Research consultant for Implementation Study

Job Description

BACKGROUND:

The International Rescue Committee, one of the world’s largest humanitarian international NGOs, provides relief, rehabilitation, and development support to vulnerable people and communities over 30 countries. We began work in Ethiopia in 2000 in response to severe drought in Ethiopia’s Somali region and are currently providing assistance to Ethiopians and refugees in six regions in Ethiopia, implementing emergency and development programs in health, water and sanitation, economic recovery and development (ERD), women’s protection and empowerment, education, child protection, and multi-sectoral emergency response.

Job Overview:

PlayMatters (2020-2025) is an education initiative funded through a $100 million grant from the LEGO Foundation. The program reimagines childhood for over 800,000 refugee and host-community children across Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Uganda – children whose education and social development have been affected by displacement and trauma. Building on children’s resilience and a growing evidence base supporting Learning through Play (LtP) methodologies, PlayMatters cultivates holistic learning for children ages 3-12+. PlayMatters is led by the International Rescue Committee and includes Plan International, War Child Holland, Innovations for Poverty Action, the Behavioral Insights Team in partnership with the LEGO Foundation.

In Ethiopia, PlayMatters is planning to serve over 75,000 children and 1900 teachers in over 100 ECD and primary schools in the Somali region, Benishangul-Gumuz, Gambella and Afar. The overall goal of the PlayMatters project is to improve the holistic skills and psychosocial well-being for refugee and host community children (ages 3-12+) in Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Uganda.

In September 2023, the IRC will conduct mixed-methods implementation research in the Somali region of Ethiopia (Kebribyah, Awbare, Sheder, Kobe, Boqolmayo, Melkadida, Buramino, Hilaweyin Camps and Host communities’ targeted PM schools) to evaluate:

1) Baseline –endline changes in teachers’ motivation, skills, and practices integrating Learning through Play methodologies into their classroom and baseline-endline changes in the holistic learning outcomes, mental health and wellbeing of children in contexts affected by conflict and crisis, and

2) The quality and fidelity of the implementation of the program.

The implementation component of the study will contribute to assess the theory of change of PlayMatters and refine the model, identify cost-efficiency of learning through child-centered approaches in a conflict affected setting.

Major Responsibilities and Timeline:

The core activities and timeline expected from the consultants (either individuals or firm) in the targeted PM schools in Somali Region located are as follows:

- Reviewing concept note developed by IRC PI and providing input within 3 days of receiving the concept note (2 days) - Conducting a desk review to describe Somali context and relevant literatures within 7 days of receiving the concept note (5 days) - Reviewing and adapting tools as needed, within 20 days of receiving the concept note (5 days) - Co-developing with IRC’s PI a detailed plan for analysis of data (2 day)

o Qualitative (codebook with apriori categories of analysis) (1 day)

o Quantitative (formulas to be used for each question) (1 day)

- Submission of IRB within 30 days of receiving the concept note (1 day) - Preparing and co-facilitating 10-day enumerator training at baseline (quant PI - 10 days), midline ( qual PI – 5 days), and endline (10 days*2 PIs) - Reviewing quality of data at the end of each day of baseline data collection (3 days), midline data collection (3 days) and endline data collection (3 days). - Transcription and translation of qualitative data at midline and endline. - Analysis of qualitative data at midline (20 days) and endline (20 days), 30 days after transcription and translation of data is complete - Cleaning and analysis of quantitative data at baseline (20 days), and endline (20 days) - Discussion of preliminary qualitative findings at midline (half a day) and endline (half a day), 30 days after transcriptions are finalized. - Discussion of preliminary quantitative findings at baseline (half a day), and endline (half a day), 40 days after completion of each wave of data collection - Report writing and submission at baseline (10 days), midline (10 days), and endline (10 days), 30 days after discussing findings (5 days) - Presentation at baseline (1 day), midline (1 day) and endline (1 day), 10 days after receiving feedback on reports.

Qualifications

We are looking for two main consultants, one with expertise in quantitative data and one with expertise in qualitative data. These consultants can also have support from research assistants to carry out some parts of the work. The main consultants are expected to hold the following qualifications to be deemed eligible for the role:

- The consultants should have relevant academic qualifications and must be in possession of at least a PHD degree in one of the following: Education, early childhood development, education, psychometrics, or a related field. Social science, or any other relevant qualification

- The consultants should have knowledge of designing and undertaking scientific and applied research.

- A minimum of 10 years of learning assessment and research/evaluation experience in education settings in Ethiopia.

- In-depth knowledge of quantitative and/or qualitative research methods is required, a background in experimental research is a plus.

- The main quantitative investigator should have knowledge of and skills in data analyzing computer software, including proven experience with Excel, Stata. The main qualitative principal investigator should have the knowledge and experience analyzing qualitative data with computer software such as Dedoose or NVivo

- Experience conducting studies and writing reports that are gender and inclusion sensitive.

- Proven experience in successfully undertaking such kind of high-profile assignment

- The consultants should have proven experience in the LtP and implementation

- Knowledge of facilitation approaches and programming will be required

- Strong interpersonal and communication skills

- High proficiency in written and spoken English

- Familiarity with the cultural construction and community setup of the project areas.

- A demonstrated high level of professionalism and an ability to work independently and in high-pressure situations under tight deadlines.

- Excellent analytical and writing skills in English

Language Skills:

Proficiency in English and Ethiopian National working languages