Job Announcement
What do parents and caretakers of young children, living in rural areas of the Lake Zone region, think about nutrition and health? Why are some children suffering from stunting (reduced growth/development) in Kigoma, Kagera, Mwanza, Geita, or Shinyanga?
If you want to contribute to improving child health and if you have a real interest in working closely with rural communities in the Lake Zone, there is a job opportunity for you in our project.
Development Media International (DMI) is looking for exceptional persons with the required skills, commitment and imagination for an ambitious project that will take place in five Lake Zone regions.
DMI is a London based organization that uses mass media to change behaviours and to improve public health in developing countries (www.developmentmedia.net). DMI carried out the first scientific study (a randomised controlled trial) in Burkina Faso, to determine whether lives can be saved by mass media campaigns. The scientific model developed by DMI/LSHTM predicts that media campaigns could reduce child mortality in many low-income countries by around 20%.
Based on a rigorous understanding of socio-cultural realities of rural women and men,DMI will developradio spots and entertaining radio programmes that convince people to adopt healthy behaviours.
During and at the end of the project, in partnership with other research/survey organisations, the team will be able to evaluate whether the intervention succeeded in saving children’s lives and improving their health.
DMI’s media campaignwill consist of 60-second radio spots and interactive radio programmes, broadcast several times a week. New spots communicating different health messages will be produced each month.
These radio spots will be produced in Swahili, on the basis of applied research. The research team will collect, analyse, and present key data on socio-cultural aspects related to infant nutrition and on any barriers to behavior change. This data will be used to develop and produce radio spots and programmes.
These are temporary positions starting March 2016until 30 June 2016, with possibility of extension. The following job positions will be available:
SENIORQUALITATIVE RESEARCH CONSULTANT(male/female)
Overview of Tasks and Responsibilities
The researcher’s mission will be to lead and conduct applied research. This will consist of:
· Regularly (several weeks) conduct research in rural areas on a series of infant health/nutrition topics in order to present information for the team tasked with radio spot production.
· Prepare draft report of findings from formative research.
· Obtain all necessary ethical and administrative approvals to conduct field research.
· Plan and coordinate research trips, managing budgets and field operations and supervising the work of junior researchers.
· Synthesize and present the research results in a concise manner to the production team and make recommendations for the health message design in spots.
· Closely collaborate with the production team and contribute to the preparation of radio spots and programmes.
· Co-ordinate and participate pre-testing of spots and oversee the monitoring of broadcasts by our partner radio stations.
· Assist DMI with liaising and correspondence with the Ministry of Health in Dar, our funders, the technical advisory committee, our partner radio network, and other NGOs working in Tanzania.
· Work closely with and report to DMI’s Research Manager and Creative Director in London.
· Keep abreast of developments in the field of maternal and child health internationally and in Tanzania, to ensure our team stays up-to-date on relevant topics.
· Contribute to the design and oversight of quantitative health surveys.
· Assist with other tasks as required.
Qualifications and experience :
· AMaster’s degree in social sciences or related discipline (for example, public health, anthropology, sociology, geography).
· Post-university experience in qualitative/action research.
· Experience with the context of rural women, work in rural communities, and conducting focus groups with women in Tanzania.
· Swahili (speaking Lake Zone languages, such as Sukuma or Haya, will be a plus).
· English: reading, writing and speaking.
· Experience with multidisciplinaryteams.
JUNIOR QUALITATIVE RESEARCH CONSULTANT (male/female)
Overview of Tasks and Responsibilities
The researcher’s mission will be to conduct applied research. This will consist of:
• Regularly (several weeks) conduct research in rural areas on a series of infant health/nutrition topics in order to present information for the team tasked with radio spot production.
• Assist the Senior Qualitative Researcher with preparing for research trips.
• Synthesize and present the research results in a concise manner to the production team and make recommendations for the health message design in spots.
• Closely collaborate with the production team and contribute to the preparation of radio spots and programmes.
• Co-ordinate and participate in pre-testing of spots and oversee the monitoring of broadcasts by our partner radio stations.
• Work closely with the Senior Qualitative Researcher and DMI staff in Mwanza.
• Assist with other tasks as required.
Qualifications and experience:
• A first degree in social sciences or related discipline (for example, public health, anthropology, sociology, geography) ;
• Post-university experience in qualitative/action research ;
• Experience with the context of rural women, work in rural communities, and conducting focus groups with women in Tanzania ;
• Swahili (speaking Lake Zone languages, such as Sukuma or Haya, will be a plus) ;
• English: reading, writing and speaking.
• Experience with multidisciplinary teams.
For All Positions: Skills and Personal Motivation:
v A thorough understanding and a keen interest in the health and lives of women and children across Tanzania ;
v A capacityto carry out multiple field trips (over three weeks consecutively) to work with rural communities ;
v A talent to innovate and adapt research skills in the context of a mass media project where respecting deadlines is equally important as the quality of the research activities ;
v Exceptional skills in analysis and writing clear and concise reports.
Interested persons are requested to send their application to DMI (Tanzania@dmiafrica.net): these positions are open until filled. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted. Electronic files are preferred, but applications can also be submitted at the ASTUTE office, situated in Isamilo (Plot No. 136, Block D)at the former CARE office compound during office hours. The complete job profile can be obtained online at www.developmentmedia.net/jobs.html.
An application consists of:
1. a Curriculum Vitae (maximum 2 pages) ;
2. a personal motivation letter (maximum 1 page) indicating which position you are applying for, why you are interested, and why you would be a suitable candidate ;
3. your answer to the following question (maximum 1 page) :
« In considering the mission and objectives of the ASTUTE/DMI project in Tanzania, describe an innovative approach, methodology and tools to find key information in a rural area of Tanzania. You have one week to spend in the field and need to find answers to the following questions:
Ø how do women and men perceive health and nutrition ;
Ø the distribution of roles and responsibilities in relation to health and nutrition practices for young children ;
Ø theprincipal obstacles to improved health and nutrition practices, and the strategies that can overcome these obstacles. »
