Save the Children UK (SCUK) is a dual mandate organisation, working in emergency and development contexts. Hunger Reduction and Livelihoods is one of four strategic priorities for SCUK and aims to reduce malnutrition among children less than five years of age. Based on a thorough understanding of the causes of malnutrition, SCUK’s work promotes a broad based programme and policy oriented approach that addresses short and longer term needs of children. SCUK strives to learn from its programming and to undertake operational research to add to its evidence base, and to improve practice.
The Minimum Reporting Package is a good example of one of SCUK’s operational research projects. It is based on a desire to improve accountability through maximising the quality of supplementary feeding programming (SFP) by strengthening monitoring and reporting. It stems from a retrospective analysis of the efficacy and effectiveness of emergency SFP programming published in 2008 that demonstrated a need to clarify, define and implement minimum reporting standards for emergency supplementary feeding programmes. A common set of discharge definitions and contextual data was developed, which formed a common set of reporting guidelines that was then converted into a user-friendly database by an IT consultant and piloted in several countries.
The MRP is now being rolled out by SCUK with ECHO funding among approximately 10 implementing partners, delivering up to 30 SFPs in the coming year, and has identified the need for further software development and ongoing IT support.
Job Purpose:
To support the IT needs and software development of the ECHO funded Minimum Reporting Package for Emergency Supplementary Feeding Programmes global roll out
Key Accountabilities:
• Maintain and extend a complex MS Access data collection application used to collect information from supplementary feeding programmes in developing countries
• Configuration of the current system, including fixing bugs
• Building new functionality as needed (and testing), including but not limited to the addition of a module to collect information from programmes treating severe acute malnutrition
• Develop an understanding of the current application logic and configuration mechanisms
• Develop technical documentation for the application with a view to possibly rewriting it for .Net and SQL Server
• Provide level 3 technical support to the MRP project on an ongoing basis as needed and requested
• Provide further training to the nutrition officer on the team (who is the IT focal point and has already received significant training)
• Perform other IT-related tasks and responsibilities as may be required from time to time in order to ensure the smooth running of the project
Person Specification:
Essential:
• Microsoft Office
• Significant experience using Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) to automate MS Access
• Database skills
• Strong knowledge and demonstratable experience of SQL
• Demonstrable experience of communicating complex technical information to non-IT people who are professionals in their own field
Desirable:
• Experience using VBA to automate MS Excel
• Experience in laying out database reports and producing other information products from databases
• Previous experience of managing data collection/ entry/ consolidation
• Demonstrable experience of working in a professional IT environment, including change control and configuration management processes
• Knowledge and professional experience of .Net and SQL Server development
• Experience working in developing countries
• Experience working with NGOs
Please send cover letter and CV to r.evans@savethechildren.org.uk by December 15, 2011. Because of the urgent nature of the post, candidacies will be considered on a rolling basis and only short-listed candidates will be contacted.
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