Research Coordinator - DFID Cash Transfers Programme – Kenya

Team / Programme:Programme Quality & Development 

Location:  Dadaab
 

Grade:  TBC     

Post Type: National
 

Child Safeguarding: Level 3 - the responsibilities of the post may require the post holder to have regular contact with or access to children or young people

DFID: Despite the introduction of Free Primary Education in Kenya in 2003, the direct and indirect costs related to education continue to pose a barrier to children accessing a quality education, especially in poor, hard-to-reach areas of the North Eastern Province (NEP). 

To tackle this fundamental demand side barrier, Save the Children with funding from DFID, proposes to distribute 12 months of regular cash transfers to 3000 poor households with children of school-going age in Garissa County, NEP. 

The immediate programmatic objective of the cash transfers is to reduce financial barriers to accessing primary education, thereby contributing to increased enrolment and retention among targeted children in Garissa. 

A second but equally important objective is to generate evidence on the relative impact of different types of cash transfers on enrolment and retention, and to specifically analyse the impacts on girls’ educational access.
 

Role Purpose: 
 

The DFID Cash Transfer project Research Coordinator will be responsible for ensuring high-quality execution of the research components of the DFID funded project activities in Garissa County. 

The Research Coordinator’s main responsibilities will be, with support from the DFID Cash Transfer Project Coordinator and Education Programme Manager: 

1) support the development and implementation of all research related project activities; 

2) coordinate all research related project components to achieve results on time according to approved annual detailed implementation plans ensuring delivery of research activities and results in a smooth, coordinated manner; 

3) supervise enumerators and field officers during data collection activities 

4) support the management of data collection costs related to cash transfer research following approved budgets and in compliance with all relevant agreements and policies; 

5) work closely with all stakeholders, GoK, DFID, and UNICEF to ensure research activities meet project requirements; 

6) monitor research activities to ensure timeliness and high quality data and 

7) support results analysis, draft reports, and dissemination activities. This position will be line managed by the DFID Cash Transfer Project Coordinator but receive technical support from both the in country Education Advisor and guidance from regional and head office Technical Advisors.
 

Scope of Role: 

Reports to: Project Coordinator

Dimensions: Save the Children has been operational in Kenya since 1984, providing support to children through developmental and humanitarian relief programmes delivered both directly and through local partners. Current programming focuses on child protection, child rights governance, education, health, HIV/AIDS, livelihoods, nutrition and WASH. 

Save the Children has an operational presence in Dadaab Refugee Camp, Eldoret, Habaswein, Mandera, Meru and Wajir and has a logistics hub in Garissa. 

Currently, we have a staff complement of approximately 370 staff and expenditure of approximately US$30 million this year.

Staff directly reporting to this post:  TBC

Key Areas of Accountability:

• Support and guide research activities to ensure quality, timely programme delivery
• Participate in the testing and revision of tools and guidelines for randomized trial data collection, collation and reporting, systemically checking this data for quality, accuracy, and consistency, and providing feedback as necessary;
• Provide research related guidance and technical support to implementation staff and partners during data collection;
• Lead on data collection activities and support data analysis
• Manage financial aspects of the program allocated for data collection activities, including budgets, expenditures and ensuring effective use of financial and human resources.   Coordinate with the Project Director to review financial performance analysis, ensure timely resolution of financial discrepancies and support preparation of financial projections for research activities as needed.  Ensure compliance with donor agreements and relevant country legislature requirements
• Support in developing preparation of annual detailed implementation plans; monitor performance against work plan deadlines, ensure accurate data collection on performance indicators and support in the preparation of reports on achievements and results according to agreed timelines
• Collaborate and coordinate with other project stakeholders to ensure effectiveness of research programming, consult with relevant stakeholders including DFID, UNICEF, MOE and HSNP and partners including Safaricom and the University of Nairobi

Skills and Behaviours (Our Values in Practice)
 

Accountability:

• Holds self-accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Save the Children values
• Holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities - giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved

Ambition:

• Sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves (and their team), takes responsibility for their own personal development and encourages others to do the same
• Widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others
• Future orientated, thinks strategically

Collaboration:

• Builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, members and external partners and supporters
• Values diversity, sees it as a source of competitive strength
• Approachable, good listener, easy to talk to

Creativity:

• Develops and encourages new and innovative solutions
• Willing to take disciplined risks

Integrity:

• Honest, encourages openness and transparency

Qualifications and Experience

• Degree in statistics, research methods or economics. Advanced degree preferred.
• At least five years’ work experience in development projects in post-emergency settings
• Experience in the design and implementation of randomized controlled trial research projects
• Experience designing data collection activities and managing data collection teams
• Experience qualitative and quantitative data analysis
• knowledge of data analysis software such as SPSS, STATA, NVivo
• Experience working with diverse stakeholders, and ability to understand and bridge diverging communication styles and agendas in order to reach common goals
• Strong organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills taking into account cultural difficulties Degree in statistics, research methods or economics. Advanced degree preferred.
• At least five years work experience in development projects in post-emergency settings
• Experience in the design and implementation of randomized controlled trial research projects
• Experience designing data collection activities and managing data collection teams
• Experience qualitative and quantitative data analysis
• knowledge of data analysis software such as SPSS, STATA, NVivo
• Experience working with diverse stakeholders, and ability to understand and bridge diverging communication styles and agendas in order to reach common goals
• Written and spoken fluency in English
• Sensitive to issues affecting children and committed to Save the Children’s Child Safe Guarding policy.
• Commitment to the Save the Children values

Desirable:

• Experience evaluating and conducting research on cash transfer programs
• Experience with education projects/programmes
• Ability to understand and communicate in the Somali language
• self-starter; able to act on initiative and work well as part of a team, builds strong collaboration with partners and other project staff
• Comfort interfacing with diverse stakeholders including Ministry of Education District level officials and project beneficiaries
• Resourcefulness, flexibility, and the ability to get results under pressure; willingness to live and work in a remote and difficult environment
• Political and cultural sensitivity, awareness of gender issues, with qualities of patience, tact and diplomacy. Motivates others while identifying with mission of Save the Children
• Willingness to comply and ensure adherence to SC ethical standards and safeguarding policies.
• Experience evaluating and conducting research on cash transfer programs
• Experience with education projects/programmes
• Ability to understand and communicate in the Somali language
• Highly developed cultural awareness and ability to work well in an international environment with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures.

Date of issue: 20th December, 2012  

The application period is now open and will close on Monday 31st December 2012 at 4.30 p.m.

To apply for a position, please send a short cover letter and CV to Kenya.jobapplications@savethechildren.org  indicating the position applied for in the subject line.