Term-limited Consultancy; Qualitative Research Technical Advisor – FGD/IDI Facilitator, Local Engagement for Eradication Endgames

Although the Africa Regional Certification Commission recently certified the World Health Organization (WHO) African region free of wild polio, circulating vaccine-derived polioviruses (cVDPVs) have been detected in multiple countries, including countries where Guinea worm remains endemic. Building on the shared goals of disease eradication, The Carter Center is initiating a nine-month project in December 2020 to examine how the Global Polio Eradication Initiative may leverage and adapt the Guinea Worm Eradication Program’s community engagement and mobilization approach in Chad for enhanced ownership of community-based acute flaccid paralysis surveillance and cVDPV outbreak prevention & response.

The Qualitative Research Technical Advisor will be responsible for executing qualitative research field protocols related to the collection of data from participants during focus group discussions, in-depth interviews, and community conversation events. The Qualitative Researcher will also be responsible for meeting with local/community leaders prior to engaging community members in project activities to inform them of the project’s objectives and the related project activities. The Qualitative Researcher will work closely with the Project Supervisor and other team members to conduct daily and subsequent in-depth debriefings, and use the information from these debriefings to inform the iterative refinement of qualitative data collection tools for subsequent rounds of data collection.

FORMAL JOB DESCRIPTION

· Executes qualitative research field protocols related to the collection of data from participants during focus group discussions and in-depth interviews

· Helps develop and finalize field protocols related to data collection and field coordination

· Deploys focus group discussion and in-depth interview guides, and uses established and/or self-determined follow-up/probing questions, as appropriate, to generate qualitative data on identified thematic topics

· Actively participates in team trainings as well as daily and subsequent in-depth debriefings

· Works with the Project Supervisor and/or Project Manager to assist with the iterative refinement of qualitative data collection tools over subsequent rounds of data collection

· Assists Project Supervisor to meet with village leaders, elders, and influential others in villages targeted for community-level listening activities to inform them of project activities before moving in targeted villages and during data collection activities

· Trains village-level “Masters of Ceremony” (MCs) on how to facilitate community-level conversations and support them in doing so – ensuring that they touch on the key discussion points for each activity

· Works closely with the Project Supervisor and Project Manager to incorporate their feedback to ensure the project’s field activities are implemented with high fidelity

· Performs other duties, as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS

*Minimum:

· Bachelor’s degree (BS, BA) in a field related to the area of research or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience in health and/or development programming

· Strong facilitation skills and demonstrated experience conducting focus group discussions and semi-structured in-depth interviews

· Ability to read, write, and speak fluently in French is required

· Ability and desire to complete the duration of the contract in Chad

Preferred:

· Three to five years of experience facilitating qualitative research, including focus group discussion, semi-structured in-depth interviews, and large community-level conversations or activities that involve community-level discussion**

· Ability to read, write, and speak fluently in English is preferred

NOTE: This position is based in Chad. If this requires the successful candidate to relocate to Chad, the candidate will need to sign an informed consent form regarding COVID-19 related risks prior to travel.