Lead Consultant

Date of Issue: 28.06.2023

Closing Date: 03.07.2023

Vacancy Announcement No: FHI360-23-009

TITLE: Lead Consultant

LOCATION: Madhya Pradesh (Bhopal)

DURATION: July 2023 – May 2024 (40 days)

Evaluating the impact of askNivi on contraceptive uptake and continuation: A mixed methods study.

Background :

Research for Scalable Solutions (R4S) is a five-year implementation science project funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Led by FHI 360, the project is conducting implementation science research to improve the efficiency, cost effectiveness, and equity of family planning programs, including interventions promoting self-care. One promising route to enabling self-care at scale is through digital technologies, but there is a lack of rigorous evidence to guide implementation. Through this specific activity, R4S and its partner, Nivi, Inc., working with a local research partner, will evaluate the impact of a digital self-care intervention implemented in India on uptake of contraception.

Nivi’s automated text chat service, askNivi, is a dialogue-based intervention, available in several countries including India through popular and free apps like Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp, that provides access to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) information, screenings, referrals to products and services in the public and private sectors, and follow-up support. Nivi’s model provides a unique opportunity to advance learning related to linked digital family planning (FP) self-care interventions, specifically regarding their effectiveness and implementation. These factors will be critical in determining investment and scale-up for digital FP interventions both in India and globally.

The study team has completed an initial pilot study and preparations are underway to conduct a separate, redesigned pilot study. The research includes the following research:

• A redesigned pilot study to test feasibility and drop-off associated with two different recruitment strategies: In-person household-based recruitment and digital recruitment.
• A randomized study, using either household-based or digital recruitment, to test the impact of exposure to AskNivi (vs no exposure) on contraception method uptake.

The redesigned pilot and randomized study involve the following data collection activities carried out by the local research partner with supportive supervision from the Lead Consultant:

• Redesigned Pilot:

1. Brief baseline questionnaire administered in-person to participants recruited using household-based recruitment (approximate n=100).
2. Follow-up questionnaire administered telephonically to all pilot participants (approximate n=200).

• Randomized Study :

1. Brief baseline questionnaire administered in-person (approximate n=700), only if study team elects to use household-based recruitment for the randomized study.
2. Follow-up questionnaires administered telephonically (approximate n=550) 2 months after enrollment, for either recruitment strategy used.
3. In-depth interviews conducted after follow-up questionnaire with FP adopters and non-FP-adopters (n =16).

Activities :

Preparations are currently underway for the redesigned pilot, with FHI 360 staff leading the revision of study documents, research ethics submissions, and planning for a refresher training. The Lead Consultant will take oversight for activities carried out by the local research partner in preparation for the redesigned pilot and during pilot implementation. Following pilot implementation, the Lead Consultant will support the process of modifying study documents and procedures in preparation for the randomized study, if needed. The Lead Consultant will have oversight for activities carried out by the local research partner during implementation of the randomized study. Finally, the Lead Consultant will support stakeholder engagement and study dissemination processes led by FHI 360 and implemented by the local research partner.

The Lead Consultant will be responsible for the following key activities.

1. Foundational activities :
• Collaborate with the FHI 360 India country office and local research partner to present the activity to relevant national- and state-level stakeholders and keep them informed throughout the duration of the project
• Collaborate with FHI 360 and the local research partner to secure all necessary research ethics approvals in India.
• Collaborate with the local research partner and FHI 360 to present study findings to stakeholders

2. Management of research agency to conduct redesigned pilot :
• Support the refresher training for the redesigned pilot, which may include an opportunity to pre-test the survey questionnaire and study procedures.
• In collaboration with FHI 360, oversee research activities carried out by the local research partner during the redesigned pilot study.
• Support the local partner to monitor study recruitment, data collection, data quality, and study implementation for the redesigned pilot study.
• Engage in regular communication with US-based FHI 360 team regarding study implementation and data collection activities.

3. Management of research agency to conduct randomized study :
• Support modifications to study documents and procedures following implementation of the pilot study, as needed.
• Collaborate with FHI 360 and the local research partner to secure all necessary research ethics approvals for modifications to the randomized study, as needed.
• Support the local partner to monitor study recruitment, data collection, data quality, and study implementation for the randomized study.
• Engage in regular communication with US-based FHI 360 team regarding study implementation and data collection activities.

4. Supporting results interpretation and reporting :
• Participate in interpretation of results
• Collaborate with the FHI 360 India office and local research partner to organize and participate in dissemination activities in India
• Provide input for report, products and/or publications stemming from the project

Required Qualifications:

• Demonstrated ability to work with international NGOs to conduct studies in India, preferably reproductive health/family planning
• Previous leadership role(s) in research coordination and implementation
• Ability to communicate with national and state stakeholders (preferably in local languages)
• Demonstrated track record of conducting and supervising high quality quantitative and qualitative research
• Familiarity with the current provision of FP services through public sector, as well as public-private partnerships in India
• Familiarity with the structure and roles and responsibilities of officials within the MOH at the state and national level, and Implementing Partners supporting FP programs and services in India.

Duration and location :

The total duration for this work is expected to be approximately 11 months, from July 2023 through May 2024. However, it is not expected that the activities will require full-time engagement throughout the entire 11-month period. Fieldwork will take place in Bhopal and Indore. The Lead Consultant will be based in Madhya Pradesh, with preference for being based in Bhopal. During the pilot, the Lead Consultant will research activities in both Bhopal and Indore will travel between the cities. During the randomized study the Lead consultant will be based in either Bhopal or Indore and will be responsible for supporting research activities in that city. The Lead Consultant may also be responsible for additional travel associated with stakeholder engagement or dissemination activities during the period of performance.

Expected timeline:

• July-August 2023: Foundational activities and preparations for the redesigned pilot study, including research ethics submissions and working with the local research partner to plan fieldwork
• August 2023: Lead Consultant to support FHI 360 in conducting a refresher training for the redesigned pilot study
• September-October 2023: Support implementation of pilot study procedures and data collection activities in collaboration with the local research partner and with oversight from FHI 360
• October-November 2023: Support results interpretation of pilot study findings. Support modifications study procedures or study documents for the randomized study as needed. Support research ethics resubmissions as needed.
• January - May 2024: Support implementation of randomized study procedures and data collection activities in collab.
oration with the local research partner and with oversight from FHI 360
• May 2024: Support the organization and conduct of results interpretation and dissemination activities.

Anticipated LOE: 40 days .

Compensation:

Compensation levels at FHI 360 are equivalent to market rates within the development sector. Please send your application to hrindia@fhi360.org. Only short-listed candidates will be notified. No calls/emails will be entertained.

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