Evidence Action Associate MLS (Data Coordination) Job in Kisumu, Kenya

Position: Associate MLS – Data Coordination

Start Date: January 4th, 2016

Reporting To: Senior Associate MLIS – Programming and Data Management

Location: Kisumu, Kenya with domestic travels

About Evidence Action: Evidence Action scales proven interventions that improve the lives of millions. We implement cost-effective interventions whose efficacy is backed by substantial rigorous evidence.

Evidence Action identifies innovative, appropriate financing mechanisms and builds best practice operational models. 

 

We voraciously self-evaluate, learn, and improve our models for scaling with a commitment to transparency on progress, impact, and value for money. 

Our current flagship programs include:

• Dispensers for Safe Water is an entrepreneurial program scaling the chlorine dispenser system – a proven innovation that dramatically expands access to water treatment at an extremely low cost.


• Deworm the World Initiative actively supports the scale-up of school-based deworming programs worldwide to improve children’s health, education, and long-term development.

About Monitoring Learning and Information Systems (MLIS) Team

The MLIS team embodies the evidence-based nature of Evidence Action’s work and enables us to be a data-driven organization. The team provides services across Evidence Action Africa region in meeting the following outcomes:

• All ongoing program monitoring needs met (including M&E design and quality data collection)


• Programs delivered with access to timely and useful data for day-to-day programmatic planning and decision making


• Analysis and research conducted to support program improvements (including operation research, market research and cost-efficiency analysis)


• Support with timely, useful and clear information for evidence-based decision making (including provide support to connect the dots)


• Support provided to regional leadership for new programs and partnerships for exploration and evaluation


• Standards, systems and processes setup for delivery of all functions (monitoring, analysis, research, information systems and quality data)

The MLIS team works towards these outcomes through four sub-teams that work closely together to deliver quality, timely and useful information:

• Learning and Communication (L&C): This team is responsible for supporting the program teams with timely information in innovative, useful and clear ways to translate analysis and research to evidence-based decision making and action.


• Monitoring, Analysis and Research (MAR): This team is responsible for ensuring that all ongoing program monitoring needs are met and analysis and research is conducted to support program improvements.


• Management Information Systems (MIS): This team is be responsible for ensuring that the all programs have access to timely and useful data for day-to-day programmatic planning and decision making through a cloud-based multi-user system.


• Programming & Data Management (PDM): This team is responsible for developing all the data collection tools, ensure that systems are available for data entry, and that all data collected is cleaned adequately and available in high quality in a timely manner so as to meet all ongoing program needs; including monitoring, information systems and analysis and research.


• Data Collection & Training (DCT): This team is responsible for drafting all data collection tools in collaboration with MAR, and conduct all data training and collection needs.

About the Position: Associate – Programming and Data Management

The Associate – Data Management is a member of the PDM sub-team and the larger MLIS team, and is responsible for quality data management for both paper and electronic data  across all the country programs including Kenya, Uganda and Malawi.

Goals and Responsibilities

Manage Instrument Programming:

• Support the development of interfaces for data entry and manage data entry vendors and process, and make sure the process is done as per the agreed upon timelines,


• Support development and updating of standardized data collection instruments; for electronic data collection (ODK), phone survey.


• Support in the exploration and research new electronic data collection  programs and platform as necessary

Manage Data Entry and Management:

• Work closely with the data collection team to ensure that hard-copies are filed and stored safely in a secure, well-organized, and well-documented repository, and the scanned paper data, where applicable, is stored safely


• Coordinate data entry process of all paper data in accordance with data entry protocols


• Conduct discrepancy checks between data entry records, perform error checks and other data quality checks on the entered data


• Develop and implement a robust system of tracking forms for data entry so as to clearly distinguish those that have been entered against those that haven’t been entered. 


• Handle and take responsibility of all equipment used for data entry, including laptops, tablets, flash drives etc


• Keep track of any recurring data quality issues arising from the exercising with a viewing of informing when re-training is needed.


• Instantly make available entered data for further processing and use by the data team.


• Support the development of comprehensive data entry training manuals to suit the needs of different programs

Data Cleaning

• Support data cleaning needs across all Evidence Action  programs within the 3 countries of operation


• Be able to generate, clean and provide ad hoc datasets as may be required by  different programs


• Be able to multi task data cleaning assignments for different programs at the same time

Team Management

• oordinate the recruitment, and training of data entry staff from the existing casual pools and externally


• Supervise the activities of the data entry casuals by ensuring that they all meet their daily targets, log the work done and conduct random checks on the quality of their work


• Ensure that all casual data entry staff have contracts and are paid within the shortest time possible

Qualifications, Experience and Skills

• Minimum Bachelor’s degree in economics, statistics, or any other relevant field


• Minimum of 2 years of experience in quantitative research methods and data management, preferably with large (many observations and many variables) and/or complex datasets (many inter-related variables)


• At least 1 year full time experience conducting data cleaning using STATA for large datasets (mandatory)


• Experience in mobile phone survey programming. The knowledge of Open Data Kit will be an added advantage.


• Experience in working with and programming data entry interfaces using a variety of applications both purchased and open source. Knowledge of CS Pro, Blaise, Openclinica and Access will be an added advantage


• Well conversant with the use of MS Office application especially Excel.


• Ability to work under pressure in a working environment that changes suddenly to accommodate new data needs


• Strong interpersonal and communications skills to work effectively with a team that is geographically dispersed.


• Self-directed/self-motivating personality, with proven ability to manage demands from multiple supervisors while adhering to program deadlines and priorities.


• Strong critical and analytical thinking skills


• Intellectual flexibility and willingness to form and adjust opinions based on evidence


• Quick to learn, motivated to self-teach and capable of independently translating new knowledge into practice

How to Apply

Deadline to Apply: Rolling Basis