Qualitative Researcher

Scope of Work for Qualitative Researcher (Consultant)

Background: Futures Group develops and delivers innovative, locally relevant, evidence-based solutions to improve the health and well-being of people around the world. Since 1971, we have assisted governmental and non-governmental agencies, foundations, and the private sector by designing, implementing and evaluating programs in HIV/AIDS, sexual and reproductive health, population and family planning, maternal and child health, infectious diseases, and gender. Futures Group has deep expertise in policy and advocacy, research and strategic information, health markets and private sector engagement, modeling and economic analysis, patient monitoring and management/HMIS, strategic consulting, and program management.

Futures Group is implementing Tathmini GBV, a project funded by USAID to evaluate a gender-based violence (GBV) program in Mbeya Region, Tanzania. The project, which began in February 2012, is collecting and analyzing data on both community interventions and health facility-based services. Data collection and analysis is expected to increase over the next 12 months. Futures Group is seeking technical assistance from a Qualitative Researcher based in Tanzania in order to support this work.

Proposed Technical Assistance: The Qualitative Researcher will undertake the following activities in accordance with the Tathmini GBV study protocol.

• Work with the Tathmini GBV team to finalize data collection tools for key informant interviews. The tools will be developed in English and Kiswahili.
• Work with the Tathmini GBV team to schedule the interviews and to manage other logistical arrangements.
• Work with the Tathmini GBV team to develop manuals of operation for the data collection, data management, and analysis.
• Conduct key informant interviews and/or manage or support a team of individuals who will conduct the interviews. The interviews will be conducted in the study communities in Mbeya Region and may be conducted in English or Kiswahili, depending on the preferred language of the key informant.
• Prepare detailed, written notes from the interviews, which will serve as the data to be analyzed. In some cases, the interviews may be electronically recorded. In these cases, the Qualitative Researcher will prepare written transcripts that will serve as the data. If data are captured in Kiswahili, the Qualitative Researcher will translate them into English.
• Work with the Tathmini GBV team to perform quality checks on the data and ensure that data are collected according to the study protocol and manuals of operation.
• Work with the Tathmini GBV team to analyze the data. This includes preparing the analysis plan, coding the data, identifying key themes, and synthesizing the data according to the analysis plan.
• Write a report(s) of the findings. This will include interpretation of the findings and triangulation with other data components of the study

Proposed timeline: The consultancy timeline is from June 1, 2014 – May 31, 2015, with efforts concentrated during the first 2 months and the last 5 months of this period.

Qualifications:

• Advanced degree in public health, community development, gender or a related field.
• 5+ years of experience in public health or community research involving qualitative research.
• 3+ years of experience in conducting and documenting key informant interviews; and in analyzing key informant interview data, preferably using software for qualitative analysis.
• Demonstrated experience in program evaluation with preference given to those with experience in gender-based violence and/or gender programs.
• Experience in conducting community-based research in Tanzania; familiarity with the political, social, economic, and cultural context of working in Tanzania.
• Ability to work with the project team in Dar es Salaam-- and in Mbeya region for data collection; capacity to work virtually with team members outside of Tanzania.
• Experience and demonstrated proficiency in team work and preferably team management.
• Strong interpersonal, writing, presentation and organizational skills.
• Fluency in Kiswahili and English, written and verbal.

Task 1: Process evaluation (baseline)

Outputs/tasks:

Based on the above activities, it is expected that the consultant will deliver the following: Notes from calls or meeting with Tathmini team managers/members outlining agreed upon next steps/actions Written input and review comments on the Interview Guide, Manual of Operation, and Analysis Plan for the Process Evaluation Schedule of interviews with program managers Trip report from visits to study sites for data collection including details of the data collection process Notes from key informant interviews in electronic format—in English and organized according to interview question (raw data) Coded data (electronic format) based on specifications in the Analysis Plan Analysis report

The maximum number of LOE days for this task is 30 days. Anticipated time frame: June 1 - July 30, 2014.

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