National Consultant, Ukraine: Social Scientist

Background

The Insights Unit at WHO/Europe developed a formative research tool (COVID-19 Snapshot Monitoring (COSMO)) to monitor risk perception for rapid, flexible and cost-effective monitoring of public knowledge, risk perceptions, behaviours in the context of COVID-19.

WHO CO Ukraine together with the Public Health Center (PHC) of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine (MOH) is continuing to implement the research tool and conduct a survey on knowledge, risk perceptions, behaviours and trust related to COVID-19 in Ukraine among the adult audience via a private data collection company under WHO’s umbrella. The survey has been widely used as reference by government and partners in introducing and/or adjusting risk communication strategies to slow down and ultimately stop the spread of the infection. Such survey is expected to continue in the course of the months to come as the epidemic continues to rise at a higher rate.

The consultant will analyze and process data from the Behavioural insights (BI) study in Ukraine. The consultant will review and adjust the current methodology in order to allow sub national disaggregation, and use other surveys, including the Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) which is being conducted in Eastern Conflict Areas to perform comparative analysis.

Deliverables

Key Objective: - Develop good quality analytical products with visuals on the already collected survey data. - Establish Behavioral Insight (BI) as a WHO analytical product for Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) of programmes aiming at population behaviour change. - In consultation with other technical leads within WHO CO and Regional Office, facilitate the revision and update of the methodology, study design, data that need to be collected and incorporate them into the BI protocol and organize focus groups to have in-depth discussions.

Deliverables: 1. Coordinate the Behavioral insights study in Ukraine which includes timely analysis and report writing of timeseries surveys by performing the following: - Adjusting questionnaires, including codes and labels using appropriate statistical packages, preferably open source; - Performing data analysis using standard analysis tool, including trend and multi variate analysis and publishing report at the end of each survey; - Adjusting study design and methodology to conduct granular sub-national analysis; - Conducting further in-depth analysis and triangulate finding with other data sources as requested (e.g. CAP survey in eastern Ukraine); - Publishing survey results in internal and external platforms for each wave of survey; - Preparing and conducting internally and externally presentations on the methodology and findings of the survey; - Providing expert advice regarding data analysis opportunities, strength of data, data use and interpretation. 2. Advise on the methodology of the survey, including assessed feasibility of running the BI in selected Oblast as a representative to measure the regional diversities in Ukraine, e.g. “sentinel sites of sociological surveillance”. 3. Advise the company selected to conduct data collection on technical aspect of the survey including number of sentinel sites and integrate each data round into the national analysis by: - Preparing and submitting the package of documents to extend the ethical permission from the Public Health Centre of Ministry of health Ukraine; - Conducting trends analysis of selected time series data and developing a snapshot visual pattern for each round of survey to be shared with the MoH and partners; - Providing bi-weekly advice on risk communication: type of behavioral patterns and possible ways to influence them; - Providing bi-weekly cross-analysis of the survey findings with the core stone media analysis and advising on content review and efficiency of messaging; - Developing monthly analysis of the BI outcomes to feature in the WHO monthly report. 4. Produce a cross-country analysis of Behavioral insight for Ukraine as compared to other EURO countries running similar surveys; 5. Conduct a comparative analysis of two rounds of KAP surveys in eastern Conflict Area of Ukraine and provide reports accordingly; 6. Prepare cost breakdown analysis of the survey data collection and share with immediate supervisor.

Contract Duration

7 months

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Education

Required

Advanced University degree in Sociology, Anthropology, social science or related fields Specialization in quantitative behavioural insights research

Experience

Required At least 5 years’ experience with social science research and strong analytics Experience with designing research projects; developing and validating items for analysis, and data analysis Experience with development of visualization / presentation products Experience with leading, implementing and managing research projects focusing on behavioural insights Track record of peer-reviewed research publications in related areas Conducting triangulated analysis from multiple data sources

Desirable Experience with the WHO survey tool for behavioral insights on COVID-19

Skills/Knowledge

Required Expert in R programming, an open source statistical package Advanced knowledge in developing study design and publishing visual products

Desirable Expert knowledge in building models for measuring and assessing behaviors Interpersonal communication skills Strong analytical and report writing skills in English and Ukrainian Strong knowledge in effect studies and experimental studies in social and cognitive psychology Strong planning and coordination skills for complex processes Expertise in large scale quantitative research

Languages

Required: Excellent knowledge of English and Ukrainian

Desirable: Working knowledge of Russian

Supervision

The consultant will work under direct supervision of WHE Information Management & Risk Assessment Officer, WHO CO UKR and Team Leader, EU/RGO/WHE/IHM, Regional Office for Europe. S/he is expected to work in close collaboration with the communication team in WHO country and regional offices.

Location (including in-country missions, if any)

Off premises; travel to be covered separately if required. In-country travels are expected to ensure the delivery of the deliverables under Objective 1 and 2.

Remuneration

Remuneration is based on classified requirements of the terms of reference of the individual consultant contract with related academic and professional experience applied for the grade in accordance with WHO’s national consultant’s pay rate.