Research Specialist, Baseline Study for the U.S Strategy to Prevent Conflict and Promote Stability in Haiti

Introduction

Social Impact, Inc. (SI) is a global development management consulting firm. We provide monitoring, evaluation, strategic planning, and capacity-building services to advance development effectiveness. We work across all development sectors including democracy and governance, health and education, the environment, and economic growth. Since 1997 we have worked in over 100 countries for clients such as U.S. government agencies, bilateral donors, multilateral development banks, foundations, and nonprofits.

Project Objective

In August 2022, The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) awarded International Business Initiatives Corporation (IBI) the Evaluation Survey Services Plus (ESS+) contract to support USAID/Haiti and its partners with evaluations, survey and study support, capacity building and learning events, and in-country Third Party Monitoring. IBI partnered with SI to implement the USAID Haiti Evaluation and Survey Services Plus (ESS+) Activity.

USAID/Haiti has engaged Haiti ESS+ to conduct a baseline study in Haiti to inform the implementation of the U.S. Strategy to Prevent Conflict and Promote Stability (SPCPS). This baseline will help inform the development of a Haiti Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) strategic plan to assess the effectiveness and overall success of the SPCPS. This baseline study serves as an update to the context analysis and extensive research done during the SPCPS development and is a critical component of the MEL strategic plan.

Position Description

Haiti ESS+ is seeking a Research Specialist (RS) consultant to support the Evaluation Team in all technical and management aspects of the SPCPS baseline. The Research assistant carry out studies and research arising from the direction given to the evaluation team; he/she will collect and compile information. He/she will be expected to work closely with different staff specifically the Subject Matter Expert on citizen security, Evaluation Specialist, Dashboard developer, GIS specialist, the local data collection firm, the Haiti ESS+ team as well as the SI headquarters project management team to ensure quality and timely deliverables.

The baseline level of effort is approximately 6 - 8 weeks (from 36 to 48 days), inclusive of two to three consecutive weeks (18 days) of data collection and analysis. This position will be entirely remote.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Collaborate with the team leader on strategic and operational planning, to implement SPCPS Design, and ensure compliance with all USAID contractual reporting and financial requirements for the Baseline.
• Support, review, and advise on all project activities and deliverables including data collection, mapped GIS coordinates, the draft inception and design report, the draft report, executive summary report, and the validation presentation to policy and decision makers.
• Together with the Team Leader, provide technical support to the baseline team on the development of quantitative methodology, and the design of digital survey questionnaires.
• Participate in the design of the data collection tools, particularly ensuring sectoral appropriateness and ensure that quality data are collected and reported.
• Participate in the data collection and analysis, ensuring data quality.
• Support the analysis and be responsible for all data analysis, and coordinate the analysis of all data, assuring all quantitative and qualitative data analyses are done to meet the needs for this evaluation.
• Support writing all deliverables associated with the evaluation including, but not limited, to the evaluation design (including tools) and the draft and final reports in conformity with SI and USAID regulations, and the Scope of Work.
• Manage all deadlines and record maintenance-including, but not limited to, collecting, and managing quantitative data and producing notes for all qualitative data collection events for delivery to USAID.
• Collaborate with the SI headquarters and Haiti ESS+ staff with strategic and operational planning to implement the approved evaluation design.
• Provide quality assurance on analytic issues including methods, development of data collection instruments, protocols for data collection, data management, and data analysis
• Recording findings by taking written notes and using appropriate software
• Ensure that all the information in research databases is up-to-date and accurate
• Participate in the interpreting of results using a variety of techniques, ranging from simple data aggregation via statistical analysis to complex data
• Work with the baseline team to identify analytical requirements.
• Capacity to handle the samples from experiments and implementing testing methods
• Participate in all meetings and strategic planning of this baseline
• Support, review, and advise on all project activities and deliverables including data collection (Qualitative and Quantitative)
• Conducting fieldwork and tests when required, as well as protecting databases and confidential information
• Maintaining a good working attitude and professional relationship with the evaluation team in particular: Haiti ESS+, Government of Haiti counterparts, local authorities, local organizations, USAID, and other program partners.
• Collaborate with the SI headquarters and Haiti ESS+ staff with strategic and operational planning to implement the approved work plan.

Qualifications

• Minimum of masters' degree in economics, political science, statistics and other related disciplines
• At least five (5) years of experience in supporting mixed methods evaluation.
• Experience in designing qualitative and quantitative data collection.
• Strong knowledge, skills, and experience in qualitative and quantitative analytic tools
• Experience implementing and coordinating others to implement surveys, key informant interviews, focus groups and other evaluation and assessment methods that assure reliability and validity of the data.
• Strong experience in conducting qualitative data analysis.
• Full IT literacy and ability to operate with on-line based applications.
• Ability to use analytical software such as SPSS or STATA and Dedoose.
• Proven leadership and organizational skills to successfully support the team leader.
• Experience in evaluating insecure environments, gang violence, environmental disasters, poverty is a plus.
• Experience in applying citizen security experience to inform instrument design for quantitative surveys is a plus.
• Proven leadership and organizational skills to successfully support the t the team leader.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including experience successfully interacting with host government officials, civil society partners, and other stakeholders.
• Fluency in English is required, and proficiency in written and spoken French is preferred.
• Excellent writing skills, including experience writing evaluation and/or assessment reports.

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.

SI is an EEO/AA/ADA Veterans Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.

Only selected candidates will be contacted for an interview. Please, no phone calls.