Zimbabwe: Resilience Research Advisor, Zimbabwe (219835-927)

This is a re-advertisement, candidates who had previously applied need not re-apply.

Zimbabwean nationals/citizens are highly encouraged to send in their applications for this position

PROGRAM/DEPARTMENT SUMMARY:

Mercy Corps has been working in Zimbabwe since 2002 and currently has a multi-sector market development portfolio. Mercy Corps has, and continues to successfully mobilize hundreds of communities to establish productive small scale agriculture and revive local economies. Mercy Corps is helping the people of Zimbabwe by helping farmers increase their incomes and harvests through the power of mobile technology and increasing urban household access to quality, reliable water, sanitation and hygiene services.

The overall objective of the resilience research is to provide donors and implementing partners with research results that will contribute to the design and management of future resilience programs in Zimbabwe, and to contribute to the on-going adaptive management for complex resilience programs. To this end, three distinct phases of research will be undertaken: i) research scoping and design, ii) initial data collection and analysis, and iii) longitudinal research.

1 The research scoping and design phase will launch the research, build agreement among key stakeholders on the parameters of the study, and ensure plans and teams are in place to carry it out:

• Identify and refine the research questions, hypotheses, and design
• Develop the primary data collection instruments and sampling plans

1 The initial data collection and analysis phase of the research serves to identify and fill gaps in existing knowledge on resilience, generating new evidence to inform theories of change and programming strategies of resilience investments to be designed by November 2015. The specific activities included in this phase include:

• Primary data collection and analysis to fill gaps
• Theory of change development based on initial findings of primary and secondary data
• Stakeholder workshop to present initial research findings and agree on their implications
• The longitudinal research phase will identify the determinants of resilience along three dimensions: absorptive, adaptive, and transformative capacities, and facilitate the use of evidence to refine the original resilience theories of change and program strategies developed in Zimbabwe. The activities for this phase will be:
• High frequency panel survey data collection and analysis
• Stakeholder symposia to present final research findings and agree on their implications

GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY:

Reporting to the Country Director, the Research Advisor will oversee the EUR500,000 Resilience Research project, funded by the European Commission. This position will be principally responsible for managing the study, and ensuring the successful implementation of all activities listed under the second and third research phases listed above. (The first phase will be completed by interim Research Advisors in June-November 2015; all work conducted during this initial phase will be carefully documented and managed to ensure a smooth transition to the permanent Research Advisor.)

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

Research Management - 70%

• Provide overall leadership in research project implementation and ensure quality and timeliness of research project activities, outputs and reports.
• Facilitate an inclusive process with project partners as well as government and community stakeholders. This includes leading specific workshops and events, as well as day-to-day correspondence and check-ins.
• Manage and coordinate the work of TANGO, IES, and Mercy Corps research team, ensuring effective collaboration between and high quality of each of the partners and Mercy Corps.
• Manage donor communications regarding research activities, including narrative and financial reporting, as well as leading the broader external representation roles for the project.
• Oversee project management and donor reporting requirements to ensure program implementation meets donor expectations and regulations.
• Establish and maintain effective program reporting, monitoring and evaluation systems and communication systems for both internal and external use.
• Support program goal and objectives through the development and management of work plans by personal application and delegation of responsibility.
• Provide managerial and programmatic oversight including day-to-day management of the research process.
• In coordination with the Finance Manager, ensure accurate and timely financial reports to donors and Mercy Corps headquarters.
• Manage budgets with approved spending levels and in accordance with donor rules and regulations and exercise sound judgment to ensure project expenses are reasonable, allocable and prudent.
• Ensure necessary approvals, including IRB, are secured, that the research meets any other required standards or approvals.
• Conduct him/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to MC.
• Manage partners and field teams to ensure the timeliness and quality of the fieldwork, including providing oversight / quality assurance of primary data collection

Data analysis and interpretation- 10%

• Manage and support TANGO International and IES with the completion of quantitative and qualitative data analysis.
• Work with sector specialists and partners to make sense of the analyses, and coordinate the development of theories of change and programming recommendations based on the major research findings.

Communication and dissemination of research 15%:

• Manage the drafting of full research reports, solicit and incorporate input from review team members, and ensure the production of high quality final reports for studies
• Lead the development of research briefs and/or other accessible summaries of studies
• Lead dissemination and uptake of research results among target audiences, including through organizing events and presentations

Organizational Learning - 5%

As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve - we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.

Accountability to Beneficiaries

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts towards accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY:

The Research Advisor oversees the project as whole, but has no direct supervisory responsibility.

ACCOUNTABILITY:

REPORTS DIRECTLY TO: Zimbabwe Country Director

WORKS DIRECTLY WITH: TANGO, IES, Mercy Corps Research Team, MC Finance Manager, MC Operations Manager

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

• Ph.D. in economics or related discipline with minimum 2 years applied research experience (or Master's Degree with over 5 years of research experience in international humanitarian and development programs)
• Proven experience managing complex, multi-stakeholder research projects
• Demonstrated skills with quantitative and qualitative research methodologies
• Demonstrated ability to communicate research findings, both visually and in writing
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to effectively gather and summarize large amounts of information from various sources
• Extremely strong writing skills, including past experience generating substantive written products; excellent verbal communication skills

SUCCESS FACTORS:

• Demonstrated ability to lead and communicate effectively with team members of varied work styles, follow procedures, and meet deadlines.
• Demonstrated flexibility and creativity in planning and problem solving.
• Ability to constructively engage in and bridge academic and practitioner discussions
• Versatile multi-tasker with the proven ability to organize and prioritize many urgent tasks.
• Proven ability to take initiative and be accountable for results.
• Ability to understand the larger picture while remaining focused on the details
• Even temperament and a good sense of humor is appreciated.
• Flexibility to adapt to changing conditions and requirements

LIVING CONDITIONS/ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS:

The position is based in Harare, Zimbabwe and it requires up to (50%) travel to areas outside Harare within Zimbabwe, and, where needed, regionally. The Research Advisor is expected to follow all security protocols including limited movement when necessary. Internet connectivity and communication across Zimbabwe is improving but remains unreliable at times. Power and water cuts occur with some regularity in urban areas. Harare is a fairly well developed city where all necessities can be found, including good medical care. There are few medical risks in Zimbabwe and many areas are malaria-free, including Harare. The road network is fairly good and there are both road and air transport options domestically. There are daily flights from Harare to several European, Middle Eastern and African cities. The Program Manager will be expected to work evenings and weekends as required by the demands of the job.

Mercy Corps Team members represent the agency both during and outside of work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/TDY to a field posting. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.

Please follow this link to apply: http://www.aplitrak.com/?adid=amFtYW5kYS4xMzkyOC4zODMwQG1lcmN5Y29ycHMuYXBsaXRyYWsuY29t