Research Assistant

Requisition ID: req51672

Job Title: Research Assistant

Sector: Monitoring & Evaluation

Employment Category: Fixed Term

Employment Type: Full-Time

Open to Expatriates: Not Applicable

Location: Lodwar, Kenya

Work Arrangement:

Job Description

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is one of the world's leading crisis response agencies, providing life-saving assistance and supporting recovery and reconstruction for people affected by war and natural disasters. Active in public health, education, livelihoods, women's empowerment, youth development, and protection and promotion of rights, IRC assists people from harm to home.

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is one of the leading humanitarian relief and development organizations. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people survive, recover, and rebuild their lives. In partnership with the GFFO, the IRC will be leading an anticipatory action project in Lodwar targeting clients living along the riverine areas of the River Turkwel with intervention in Economic Recovery, Protection and Nutrition.

Scope of Work

The Research Assistant is responsible for ensuring that data collection with the clients is well collected, complete, accurate, and uploaded to the main server.

Under the supervision of the MEAL Officers, the Research assistants will:

• Support the daily collection of data from all Anticipatory Action Clients included in the client survey.
• Conduct In-depth interviews with clients and transcribe the interviews verbatim.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Participate in the training on Anticipatory Action methodologies
• Client mobilization, registration, and recruitment.
• Client info sessions, onboarding, and monitoring.
• Maintain communication with clients including attending to their inquiries.
• Data collection, data analysis and drafting of reports and share for review before dissemination.
• Participate in onsite visits, spot checks, client’s registration, and validation in collaboration with ERD and other stakeholders
• Business verification and spot checks.
• Ensure compliance with organizational performance standards, code of conduct, and safeguarding policy.
• Adhere to confidentiality procedures and policies when collecting, storing, and sharing data.
• Report writing.
• Keep the supervisor appraised of all outputs, feedback and issues arising from the project activities conducted.
• Train the survey teams using standard materials and survey protocols, participate in field data collection, supervise the survey team to ensure quality of data collected.
• Interaction with the MEAL teams on Learning and accountability aspects of the project
• Translation and transcription of survey tools as required by the research team.
• To perform other duties as assigned and agreed upon with the supervisor particularly in Health.

Technical Oversight

• Collaborate with MEAL and non-MEAL staff to ensure that data is collected, compiled, checked for its quality and completeness in compliance with IRC and donors’ standards for data quality.
• Undertake regular analysis of monitoring data and work closely with program officers and managers to facilitate decision-making for real-time program adaptation.
• Produce quality reports and update dashboards with key findings that foster learning and decision-making and share in project cycle management meetings and team meetings.
• Identify, document, and share client feedback to improve services and results for our clients.
• Support deployment of surveys such as baseline, midline and end line, and the commission of evaluations in coordination with colleagues and partners.
• Support in Development of forms on Kobo or CommCare - Training of data collectors Conduct of data collection - Basic analysis and report writing.

Reporting.

• Compile activity, monthly and quarterly report with key results.
• Compile reports for all assessment, beneficiary targeting, verification and share with ERD and MEAL team.

Data Quality and Assurance

• Undertake data quality checks encompassing project data collected in target locations.
• Conduct data audits and onsite verification including post enumeration follow-up as needed.
• Review and pre-test data collection tools and provide feedback for improvement.

Human Resource and Logistics

• Coordinate regular field data collection logistics with operation team.
• Responsible for IRC and MEAL equipment including tablets, laptops, survey materials etc
• Recruitment and on boarding of research Assistants/ Enumerators for specified tasks
• Coordinate mentor the data collection/entry team to foster timely and high quality data.

Key working relationships

Position reports directly to senior MEAL officer administratively and technically.
Position directly supervises enumerators, data clerks and casuals
Position works directly with MEAL officers, Program officers and ERD team.

Other internal and /or External contacts

Internally: MEAL officers, program officers, ERD team and entire IRC team.
External: Clients, county government, national government units (NDMA),local structures i.e chiefs and village administrators.

• Degree or Diploma in statistics, Mathematics, International Development, Anthropology, Sociology, Community Development, Economics, Entrepreneurship, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Experience in data collection, analysis, or research dissemination desirable.
• Minimum 1-year research experience, specifically implementing research activities.
• Language skills: Strong preference to candidates who speaks Ngaturkana .
• Experience working with marginalized communities in Turkana and other ASAL counties
• Experience managing data collection through open-source tools such as ODK collect, KoBo Toolbox, Survey CTO or CommCare platforms.
• Excellent people skills. Approachable personality and patience to connect with clients and address their unique needs.
• Strong communication and report-writing skills.
• Flexible approach to the changing nature of work and ability to adapt to rapidly changing work demands and expectations.
• Ability to work effectively both independently and within a multicultural team.
• Computer skills, especially Ms. Word, Excel, outlook and PowerPoint.

Standards of Professional Conduct: The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability and Equity. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity Anti-Retaliation and Combating Trafficking in Persons.

Gender Equality: IRC is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols and other encouraging benefits and allowances.

Equal Opportunity Employer: IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment.

Kenyan nationals are encouraged to apply. International allowances are not available for this position. Salary and employee benefits are compliant to the Kenyan NGO Sector.

Disclaimer:

Please take note that International Rescue Committee (IRC) does not ask for any fees in connection with its recruitment processes.