Participatory Epidemiology Study
Closing
date: October 9, 2020
Terms
of Reference
Field
Researcher – Participatory Epidemiology Study
Title: Participatory Epidemiology Field Researcher**
NOTE: This position is being re-advertised due to a limited number of female applicants during the first round. Therefore, only female candidates will be considered during this round of applications. However, candidates that have already applied will still be considered for the position regardless of gender.
Project
Background:
The Kenyan Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs) maintain high rates of acute
malnutrition despite significant investment by stakeholders for both
programming and research. From 2009 to 2016, they were at or above Integrated
Phase Classification (IPC) Phase 3+ between 5 and 15 times, triggering
humanitarian responses that addressed acute malnutrition in the short term. The
counties regularly experience prevalence rates of acute malnutrition that
exceed emergency threshold levels, even when there are no obvious climate
shocks. In response to these persistent and high levels of acute malnutrition,
USAID recently launched the Nawiri program, a five-year evidence-based
nutrition initiative which is being led by Catholic Relief Services (CRS) in
Isiolo and Marsabit counties. The project aims to increase stakeholder
understanding of the drivers of persistent acute malnutrition, through a
collaborative learning process involving local actors including communities,
county systems and institutions, civil society and the private sector. The
learning will be used to jointly design context-sensitive, systems-driven,
multi-sectoral approaches to sustainably reduce acute malnutrition. This
process will involve the implementation and testing of pilot activities that
show potential in addressing acute malnutrition in concert with a number of
research activities designed to inform the design of a second phase of the
project. One of the key research activities in phase 1 is a participatory
epidemiology (PE) study designed to better understand the seasonality and basic
drivers of malnutrition from the community perspective. This process will be
used to identify community-based interventions to address acute malnutrition in
the context of the two counties.
Purpose/Justification
The primary objectives of this exercise will be to generate evidence on the
drivers and seasonality of acute malnutrition and to identify pilot
interventions to be tested under Phase 1of the Nawiri project and inform the
design of Phase 2. Where applicable the results will also be used to refine
other project activities already underway. As part of these objectives the
study aims to generate context specific information on the seasonality and
drivers of acute malnutrition in Isiolo and Marsabit counties and identify
interventions to address these drivers.
Activity
Description
This activity will involve an in depth field study in Isiolo and Marsabit
Counties using a participatory analysis to better understand the seasonality
and drivers of acute malnutrition from a community perspective. This will
include a series of comprehensive community consultations across different
socio-economic, cultural and ecological zones within the two counties. These
consultations will be framed around a set of structured participatory
epidemiology (PE) methods which involves the standardization and repetition of
participatory rural appraisal (PRA) methods to generate datasets from ranks,
scores or proportions that can be analyzed statistically. The PE approach was
first adapted to investigate human nutrition by Nawiri partner Tufts University
in the Karamoja region of Uganda. A more detailed description of the approach
and methods can be viewed at the following link:
Research
Questions
In line with the objectives of generating evidence on the drivers and
seasonality of acute malnutrition and identifying interventions to address
these, the study will aim to answer the following research questions:
· How do communities explain malnutrition in children and mothers by
reference to the diets of healthy and malnourished children?
· What are the differences in the diets of healthy vs. malnourished
children in terms of specific food types and the seasonal availability of food
types?
· What is the seasonality of malnutrition and related factors?
· How do communities describe and prioritize the causes of malnutrition in
children and mothers?
· What are community participants suggestions and priorities for improving
nutrition and what is the reasoning behind their views?
· What types of interventions do local communities feel Nawiri could
support/pilot that will improve nutrition in the context of Isiolo and Marsabit
counties?
The study will include the following stages:
- An
ethnographic study to develop a local language dictionary of key words and
terms, for use in field methods
- Recruitment
of a team of Field Researchers fluent in the local languages of the study
area
- Training
of the field team, this will be led by Tufts University and supported by
the Team Leader
- Finalize
the sample for the study and field test the PE methods
- Conduct
the PE field assessments in Isiolo and Marsabit. This will include
community consultations which will be carried out in at least 12
communities in each county. This exercise will use customized PE methods
including monthly calendars and participatory causal diagrams to better understand
the drivers and seasonality of acute malnutrition from the perspective of
local communities
- Compile
field assessment findings
- Follow up
community consultations to identify demand driven pilots or interventions
to address acute malnutrition. Building upon stage 5&6, community
participants will be asked to propose interventions or activities to
address acute malnutrition based on the drivers identified during the PE
field assessments
- Final
write up
Field
Researcher Roles and Responsibilities
The Field Researchers will be directly involved in the research data
collection activities and will work under the supervision of a Team Leader with
extensive PE expertise. This will involve conducting focus group discussions
with groups of women in a minimum of 12 locations in each of the two counties.
These focus group discussions will be structured around two key participatory
exercises
(monthly calendars and causal diagrams). The field researcher will be
trained in these methods prior to the PE study and they will be responsible for
leading these exercises.
Specific responsibilities will include:
· Participate in the PE training
· Support the PE Team Leader to develop an assessment plan and identify a
sampling frame and sample (locations for the filed assessment)
· Field test and help refine the PE tools for the field assessment
· Lead the focus group discussions and PE exercises during the assessment
· Gather and accurately record responses
· Ensure that the study results are collected and recorded in a format specified
by the PE Team Leader
· Recognize and give account of problems in obtaining data and provide
useful feedback to the Team Leader
· Support the analysis and compilation of the study findings
· The Field Reseachers will also be required to work closely with
participating communities to share the study objectives and gain their support
for the study
This will be a full time consultancy position for a period of two months
indicatively starting around October 2020. During this timeframe the position
will require extensive periods of field research.
Timeline
The consultancy will involve two months indicatively between October and
December 2020
Deliverables
The primary deliverable will be the completion of the PE study in the two
counties along with the seasonal calendars and participatory causal diagrams
from the PE study[1]
Reporting: The Field Researchers will work under the overall guidance of the PE
Team Leader. **
Consultancy
fees: The honorarium and other payments will be
indicated in the contract and will be based on the candidate’s qualifications
and experience. A daily subsistence and lodging allowance will be provided
based on CRS and USAID policies. All other allowable costs associated with the
study will be covered by Nawiri.
Education: Bachelor’s degree in relevant field e.g. social sciences,
anthropology, veterinary sciences, development studies etc.
Work
Experience: A minimum of 3 months relevant field
research experience in the Kenyan ASALS.
Skills
and Expertise:
The candidate should have:
· Fluency in one or more local languages spoken in the two counties.
Priority will be given to candidates who live or are originally from Isiolo and
Marsabit or neighboring communities
· Specific and demonstrated experience with participatory assessments or research
such as Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) Household Economy Analysis (HEA)
etc.
· Ability to collect and gather information in an objective way
· Active listener who captures exact response from respondents
· Experience in community mobilization and participation will be an asset
· Demonstrated expertise on pastoralist livelihoods will be an asset
· Relevant research/work experience in Isiolo and Marasabit counties or
neighbouring communities will be an advantage
· Fluency in English and Kiswahili
· Priority will be given to female candidates given that the study will
primarily be carried out with women
· Willingness to travel and stay overnight in rural and remote locations
· Willingness to work during weekends and holidays if required
Short listed candidates will be asked to participate in a face to face or
online interview
Female candidates are encouraged to apply.
[1] This may increase slightly depending on the final site selection for
the study
How to
Apply
Send to Crskenya-procurement@crs.org
Deadline for
application: October 9, 2020. Applications received after this date will not be considered.
