Programme Outcome Surveys Consultant

Established in 1990, the Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council (WSSCC) is the only United Nations body devoted solely to the sanitation and hygiene needs of the most vulnerable and marginalized people. In 2008, WSSCC established the Global Sanitation Fund (GSF) to boost finances into countries with high needs for sanitation. GSF invests in collective behaviour change approaches that enable large numbers of people in developing countries to improve their access to sanitation and adopt good hygiene practices. The GSF is supporting programmes in 12 countries and since 2008 has committed over $112 million to transform lives in developing countries.

GSF supported programmes are implemented by selected Executive Agencies (EAs) in country.  As part of the GSF M&E framework, WSSCC requests EAs to commission outcome surveys to support independent verification of program results on the target population through quantitative data collection. The surveys also provide further insights into equity and sustainability considerations, as well as providing an opportunity to collect data on areas that are challenging to collect through routine programme monitoring systems.

The outcome survey adopts a quantitative research design which includes household level interviews and inspections, school and healthpost interviews and 3 hour structured observations of sanitation and hygiene behaviors in the home.

The objectives of the GSF Outcome Surveys are to:

1. Provide data on key sanitation and hygiene indicators to assess household, facility and community outcomes of GSF supported programmes in the target communities;
2. Identify whether households in ODF declared communities have continued to use and properly maintain improved toilets and hand washing facilities and continue to comply to national ODF criteria;
3. Understand if the results achieved meet the needs of marginal and vulnerable populations;
4. Identify factors obstructing sanitation and hygiene behaviour change;

From 2016 to 2018 WSSCC worked in collaboration with the University at Buffalo for the purpose of strengthening and standardizing the Outcome Survey methodology across all GSF Programmes.  The tools and methodology were piloted in Malawi in 2017 and further tested in India in 2018.  Several GSF supported programmes will undertake and commission outcome surveys in 2018. Already surveys are being conducted in Kenya and Tanzania.  Nepal, Cambodia and Nigeria are in the early stages of recruiting local research firms. Further countries such as Ethiopia and Uganda may also start to plan for a survey in 2018 or 2019. Based on the experience of conducting the surveys in Malawi and India, it is critical that EAs are technically backstopped by research specialists recruited by WSSCC in order to oversee and manage the national research firms undertaking the surveys to ensure quality and adherence to the new outcome survey methodology.

Objective of Consultancy

To provide technical oversight and support to the outcome surveys in Cambodia, Nepal, Kenya, Tanzania and Nigeria (and possibly others) so that the outcome surveys adhere with the WSSCC outcome survey methodology developed by University at Buffalo in consultation with WSSCC.  

Distance Support:

• Support EAs in the review of research proposals and bids submitted by local research firms in order to ensure that appropriate local research firms are recruited with the necessary capacity and budget to undertake the surveys;
• Conduct calls with EA and the local research firms to provide orientation to the surveys and ensure they fully understand the methodology and scope of the survey tools;
• Timely review all survey related documents including the inception report, survey tools, ODK data entry platforms, raw data, draft and final reports. Troubleshoot with the EA any issues that arise in relation to the survey;
• To maintain the survey package of standard tools, guidelines and templates and to further enhance these documents based on learning from each survey. To keep track of all changes in order for translations to be implemented in the French versions of the documents.

In-country support:

Provide technical support to research at stages of pre-test (Nigeria and any new surveys) and main interviewer training (Cambodia and Nepal)

• Matrix with evaluation scores and comments of technical and financial proposals from local research firms 
• Review of inception reports, customized survey tools, data entry platforms (such as ODK), survey data
• Review of the draft and final reports 
• E-mail summaries of key points discussed and action points from conducting teleconferences with WSSCC, EAs and research firms and key staff in the research firms such as data managers.
• Modifications and updates to the tools and documents in the outcome survey package including log of all changes for corresponding changes to be made to the French versions: Survey TOR, Survey Inception Report, Survey Tools, Field Manual, Analysis Guide and Final Report Template. 

Education

Master’s degree in epidemiology, public health, statistics or social science with a quantitative data analysis component

Experience 

• Five years of experience of conducting research related to sanitation and hygiene is required. 
• Experience in conducting household surveys and strong knowledge of statistical sampling and weighting procedures is essential. 
•  Experience in conducting surveys related to sanitation and hygiene, including conducting structured observation highly desirable.
• Experience in programming computer assisted technology for survey data entry (familiarity with ODK).

Fluency in English is required.

• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• Work life harmonization - UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands. We have a progressive policy on work-life harmonization and offer several flexible working options. This policy applies to UNOPS personnel on all contract types
• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.  

It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential recruits/interns.
Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.

UNOPS is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve sustainable development.

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Working with us

UNOPS offers short- and long-term work opportunities in diverse and challenging environments across the globe. We are looking for creative, results-focused professionals with skills in a range of disciplines.

Diversity

With over 4,000 UNOPS personnel and approximately 7,000 personnel recruited on behalf of UNOPS partners spread across 80 countries, our workforce represents a wide range of nationalities and cultures. We promote a balanced, diverse workforce — a strength that helps us better understand and address our partners’ needs, and continually strive to improve our gender balance through initiatives and policies that encourage recruitment of qualified female candidates.

Work life harmonization

UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands.