Job Description
RESEARCH FELLOW IN DECISION MAKING IN WATER SECURITY
(QUANTITATIVE), REACH KENYA PROGRAMME - AD/5/52/22 - (1 POST)
( R E - A D V E R T I S E M E N T )
The Project
REACH is an international, collaborative project led by Oxford University (OU), financially supported by FCDO, with Ethiopia, Kenya and Bangladesh as project implementing countries.
In Kenya, the University of Nairobi is the national focal research institution,in collaboration with UNICEF and the County Governments of Turkana and Kitui. The project is looking for a quantitative researcher to take up the position of Research Fellow, leading implementation of a novel programme of research in REACH’s Turkana Observatory.
REACH will implement a package of social science research – REACH-WISER (Water
Insecurity Equity and Resilience) - across Ethiopia, Kenya and Bangladesh to better understand household and intra-household dynamics of water security and inequalities. In Kenya, the work will focus on Turkana and build on the extensive research conducted in Lodwar till date. The Research Fellow will work closely with a team of interdisciplinary researchers based at the University of Oxford, researchers from the HWISE (Household Water Insecurity Experiences) network in the US, and researchers at Stockholm Environment Institute in designing and implementing a portfolio of quantitative research tools, and publishing in reputed academic journals. The role involves significant fieldwork in Lodwar and its peri-urban settings, as well as travel to the UK/internationally for training and knowledge sharing events. This is an excellent opportunity for an early career researcher to further develop their skills for data collection and analysis, academic writing, and knowledge exchange, and demonstrate their leadership and ability to work in teams, while developing an extensive international network among leading water researchers.
Further information
Further information about the REACH Programme can be found at www.reachwater.org.uk
Duty station
Nairobi with frequent travel to Turkana County.
Roles and Responsibilities
The Research Fellow will work within the Social Science stream and be required to:
- Manage and co-ordinate a socio-economic in-person household survey on water security inequalities in Turkana through:
- Supporting the development of the survey tool in collaboration with a global team of
social researchers, including arranging translations and ensuring context specificity;
- Providing support for community mapping, water audits and key informant interviews
in preparation for the survey
- Contributing to the survey implementation work plan and the sampling strategy
- Co-facilitating training of enumerators with the wider Kenyan and international
research team
- Managing data collection, working with a site manager, including managing a team of
enumerators and supervisors;
- Frequent within-country travel to Turkana County.
- Collaborate on advancing research methodologies, ideas and materials with academic
colleagues for high-quality research publications and presentations in public forums or
academic conferences;
- Be an active member of REACH WISER team: participate in workshops, meetings, and events. Travel to Oxford is anticipated
- Develop high-quality research publications as a lead author and co-author with global team from REACH, HWISE and more
- Engage with REACH’s research impact agenda including participation in the development of stakeholder engagement activities
- Adhere to the requirements of the Research Fellow Policy of the University of Nairobi.
Essential Skills and Qualifications
- M.Sc. in economics, statistics or quantitative social science field. Ph.D. is an added
advantage. Minimum two (2) years of experience in the design and implementation of
household surveys.
- Competency in all stages of the survey process - questionnaire design, sampling,
fieldwork, data management, data analysis, and project administration.
- Demonstrated ability to identify and resolve survey implementation and data quality
issues.
- Skills in Stata and/or R are required.
- Awareness of key issues and ideas within the social development agenda in Kenya;
- Excellent communication skills.
Desirable Requirements
- Experience implementing household surveys in developing countries, particularly Africa
- Experience implementing panel household surveys
- Experience in the implementation of tablet-based/online surveys including design and
programming using Survey Solutions, CsPro, SurveyCTO or related applications.
- Ability to write for publication, present research results, and represent the research group.
Terms of appointment
This a contractual position whose tenure is up to December, 2023. Salary will be as per the project scale