Qualitative Data Collectors x10 Education Development Center (EDC)

Project Description
The goal of the five-year, USAID-funded Integrated Child and Youth Development (USAID/ICYD) Activity is for Ugandan children and youth, especially the most vulnerable, to receive the support and services necessary to lead resilient, healthy, and productive lives. The USAID/ICYD Activity is expected to achieve the following:

Children and youth have improved learning outcomes;
Children and youth are safe and healthy in their community and learning environments; and
Youth practice positive behaviors and are able to make informed decisions about their lives and relationships.
Working in partnership with Ministry of Education and Sports (MoES) and Ministry of Gender, Labor and Social Development (MGLSD), district and zonal officials, and other Ugandan government and civil society partners, ICYD will comprise a series of activities to: support improved basic education for Ugandan children; address school-related and gender-based violence; facilitate enhanced child protection and support for vulnerable youth; provide support to HIV-affected orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) and their caregivers/families; and support HIV care and treatment outcomes in close collaboration with clinical and community structures. USAID/ICYD Activity will also contribute to improved systems within the MoES and MGLSD to promote Early Grade Reading (EGR) and child protection.

Purpose of the Qualitative Study
After 1 year of implementation, ICYD will conduct a qualitative study in August 2023 to collect feedback from beneficiaries and stakeholders regarding implementation of three pilot interventions to establish what has worked, what has not worked and adjustments that need to be made before scale up to additional districts. ICYD is piloting School-based Performance Review and Improvement Management (SPRIM), Voluntary Literacy Tutoring (VLT) and Early Warning System (EWS) in the districts of Luweero, Iganga, Masindi, Kyenjojo and Kabale with the aim of improving children’s learning outcomes and learner retention.

Data will be gathered through focus group discussions and key informant interviews with school governing bodies (SMC), headteachers and teachers.

Position Description
Qualitative Data Collectors will be responsible for conducting key informant interviews and focus group discussions with selected stakeholders in five USAID/ICYD districts: Luwero, Kabale, Masindi, Kyenjojo and Iganga. They will also be responsible for the transcription of the key informant interviews and focus group discussions. The selected candidates will undergo a training to equip them with the necessary knowledge regarding the tools and protocols for the exercise.
The successful candidates will be contracted for a maximum period of ten (10) working days in August 2023. All honoraria and expenses will be paid by USAID/ICYD. The ten (10) Qualitative Data Collectors that will be recruited will report to, and will be supervised by, the ICYD M&E team.

Please note that this is a local temporary position. Eligibility is limited to Ugandan nationals

Responsibilities
• Collaborate with ICYD field teams to plan and schedule Key informant interviews and focus group discussions with selected stakeholders
• Conduct Key informant interviews and focus group discussions with selected stakeholders, objectively and in a technically competent, and friendly manner
• Transcribe (verbatim) all completed interviews and focus group discussions in MS Word.
• Adhere to all the research ethnics for data collection, storage, and dissemination received during training

Qualifications
Experience and Skills
The minimum qualifications are:
• Bachelor’s Degree is the minimum education requirement.
• Fluency in English and at least one of the four local languages – Luganda, Runyankore/Rukiga, Runyoro/Rutooro and Lusoga required. Please indicate language fluency in your application.
• At least five years’ experience with a significant portion in qualitative research, specifically conducting Key informant interviews and focus group discussions.
• Experience transcribing qualitative data.
• Additional Information