Position: Senior Associate - Data Collection and
Training
Reporting To: Manager - DQIS
Location: Kisumu, Kenya (with domestic and international travel)
A. About Evidence Action
Evidence Action is assuming management and growth responsibility for two
programs tested and incubated at Innovations for Poverty Action that are
currently making a difference in the lives of millions of people in Africa and
Asia: the Deworm the World Initiative (DTW) and Dispensers for Safe Water
Initiative (DSW). Location: Kisumu, Kenya (with domestic and international travel)
A. About Evidence Action
Evidence
Action scales proven development interventions and crafts resilient business
models for long run success.
Dispensers
for Safe Water: Each year, over 1.8 million children under the age of five die
from diarrhea, a leading cause of which is unsafe drinking water. DSW is an
entrepreneurial team tasked with scaling the Chlorine Dispenser System (CDS) –
a proven innovation for dramatically expanding access to water treatment at
extremely low cost.
DSW’s work is growing rapidly – we currently serve over 1 million people in Kenya, our primary country of operations, and plan to reach 25 million in the next 5 years. Our program has ambitious plans to expand in 2-3 countries in the coming 2 years.
Our work is based on strong proof of Chlorine Dispenser impact – a randomized controlled trial in Western Kenya demonstrated a six-fold increase in the number of households treating their water with chlorine.
DSW’s work is growing rapidly – we currently serve over 1 million people in Kenya, our primary country of operations, and plan to reach 25 million in the next 5 years. Our program has ambitious plans to expand in 2-3 countries in the coming 2 years.
Our work is based on strong proof of Chlorine Dispenser impact – a randomized controlled trial in Western Kenya demonstrated a six-fold increase in the number of households treating their water with chlorine.
Such a
dramatic expansion in safe water usage will prevent over 1.4 million cases of
diarrhea and 1,300 child deaths each year once we reach our Kenya target of 5
million people served.
Deworm the World Initiative The Deworm the World Initiative (DtWi) actively supports the scale-up of school-based deworming programs worldwide to improve children’s health, education, and long-term development.
B. About Monitoring Learning and Information Systems (MLIS) Team
The MLIS team embodies the evidence-based nature of Evidence Action’s work and enables us to be a data-driven organization.
Deworm the World Initiative The Deworm the World Initiative (DtWi) actively supports the scale-up of school-based deworming programs worldwide to improve children’s health, education, and long-term development.
B. About Monitoring Learning and Information Systems (MLIS) Team
The MLIS team embodies the evidence-based nature of Evidence Action’s work and enables us to be a data-driven organization.
The team
provides services across Evidence Action Africa region in meeting the following
outcomes:
- All ongoing program
monitoring needs met (including M&E design and quality data
collection)
- Programs delivered
with access to timely and useful data for day-to-day programmatic planning
and decision making
- Analysis and research
conducted to support program improvements (including operation research,
market research and cost-efficiency analysis)
- Support with timely,
useful and clear information for evidence-based decision making (including
provide support to connect the dots)
- Support provided to
regional leadership for new programs and partnerships for exploration and
evaluation
- Standards, systems and
processes setup for delivery of all functions (monitoring, analysis,
research, information systems and quality data)
The MLIS team
works towards these outcomes through four sub-teams that work closely together
to deliver quality, timely and useful information:
- Learning and
Communication (L&C): This team is responsible for supporting the
program teams with timely information in innovative, useful and clear ways
to translate analysis and research to evidence-based decision making and
action.
- Monitoring, Analysis
and Research (MAR): This team is responsible for ensuring that all ongoing
program monitoring needs are met and analysis and research is conducted to
support program improvements.
- Management Information
Systems (MIS): This team is be responsible for ensuring that the all
programs have access to timely and useful data for day-to-day programmatic
planning and decision making through a cloud-based multi-user system.
- Data Quality and
Information Systems (DQIS): This team is responsible for ensuring access
to quality and timely data to meet all ongoing program needs; including
monitoring, information systems and analysis and research.
C. About the
position
The Senior Associate – Data Collection and Quality is a member of the DQIS sub-team and the larger MLIS team, and is responsible for ensuring the collection of quality data, across all Evidence Action scale up and Beta programs and countries of operation, which currently include Kenya, Uganda and Malawi, to meet ongoing program needs.
The Senior Associate – Data Collection and Quality is a member of the DQIS sub-team and the larger MLIS team, and is responsible for ensuring the collection of quality data, across all Evidence Action scale up and Beta programs and countries of operation, which currently include Kenya, Uganda and Malawi, to meet ongoing program needs.
A critical
part of achieving this is managing systems to ensure that the quality of data
for all Evidence Action regional programs meet a high level of standard.
D. Description of duties
Manage and Lead Data Collection Activities:
D. Description of duties
Manage and Lead Data Collection Activities:
- Manage all types of
program data collection activities as maybe assigned, including,
field-based data collection and phone-based data collection for both
quantitative and qualitative research.
- Lead trainings for
MLIS and program staff involved in data collection activities.
- Support regular
sampling of field activities for deployment and develop and support Data
Collection Associates in the management of an efficient field schedule for
all project field operations
- Coordinate with the
program team to ensure free flow of information for planning data
collection, and maintain ‘instant feedback’ information systems as well as
share information with the program team as required.
- Support the
development and review consistent data collection and back check
tools/instruments as may be necessary
- Through working with
respective Associates, ensure that the field teams has all the required
information, materials, finances and other supplies during deployment as
necessary for field activities. Coordinate and plan for efficient and
cost-effective data collection for all programs across countries
- Support Data
Collection and Quality Associates in field visit planning, logistics and
day-to-day finances.
- Identify and provide
recommendations for innovative and cost-efficient methods of improving
quality of data for programs and ensure that all DCT activities are
budgeted for in close collaboration with AD – MLIS
Build and
Manage systems and processes for delivery of quality data collection:
- Work with Other MLIS
and program teams to develop/review data collection tools for programs and
MLIS needs.
- Develop basic
standards and best-practices for collecting; including conducting
back-checks/spot-checks and documentation of field activities.
- Manage and contribute
to innovative systems and tools to train staff as stipulated in the MLIS
staff training protocol.
- Develop management
guidelines for task management of Program-specific associates and M&E
field staff
- Support on the
development of efficient logistics tools for the field teams
- Assist in the
development of DCT budget for all data collection needs
Manage DCT
Data Collection team:
- Directly supervise DCT
Associates involved in data collection and data quality including
approving their leaves, determining their workload and priorities, and
arranging for their regular performance evaluations.
- Working closely with
the DCT Associates in the hiring and management process of field staff,
including implementing and maintaining systems for tracking planned and
actual tasks, deployment and feedback systems.
- Provide mentorship to
all staff involved in data collection activities across all programs,
including working with program teams to train and manage all staff
collecting data to ensure quality data collection.
- Support Data
Collection and Training Associates in receiving, addressing and responding
to any field work related feedback from the field teams and Area
Coordinators.
- Support Manager DQIS
in HR oversight process and provide recommendations to the MLIS leadership
on all aspects of HR for the DCT data collection team.
- Ensure that DCT data
collection team members uphold and promote a service-oriented and
client-driven approach to their relationships with programs.
Collaborate
with other teams for improved service delivery to programs:
- Collaborate closely
with other sub-team members, especially the MAR sub-team, and the
Programs, to ensure that useful and quality data is collected in a timely
and cost-efficient fashion
- Collaborate with DQIS
survey design and programming team to make sure that all electronic data
collection instruments are programmed in time and are aligned with data
collection protocols.
- Work with the IT team
on establishing the right hardware and software requirements to collect
timely and quality data, and also coordinate any hardware repairs and
software updates in the course of using the procured devices.
- Work closely with the
procurement team to procure necessary material for data collection.
E.
Qualification, Skills and Experience
- A Bachelor’s or
Masters degree in Data Management, Project Management, Monitoring and
Evaluation, Social Sciences/Studies or any other related field
- At least 3 years
relevant working experience supervising data collection teams , developing
paper and electronic surveys for mobile devices with a bias to Open Data
Kit (ODK), and monitoring field data collection activities.
- Excellent logistics,
work planning, and budgetary skills
- Good communication
skills in English and Swahili, both written and verbal
- Ability to write good
reports and clearly communicate ideas
- Excellent training
skills and ability to develop well-structured easy to understand training
manuals and document activities for future reference
- Good working
experience of Ms Office especially Ms Excel and Ms Powerpoint
- Ability to mobilise a
data collection team within the shortest time possible and deliver outcome
within the shortest time possible.
- Ability to train
personel with varied academic qualification within both formal and
informal setups
- Good people management
and leadership skills
- Willingness to travel
to the field offices frequently to supervise activities and help out when
needed
- Good conceptual skills
with an analytical mind and problem solving skills
- Team player capable of
working with people in different locations embracing team work and aspires
and supports the ideals of working in a team environment.
- Passion to work in a
rural community setting
- Flexible mind set and
willingness to take challenging assignments not within the scope of this
position
- Self-driven and highly
motivated to deliver results within tight deadlines.
How to Apply
CLICK HERE to apply online
Deadline to
Apply: On a rolling basis
