Economic Costing Research Specialist - Kenya

Job Title: Economic Costing Research Specialist (East Africa) - [Extended Term Consultant]

Project:MVP Final Evaluation: Economic Costing Evaluation

Location: Based at the Columbia Goal Center in Nairobi, Kenya with 70 - 80% travel to rural settings of project countries

Contract Duration:12 months

Expected Start Date: November 2014

Columbia Global Centers | Africa is part of Columbia University’s global network of centers, which together aim to create opportunities in research, scholarship and teaching around the world, and expand Columbia's mission as a global university. Established in Nairobi in 2011, CGC Africa links the continent to Columbia’s scientific rigor, technological innovation, and academic leadership. It provides Columbia students and academics with a base from which to conduct research in and for Africa, in disciplines including sustainable development, urban planning and climate change. The Centre also works closely with policymakers, governments, and regional institutions in order to provide them with objective, science-based evidence for their pursuit of the Millennium Development Goals and the fight against global poverty. Operations span across East and Southern Africa, including support for six Millennium Village sites (MVs) in Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda.

The Millennium Villages Project (MVP) (http://www.millenniumvillages.org/index.htm) is a joint initiative between Columbia University’s Earth Institute, Millennium Promise (NGO), the United Nations, and various partner organizations. Launched in 2005, the project has been implemented in fourteen village clusters across ten African countries and reached approximately 450,000 beneficiaries. Under the MVP model, project personnel work alongside rural communities and local governments to implement a package of interventions in four sectors: health, education, infrastructure, and agriculture. The interventions were designed to help the Millennium Villages achieve the Millennium Development Goals by 2015.

In order to track the project’s progress, MVP has established a comprehensive Monitoring and Evaluation platform headed by a team of Columbia University researchers in New York, a Millennium Development Goal Centre in Dakar, and a second Millennium Development Goal Centre in Nairobi. Monitoring and evaluation of the MVP includes four components: (1) Household Impact Surveys, (2) Process Evaluation, (3) Economic Costing, and (4) Outcome Monitoring.

The M & E team is currently conducting its final evaluation for ten Millennium Village sites (MVs). As part of that evaluation, the M & E team requires an Economic Costing Research Specialist (East Africa)to carry out the Economic Costing study across Six MVP’s East and Southern African sites. This position is an extended term consultancy for 12 months. Although it will technically be based in Nairobi, the research specialist will spend most of his/her time at the field sites with 2 weeks in between (possibility for extension in NY or Nairobi thereafter). The Center invites applications from suitably qualified candidates to fill the position of Economic Costing Research Specialist (East Africa).

Desk Research & Site Liaison:

• Carrying out a critical review of accounting templates, work plans, background literature, and field reports in order to inventory a comprehensive list of interventions undertaken in each MV’s four sectors
• Closely coordinating with Economic Costing Analyst based in New York to ensure data consistency, proper management, and quality assurance across all sites
• Collaborating with MDG Center Regional M&E Advisor based in Nairobi on data collection, management, analysis, and sharing
• Ensuring coordination with New York office on data collection, analysis, and report sharing

Field Work & Data Collection (October 2014 – June 2015):

• The Economic Costing Research Specialist will be expected to assist in carrying out qualitative evaluation procedures at 6 East and Southern Africa MV study sites at the end-of-project 2015 Evaluation – as part of the Costing assessment for the final project evaluation.
• Data collection entails traveling to each MV site for a period of 4 weeks and conducting key informant interviews with government officers, NGO staff, and other private donors, as well as facilitating community focus groups, based on a set of Economic Costing templates and questionnaires. Some of this work may require travel to the Countries Capital cities such as Dodoma, Lilongwe, Kampala, etc.
• The Economic Costing Research Specialist will be supported at each site by a short-term Process Evaluation and Economic Costing Research Assistant. The Costing Research Specialist will be the lead data collector at the sites to which s/he is assigned, and s/he will be responsible for directing and managing the Research Assistant during data collection.
• The Economic Costing Research Specialist will be trained and backstopped by the Economic Costing Analyst, via frequent Skype calls, emails, and possibly in-person meetings.

Skills Required:

• Bachelor’s degree and 5+ years of experience in program evaluation, development, international affairs, or social science research (qualitative); Master’s degree and 2+ years of relevant experience a plus;
• Outstanding oral and written communications, with proven ability to compile information coherently and succinctly;
• Ability to facilitate interviews and focus group discussions with a variety of respondents, including government officials, NGO officials, UN workers, and community members;
• Excellent research and fact-checking skills;
• High attention to detail and commitment to work under tight deadlines;
• Sensitivity to cultures, genders, religions, ethnicities, nationalities, ages, and other forms of diversity;
• Previous international field work experience required; Background in monitoring & evaluation, development, economics, or research advantageous;
• English fluency; French, Swahili, and local language skills advantageous;
• Familiarity with and interest in the Millennium Villages Project and the Millennium Development Goals;
• Ability to travel for 1 – 2 months at a time to rural areas in East and Southern Africa;
• Persistence and a positive, constructive attitude.

Supervision:

The ability to work collaboratively in a multi-disciplinary team is essential. The Economic Costing Research Specialist will be immediately supervised by the Regional M&E Advisor at the MDG Center in Nairobi. Technical training and assistance with research and data analysis will be done with the Economic Costing Analyst in New York.

How to apply:

Columbia Global Centers Africa is an equal opportunity employer. Applications for this position should be sent torecruitment@cgcafrica.org not later than 15th October 2014.

The CV should include contacts of three referees. Economic Costing Research Specialist (East Africa)” in the e-mail subject heading. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

To learn more about us visit http://globalcenters.columbia.edu/content/columbia-global-centers-africa.