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Job Title:  Technical Advisor, Evaluative Research and Learning

Organization: Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs (CCP)

Funding Source: United States Agency for International Development (USAID)

Reports to: Senior Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Advisor

Job Location: Kampala, Uganda

About Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs:

Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs (CCP) is a leader in strategic communication and research that facilitates access to information and exchange of knowledge to improve health.  CCP has more than 60 projects that employ staff in more than 40 countries around the world.  CCP has unparalleled experience as a global center for Social and Behavioral Change excellence.  Through its projects, CCP harnesses the power of social and behavior change communication to encourage the adoption of healthy behaviors in the projects implemented worldwide.

Project Background: 

The Social and Behavioral Change Activity (SBCA) is a five-year program implemented through a cooperative agreement between the United States Agency for International Development (USAID/Uganda) and Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs (CCP). The vision of USAID’s Social and Behavioral Change Activity is a Uganda where individuals and communities are not just healthy, but resilient, supported by strong adaptable systems and institutions to lead productive lives. The SBC Activity supports the Government of Uganda (GoU) and US government (USG) implementing partners to design and implement Social and Behavioral Change (SBC) communication initiatives that   contribute towards reduction in Maternal and Child mortality, Malaria prevalence, Total Fertility rate, new HIV infections, TB prevalence and improved Nutrition out comes, resilience and improved SBC systems and expertise. 

Job Summary:  The Technical Advisor – Evaluative Research and Learning will lead the research and learning function of the program and support the sub-contractors and sub-grantees in: (a) conducting formative research to inform new insights, design of activities, work planning, activity sequencing and adaptation; (b) evaluating the impact of SBCA; and (c) intentionally and continuously learning from the evidence gathered to improve the SBC model in Uganda. She/he will work closely with the Senior Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Technical Advisor to coordinate the development and implementation of the research and learning activities, promoting the use of relevant information to guide performance management through well analyzed, rapid and actionable feedback.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:  

Evaluative research

·        Design an evaluation framework to assess the performance of SBCA interventions.

·        Lead all aspects of learning and evaluation, behavioural science and human-centred design research. The anticipated tasks under this role include:

o   Design of evaluative research activities such as formative research, baseline, end line and special studies;

o   Obtaining necessary ethics reviews and approvals;

o   Identifying and adapting or developing data collection tools;

o   Coordination of data collection, management and analysis, and

o   Write-up and presentation of findings in different formats for various audiences

·        Support the development and implementation of new context specific approaches to help the team, sub-contractors and sub-grantee to learn what works and does not work regarding the SBCA project implementation model.

·        Lead the team in developing and implementing a rational research agenda that addresses pertinent questions as may be determined by valid stakeholders, for example, behavioural determinants of relevant health outcomes, impact of SBC interventions on key outcomes, effects of different SBC strategic approachs, and ensuring stakeholder commitment to SBC.

·        Ensure the SBCA team assesses, analyses, synthesises and articulates lessons learnt, challenges and risks emerging from the program and feeds these back into the planning and implementation process.

·        Cultivate partnerships (internal and external) to accomplish research studies and provide strategic oversight and quality control for research processes and research-related partnerships with stakeholders including GoU line ministries, USG IPs, and academic institutions, in close collaboration with technical teams.

·        Attend relevant technical meetings and workshops and keep the team up to date on latest developments in implementation research.

·        Support the Sr. Advisor for MEL in tracking project performance and utilizing related data in decision making on project strategies and priorities, and possible adjustments to design of project intervention.

Training, supervision and strategic leadership

·        Co-facilitate training workshops, including agenda, curriculum, manuals and materials necessary to appropriately train individuals involved in monitoring and evaluation activities.

·        Support results reporting to USAID by providing written documentation on RME activities and indicator results for progress and annual reports, as appropriate

·        Support capacity strengthening activities on behavioural economics and human-centred design approaches

·        Cultivate strategic RME relationships and alliances with other USAID projects and represent behavioural research and evaluation activities in public and professional circles.

·        Perform other duties as assigned by the supervisor.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

·        The applicant must hold a Master’s degree in any of the following; public health, epidemiology, biostatistics research methods, design, communication or behavioural science with relevance to SBC programming, research, monitoring and evaluation or Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field with a minimum of seven (7) years’ experience above.

·        A minimum of five (5) years of experience in a programming, performance monitoring and/or evaluation role with an international development organization.

·        Previous experience of working for SBC/SBCC, health communication programs, human centered design or behavioral economics interventions. 

·        Oral and written fluency in English.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

·        Substantial experience in undertaking detailed data and impact analysis, using and manipulating complex statistical data to inform decision making and an understanding of how SBC can improve health outcomes..

·        Proven ability to ensure the team produces credible evidence and reports in support of its conclusions and recommendations from analyses undertaken.

·        Broad range of research skills, including quantitative and qualitative design and data collection, and an ability to navigate and analyse large complex data sets for formative and summative purposes.

·        Substantial experience of using qualitative data analysis software such as ATLAS.ti, NVivo, and quantitative analytical software such as STATA, SAS, and SPSS.

·        Excellent experience of implementing systems to measure and demonstrate the evidence and impact of activities.

·        Research experience or experience in evaluating programmes, preferably in strategic communication

·        Excellent experience working with USAID monitoring, evaluation, and learning activities including leading, planning and delivering the evaluation

·        Familiarity with administering on-line surveys using software such as Google Forms, Survey Monkey

·        Experienced in designing and implementing research protocols and certified in human subject’s research.

How to Apply:

All applications must be submitted using the web form at the link below

Click Here

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