The Population Council is an international, non-profit, non-governmental institution that seeks to improve the well-being and reproductive health of current and future generations around the world and help achieve a humane, equitable and sustainable balance between people and resources. The Council’s major program areas ace HIV&AIDS, Reproductive Health and Poverty, Gender, and Youth. The Council conducts biomedical, social science and public health research and helps build research capacities in developing countries. The Population Council works in collaboration with a broad range of Nigerian institutions.

POSITION : Qualitative Research Analyst

Period of performance: August 2016 to February 2017
Level of Effort: not to exceed a total of 40 days
Terms of Reference Consultant for Qualitative Research Analyst, Evidence to End FGM/C

Job Description

• The Evidence to End FGM/C: Research to Help Girls and Women Thrive Programme aims to produce a global evidence base on the most effective and cost-effective approaches to ending female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) to inform policy and programming.
• The Population Council is leading this DFID funded multi-country research consortium programme that includes Population Council (PC) Nigeria. PC Nigeria is seeking for an experienced qualitative researcher to support qualitative research activities on one of their research projects.
• The proposed study aims to study the medicalization of female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) through qualitative research among families using medicalized FGM/C and health workers providing medicalized FGM/C services in selected communities of Nigeria.
• A qualitative method case study design will be used to understand the context and rationale for families to decide whether or not to seek a medicalized form of FGM/C rather than abandonment of the practice, the context and rationale for health workers to decide whether or not to perform FGM/C, and to identify interventions/approaches that may prevent a shift to medicalization and sustenance of FGM/C practice. The study is for a period of 6-9 months.
• PC-Nigeria is seeking a highly skilled Qualitative Researcher to provide qualitative research support on key activities for this study.

Purpose of the consultancy

• Under this phase, the consultant will work in conjunction with the Population Council team to design, plan, and coordinate the overall work of the project.
• Translate study objectives into thoughtful research plans; provide advice as well as tactical guidance to teams; support delivery across all aspects of the project lifecycle, from instrument finalization and analysis to deliverable development and presentation; moderate qualitative research across a broad range of methods; provide methodology expertise, particularly in qualitative research; synthesise research to identify key themes, trends, and insights; helping keep our programme at the cutting edge of research innovation.

Specific Tasks to be performed by the consultant 
The consultant will support the project team to develop a detailed work plan that will include undertaking at least the following tasks:

• Review secondary literature on medicalisation of FGM/C in Nigeria as well as identify information gaps.
• Review and refine the research protocol
• Contribute to the finalization of a robust and cost-effective research strategy
• Coordinate and ensure harmony of the design of the qualitative research study
• Refine data capture tools, and support the pilot and implementation of the tools /instruments.
• Refine plan for the qualitative methods /data collection training
• Facilitate data collection training and monitor the research processes in coordination with the Program Manager
• Develop analysis plan, and oversee data processing and analysis
• Draft and present report of findings
• Maintain close communication with the Program Manager to ensure program goals are being met, and that project challenges are promptly addressed.

Outcomes of the consultancy:

• Clear implementation plan/research strategy
• Refined Study/data capture tools
• Training curriculum, strategy and presentations
• List of research assistants trained and attendance records
• Complete and verified tools /instruments
• Validated transcriptions
• Field work report
• Data processing/analysis plan
• Data analysis report & datasets

Lines of communication:

• The consultant will report to and work closely with the Program Manager. Additionally, the consultant will collaborate with relevant staff from the programme as necessary and its partners.

Location:

• This is an on-site assignment that will require travel within Nigeria. The costs related to travel, as well as logistics incurred during the contract will be covered by the Population Council.

Person Specification: Qualitative Research Analyst
Qualifications:

• Educated to Masters level in relevant discipline (e.g. Public Health, Social /Behavioural Sciences, Policy Research)
• Educated to doctoral level
• Evidence of professional CPD

Experience:

• Strong background in planning
• Proven research experience in international projects
• Experience in the design, proposal writing, and/or management of research programmes
• Experience of conducting qualitative research in African settings
• Experience of designing and implementing training involving adults Demonstrate ability to analyse complex issues to facilitate decision making and action steps for improvement activities
• Experience of writing scientific documents such as reports, guidelines and peer reviewed papers
• Experience of writing and submitting ethical applications for rigorous studies

Knowledge:

• Understanding of health research principles and terminology
• Understanding of the challenges of conducting research programmes in mid and low income countries
• Knowledge of Reproductive health, FGM/C and it’s theoretical underpinnings

Skills:

• Qualitative research skills
• Excellent communication, team working, relationship and organisational skills
• Ability to write reports for a variety of audiences
• Ability to synthesise information and review literature
• Qualitative software skills (NVivo, Atlas.ti or equivalent)

Attributes:

• Ability to work efficiently and effectively with project members in various locations, including remotely writing and revising documents
• Ability to integrate different experiences, methodologies, and approaches from a diverse range of stakeholders, organisations, and technical experts from multiple sectors
• Ability and commitment to work collaboratively to achieve results
• Self-directing and able to use own initiative to make decisions and identify solutions to problems not previously experienced.

Other circumstances:

• Travel within Nigeria for short periods as required to conduct data collection training and fieldwork

Interested candidates should please submit the following documents:

• Current CV
• Brief essay (500 words maximum) on how this internship program will support your professional goals over the next three years
• Two letters of recommendation.