Vacancy for Research Assistant for the Coordination of

“Research to improve the screening for wasting and the identification and treatment of wasted children (R-SWITCH) in Ethiopia”.

Background:

EPHA is currently running a project with a financial support from Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation through UNICEF and in collaboration with the implementing and research partner IFPRI, the global research lead. The purpose is to identify and test different approaches to detect and treat wasting at different levels of the system (household, community, facility), thereby increasing the proportion of children wasted who receive timely and appropriate treatment. The research will be conducted in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Nigeria. Models for the scaling-up of simplified approaches that can achieve a higher treatment services coverage will be developed in the three countries. EPHA has successfully completed a one-year planning and piloting phase and is now ready to launch a two years research project in Oromia region in Kersa and Jaldessa districts. To this effect, EPHA now wants to recruit a qualified and competent nutritionist in line with the following details.

Job Purpose 

To assist and coordinate the implantation research on simplified approaches to prevent and manage child wasting under the guidance of EPHA and PIs from EPHA and IFPRI. 

Key Responsibilities /Duties/Tasks 

Planning and coordination 

In close consultation with the principal investigator the research assistant will be involved in the Implementation Phase (Phase 2) of the research project

• Briefly, the project coordinator will accomplish the following activities:

• Coordinate the implementation of the impact evaluation study which will evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention model on wasting-related outcomes.

• Coordinate the implementation of the implementation research.

• Coordinate the implementation of the cost study. 

• Assist in the coordination and dissemination workshop in country.

• Ensure that the research plans are moving as planned. 

• Ensure that logistics, procurement, and policies are implemented as per the standards of EPHA and the donor organization

• Keeps financial and technical data and prepares reports for submission to UNICEF on a quarterly basis

Stakeholder Management  

• Build and maintain a collaborative relationship with those who will be involved in the operation research

• Coordinate and network relationships

• Advocate and liaise closely with stakeholders and partners at the national, regional, zonal, woreda and community level

Capacity Development 

• Assist relevant stakeholder engagement to address training on the Prevention of Sexual exploitation and abuse, data collection

• Assists the PI in capacity building to data collectors and other partners as needed.

M and E

• Monitor and report to the RPD and the PI that all activities of the research are smoothly moving as planned.

• Ensure monitoring and data collection tools and devices are readily available for data collectors at project sites

• Asist IRB approval and consents from MOH, RHBs and study districts are obtained before data collection.

• Work with the IT manager of EPHA that data collection is secure, centrally stored and available for analysis.

• Follow the data sharing policy of EPHA

• Assist the PI in data entry, cleaning, analysis, and report writing

• Collect feedback on a preliminary research report from relevant stakeholders and address issues after consultation with PIs and RPD

• Ensure final research report is submitted to EPHA and UNICEF Ethiopia 

Financial Management 

• Advise the EPHA finance management team to ensure that the financial utilization is in accordance of plan and is in compliance of donors and EPHA 

Job Type: Contractual for 1 year with a possibility of extension.

Number required: 1

Reports to: Research and Publication Director (RPD) of EPHA

Application Deadline: Within 7 days of posting of this job announcement

Job Requirements

Academic and professional qualification

• Masters in nutrition, public health, nutritional epidemiology or related field. Female applicants are Encouraged.

Work Experience

• At least 3 years of professional experience in nutrition, public health, or related fields at the international level.

• Experience conducting high-quality research in Ethiopia

• Experience conducting research on child undernutrition and preferrable experience conducting research on wasting.

• Experience sensitizing communities and other stakeholders about research activities.

• Experience developing reports, policy briefs and journal articles.

• Excellent communications skills.

• Excellent written and spoken English.

Preferred experiences

• Experience conducting impact evaluations using a randomized controlled design.

• Experience conducting implementation research.

• Experience conducting cost studies

Required skills

• ]Use of digital methods of data collection

• Use of advanced software in data collection

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills

• Excellent facilitation and presentation skills

• High proficiency in English language (As the project sites are in Oromia, knowing Afaan Oromo is an added value).

How to Apply

Interested and qualified applicants can submit (in person) their application letter, updated CV, academic credentials, and supporting documents for the work experiences to EPHA, in the following Address,

Ethiopian Public Health Association

Addis Ababa, Kirkos sub-city, Woreda 02/03, House No. 758 about 500 meters from Dembel on the way to Meskel Flower Infront of Dubai Furniture.