and Accra, Ghana. This position is unaccompanied and is eligible for hardship.

Mercy Corps Team members represent the agency both during and outside of work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/TDY to a field posting. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and Mercy Corps’ policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.