About US:
Mercy Corps is an international non-profit organization which has been implementing high-quality, analytical development work and has been operating in Uganda since 2006 and works to catalyze change makers within the Ugandan private sector, civil society and government to create economically dynamic, healthy and secure communities. Our works focus on building resilience and enable economic growth, improve opportunities to attain better health and nutrition, and improved governance and conflict management. We implement programs in the northern districts of Pader, Kitgum, Agago, Lamwo, Kaabong, Abim, Amudat, Moroto and Kotido with funding from USAID, USDA, Walmart Foundation, SDC, DFID as well as other private donations.
About GIRL Program:
Mercy Corps is undertaking new research in order to advance the organization’s gender and resilience strategy. We are interested in testing the critical links between women and girls’ access over assets and whether this leads to empowerment, increase influence over household decision making, improved food security and household adaptive capacity as a result. This research will align closely with Mercy Corps’ Girls Improving Resilience with Livestock (GIRL) program, which aims to empower pastoralist girls in the Karamoja region to improve their livelihoods and personal agency, as well as increase the food security and adaptive capacity of their households and the resilience of their communities.
Job Summary: The Mercy Corps Program Researcher will be responsible for helping to design and implement this research initiative. The incumbent will support the planning and execution of key research activities. The Program Researcher will work closely with the GIRL program team members in the Karamoja Region (Uganda), Turkana and West Pokot County (Kenya) to design and implement research activities including market assessments, gender and resilience reports, case studies and internal and external communications pieces.
Key Duties and Responsibilities:
· The incumbent will generate and implement research tools (Survey design, KII and FGD guidelines)
· Carry out assessments, evaluations and monitoring surveys in area of operation. This will entail developing survey tools, administering tools, entering and analyzing data, report writing and facilitating results discussion.
· Regularly document and share all learnings from research activities
· Write reports, articles and blogs that synthesize key findings from across research activities and GIRL Program M&E efforts
· Work in liaison with GIRL Program Coordinator to ensure synergy across GIRL M&E efforts and research activities
· Visit sites and partners to collect supplementary data, stories and conduct qualitative research both independently and in teams
· Build and strengthen working relationships with local government officials, private sector partners, NGOs, other development organizations, and civil society organizations
· Work in liaison with Program Coordinator, Program Officer and other staffs to ensure that activities are implemented on plan and progress towards targets is not compromised.
· Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to credit Mercy Corps and to not jeopardize its mission.
· Perform any other duties as assigned by the Program Coordinator or his / her representatives
Qualifications, Skills and Experience:
· The applicant should hold a bachelor’s degree in Economics, Agriculture, Demography, Statistics, Business administration or relevant field
· A minimum of three years of program monitoring and evaluation experience
· Past experience in the areas of gender, resilience and/or market development
· Broad knowledge and understanding of concepts and proven skills in monitoring and evaluation, project cycle, results chain and frameworks, participatory monitoring
· Ability to design and implement surveys, have knowledge of commonly used probability and purposive sampling techniques
· Excellent writing and analytical skills
· Working knowledge of quantitative and qualitative data collection, reporting techniques.
· S/he should understand and be able to apply basic measures of central tendency and spread
· Computer literacy i.e. proficiency in Microsoft Excel and at least one data management software including Ms Access, SPSS, STATA.
· The ideal candidate will have the ability and curiosity to work comfortably and effectively in the cultural, relatively poor infrastructure of Karamoja sub region.
· S/he will be an excellent communicator, have a strong sense of humor, multi-tasker, and able to work difficult and often stressful environments.
· Fluency in both spoken and written English. N’Karamojong, Pökoot and Turkana language skills is an added advantage
How to Apply:
All suitably qualified and interested Ugandan candidates should send their applications including a cover letter clearly stating the salary requirements, updated CV (with three professional referees), and copies of academic qualifications/certificates to the HR/Admin Manager, Kampala Head Office on 4th Floor Embassy Plaza, Plot 1188-1190 Ggaba Road. The E-mail applications with cover letter should be sent to: mcjobs@ug.mercycorps.org
Deadline: 30th October 2015