ALME Nepal Data Quality Assurance and Monitoring Specialist

Description

Data Quality Assurance and Monitoring Specialist, Kathmandu, Nepal

Social Impact (SI) is a Washington, DC-area international development management consulting firm. SI’s mission is to improve the effectiveness of international development programs in improving people’s lives. We provide a full range of management consulting, technical assistance, and training services to strengthen international development programs, organizations, and policies. We provide services globally in the areas of monitoring and evaluation, strategic planning, project and program design, organizational capacity building, and gender and social analysis. SI services cross-cut all development sectors including democracy and governance, health and education, the environment, and economic growth. SI’s clients include US government agencies such as USAID, the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), the US Department of State, bilateral donors, multilateral development banks, foundations, and non-profit organizations.

Project Objective:

Social Impact (SI) has been contracted by USAID Feed the Future to conduct a population-based survey (PBS) to collect data on key indicators to establish an endline for the first phase and a baseline for the second phase of Feed the Future in Nepal.  Feed the Future seeks to reduce poverty, hunger, and undernutrition among women and children, and to increase income, resilience, women’s empowerment, dietary diversity, and appropriate feeding practices, and improve hygienic environments. Program efforts are designed to impact the population in Zones of Influence (ZOI) in Feed the Future target countries. One of the main tools to track progress in achieving Feed the Future’s high-level objectives are population-based performance indicators collected at baseline and then periodically thereafter.

Position Description:

SI is seeking a short-term independent Data Quality Assurance and Monitoring (DQAM) Specialist to assist in field-based oversight of this data collection activity. The Data Quality Assurance and Monitoring Specialist will serve as an independent monitor of the local data collection firm subcontracted by SI; as such, the DQAM Specialist will assist the Survey Director to serve as Social Impact’s “eyes and ears” on the ground. DQAM Specialist will report to Social Impact’s Program Manager but will work under the local direction of the project’s Survey Director. Travel nationally is required. The DQAM will also be responsible for contributing to tool development and other deliverables prior to data collection, under the supervision of the Survey Director and SI team.

Level of effort is expected to be approximately 48 days over the course of data collection, with heavier volumes of activity expected between the months of April and July.

**Please note: This is a local position. Only candidates with citizenship in Nepal will be considered. **

Responsibilities:

• Contribute to development of Feed the Future deliverables, including all protocols, manuals, and instruments, as requested by the SI team.
• Conduct spot checks of data collection activities, including participating in daily team debriefs, accompanying and observing enumerators during data collection, meeting with field Supervisors and Coordinators, and documenting challenges and lessons learned.
• Review audio audits and compare audio audit data to electronic data to check for accuracy and consistency.
• Conduct random phone and in-person audits of sampled households and re-administer sections of the questionnaire, as appropriate.
• Write clear and concise data quality reports and summaries for the above activities and alert SI to any areas requiring immediate attention.
• As appropriate, participate in enumerator trainings and pilot and provide guidance on study purpose, instruments, and field protocols to trainees. To that end, it is expected that the consultant will become deeply familiar with the study’s purpose, protocols, and instruments/tools.
• As requested, assist in translation, translation reviews, and back translation of instruments and manuals, protocols, and training materials.
• Maintain highly professional working relationships with the data collection firm, USAID, the Central Bureau of Statistic (CBS), and other key stakeholders, as appropriate.
• Complete other tasks as requested by SI.

Qualifications:

• Graduate degree or higher in social sciences, economics, statistics or related field is required.
• Over 5 years of supervisory experience in field-based survey research using Computer Assisted Personal Interviewing (CAPI) is required.
• Sectoral expertise and experience in surveys related to agriculture or nutrition is highly preferred.
• Ability to liaise with multiple agencies/clients, exceptional organizational and communications skills, and proven managerial/leadership skills on large teams on complex research studies.
• Fluency in written and spoken English and Nepali are required. Tharu, and Aawadhi language skills are a strong plus.

Come join our energetic and innovative team!  We offer you the opportunity to play a leading role in the growth of our company, work as part of a creative and committed team, and make a difference in the well-being of our world.

To learn more about Social Impact, please visit our website: http://www.socialimpact.com

Only selected candidates will be contacted for an interview. Please, no phone calls. Social Impact is an equal opportunity employer.