Research Assistants (6)

Job Title: Research Assistants 6

Job Location: Kasese, Bunyangabu1, Bundibugyo, Ntoroko-1, Ibanda, Kagadi 2, Kayunga/Mukono/Buikwe 2

Department: Programming (MEAL)

Report to: Project Officer-MEAL

About CRS:

Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. CRS works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality. CRS’ relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance, and peacebuilding.

CRS has been working in Uganda since 1965 and has a vibrant portfolio of projects, serving over a million vulnerable Ugandans and refugees each year through the Country Program 2030 Strategy. CRS programs in Uganda currently support five strategic priority areas, including Health and Social Services Systems Strengthening, Resilient Food Systems, Emergency Preparedness and Management, Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation, and Local Leadership. CRS Uganda implements its programs through partnerships with local organizations, including international and local NGOs, Ugandan government departments and ministries, the Catholic Church, and community-based organizations for maximum impact and sustainability.

About the Project:

The Vines Project, implemented by CRS Uganda, is a five-year, $13 million Food for Progress project that will make Uganda the world’s next leading supplier of high-quality vanilla. Vines will leverage the expertise of CRS and its partners to enhance the production of safe, pure vanilla and develop sustainable market links with US vanilla companies, directly transforming the lives of 16,200 farmers, 836 supply chain actors and create 15,820 new jobs to reach 32,856 vanilla stakeholders. The Vines strategy reflects best practices in sustainable development and will leave Uganda with a robust vanilla farming community resilient to the boom/bust nature of the market and a cadre of private sector agricultural extensionists to support more sophisticated production, processing, and marketing needs.

Job Summary

CRS seeks to recruit six (6) experienced Research Assistants. The Research Assistants’ responsibilities will be on a need-for-work basis and is not going to be a full-time job. The Research Assistants will work under the supervision of Vines Project Officer-MEAL and will be responsible for collection of panel data (pre- and post-harvest data) from the Vines project participants (beneficiaries) in rural communities of Kasese, Bundibugyo, Ntoroko, Bunyangabu, Kagadi, Ibanda, Kayunga, Mukono and Buikwe using CommCare Mobile Application, providing important feedback on key issues of concern as they emerge during survey testing and data collection. Enumerators will participate in a training related to the tool before administering the survey in targeted households.

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

• Participate in training workshop, pretest and orientation of the use of the CommCare based questionnaire.
• Collect quality panel at household level from the Vines project participants bi-annually.
• Ensure that data entered in the CommCare mobile application is accurate and complete.
• Document and share feedback on the project from project participants and other stakeholders.
• Conduct face to face interviews with selected respondents using the survey questionnaire.
• Collect vanilla field information especially the acreage, physical counting of vines and other crops in the vanilla fields including observation and documentation of vanilla production practices and Natural Resources Management (NRM) and climate-risk management competencies.
• Exercise high level of data integrity and security measures to avoid data loss and theft of devices.
• Return all data collection gadgets and materials to survey supervisor.
• Remain available for any follow-up questions (during data cleaning) from the supervisor regarding the data uploaded.
• Maintain confidentiality of all the information under your access.

Basic qualification and experience required

• A bachelor’s degree in agriculture, or any other related research studies.
• Good understanding of research ethics and Data Quality Management.
• Previous experience conducting data collection using mobile devices is a must.

Preferred Qualifications

• Highly organized individual, capable of handling multiple priorities, meeting deadlines, and managing time effectively.
• Must be available for the entire period.
• Ability to work independently as well as an effective team player.
• Willingness to work long hours to achieve set goals.
• Knowledge of CommCare Application and experience in agricultural research especially vanilla is an added advantage.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Honesty: Enumerators should be able to show a high level of integrity and will not fabricate responses.
• Ability to Communicate: Confidently expresses self, able to clearly ask questions and help the respondent understand what is needed from her/him.
• Relationship Building: Able to build trust with people at the rural level and maintain confidentiality.
• Cultural Awareness: Must be aware of and sensitive to the cultural expectations of communities in Karamoja.
• Accuracy: Must be able to interpret and record responses appropriately without distorting the respondent’s meaning.
• Endurance: Must be able to work for full day working hours in the field for several days.

Required Languages: English fluency, including excellent oral and written skills are required and MUST be fluent in one of the languages Lukhonzo, Runyakore or Luganda.

Travel Requirement: Must be willing and able to travel to CRS areas of operations.

Key Working Relationships

• Supervisory: None
• Internal: Field Officers and CRS Staff
• External: District and Subcounty leadership.

Agency-wide Competencies (for all CRS Staff)

Agency competencies clarify expected behaviors and attitudes for all staff. When demonstrated, they create an engaging workplace, help staff achieve their best, and help CRS achieve agency goals. These are rooted in the mission, values, and guiding principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and achieve the desired results.

• Personal Accountability – Consistently takes responsibility for one’s own actions.
• Acts with Integrity – Consistently models values aligned with CRS Guiding Principles and mission. Is considered honest.
• Builds and Maintains Trust – Shows consistency between words and actions.
• Collaborates with Others – Works effectively in intercultural and diverse teams.
• Open to Learn – Seeks out experiences that may change perspective or provide an opportunity to learn new things.

Agency Leadership Competencies:

• Lead Change – Continually looks for ways to improve the agency through a culture of agility, openness, and innovation.
• Develops and Recognizes Others – Builds the capacity of staff to reach their full potential and enhance team and agency performance.
• Strategic Mindset – Understands role in translating, communicating, and implementing agency strategy and team priorities.

Disclaimer: This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.

CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Our Catholic identity is at the heart of our mission and operations. Catholic Relief Services carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. We welcome as a part of our staff people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need. CRS’ processes and policies reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.

By applying to this job, I understand and acknowledge that CRS requires its staff to treat all people with dignity and respect and to actively prevent harassment, abuse, exploitation, and human trafficking. Further, I understand that if I am a successful candidate, I will be subject to a comprehensive background check, and my personal/professional references will be asked to evaluate my behaviors related to the above safeguarding related topics