Survey Consultant (Health and Nutrition), Gode, Somali region (Merlin)

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Closing Date: Tuesday, 19 July 2011
Terms of Reference
Position: Survey (Health and Nutrition) Coordinator/Consultant
Responsible To: Country director (Operationally) and Country health director (Technically)
Responsible For: Survey teams
Works With: Assistant country health director, health coordinator, project coordinators, operational manager, logistics manager etc.
Location: Somali Region, Ethiopia
Contract Duration: 2 months
Starting Date: July 15, 2011
Salary: £150 - £200 per day, depending upon experience
Only short-listed applicants will be contacted. Due to the urgency of this position, applications will be short listed on a regular basis and we may offer this post before the closing date.
Please note that this is an unaccompanied position.
Merlin International Profile Merlin is the only specialist UK charity which responds worldwide with vital health care and medical relief for vulnerable people caught up in natural disasters, conflict, and disease and health system collapse. Each year, Merlin helps more than 15 million people in up to 20 countries.
Background
Ethiopia's Somali region is often affected by regular and frequent drought and other natural disasters. Despite progress in a number of areas, including the health sector, the need for regular humanitarian assistance continues. At present, there are heightened concerns about the health and nutrition needs in the region as a result of the recurrent drought and current la Nina weather effect.
Many of health and social indicators also show that the region has one of the lowest health and nutrition status in Ethiopia, particularly, among women and children. Merlin plans to identify areas of priorities and needs in the region with the perspective of both emergency response and long term interventions to support the health system. Merlin intends to establish an evidence base to strengthen its strategic positioning to embark on lasting health and nutrition interventions. Merlin is currently working in Gode and Adadle Woredas of Somali region in the area of nutrition and primary health care. It is intended to do the survey in one of the following zones: Gode, Korahe and Afder. This will be more specifically decided in the coming weeks. ?
Overall Objective
To determine the current health and nutrition situation in Somali region, Ethiopia.

Specific Objectives
To collect household, women health, child health and nutrition data.
To analyse, consolidate and interpret the data.
To produce a comprehensive report including recommendations and priorities.
To present the findings for the team and other relevant partners including government authorities.
To train the health coordinator on: design, implementation and reporting of survey.
To establish a trained survey team.

Responsibilities
Study design, proposal writing and final report writing.
Negotiates with health bureau and other stakeholders in the conduct of the survey.
Adherence to the methodology used in the proposal.
Closely work with the CHD throughout the study period.
Make sure that the assessment is comprehensive and includes all relevant indicators.
Manage the budget allocated efficiently.
Lead and manage all the day to day survey activities, in collaboration with other units.
Plan and schedule all activities and resources
Communicate regularly with CD about the progress of the survey.
Coordinate with logistics and other units in the conduct of the survey.
Follow Merlin's security and safety guidelines.
Adhere to Merlin's code of conduct.

Methodology
The survey coordinator will adhere to all national guidelines and standards, wherever they are available.
Merlin's tool and all other available international guidelines will be used in the absence of local protocols.
MICS standards and indicators, through SMART methodology, will be used as reference to produce relevant data and information at household level, women's health and child health including nutritional status. Main indicators to be measured include (but not limited to) GAM rate, SAM rate, DPT / Penta 3 coverage, Vitamin A coverage, and Skilled birth attendance rate.
Final methodology and indicators to assess would be agreed with the Survey Coordinator.

Timeline: Tentative
The final time line will be worked out with survey coordinator.
1 day pre-departure briefing.
1 day travel (arrival).
2 days orientation in country.
7 days proposal development.
1 day presentation of proposal.
7 days training and field preparation.
15 days conduct of survey.
5 days data entry.
5 days data analysis.
7 days reporting.
1 day presentation and recommendation.
3 day travel (return).

Specific Outputs
A detailed costed proposal.
A final report including short term and medium term recommendations.
Health coordinator and survey team trained on the survey methodology.
All survey related documents organised and archived.

Person Specification Qualifications, experience and competences
Essential:
Qualified Doctor with MPH with experience in epidemiology and/or surveys.
Or a Qualified nurse or nutritionist with advanced postgraduate degree MPH or MSc and significant experience in community based studies including conduct of several surveys.
Excellent analytical and statistical skills.
Experience in MICS( Multiple indicator cluster survey )
Experience in SMART nutrition survey methodology.
Strong communication skills, with excellent written and spoken English
Confident and proficient in the use of MS Office.
Experience of establishing strong working relationships with colleagues from different functions and cultures.
Experience of a flexible approach to managing and prioritising a high work load and multiple tasks in a fast paced environment with tight deadlines.
Experience of proactively identifying and addressing issues.
An understanding of and commitment to Merlin's mission and values.
Excellent computing and analytical skills including at least in one of the following: EPI INFO, SPSS, STATA, ENA Software.
Ability to work on own initiative and to meet deadlines.
Attention to detail and accuracy.
Excellent reporting and data consolidation skills.
Willingness and ability to travel within Somali region.

Desirable:
Previous experience in Ethiopia or Horn of Africa region.

To apply for this job, please go to www.merlin.org.uk/jobs and apply using our online recruitment system. In order to apply for a job with Merlin online you will need to complete a short registration process and create an account – the online recruitment system explains how to do this. Once your account has been created, you will be able to save the information that you have entered in your application and re-visit it at any time before you submit it.
If you are unable to apply online please download and complete an application form and email it to: applications@merlin.org.uk.
Please note that we do not accept CVs and any application must therefore be made online or by completing our application form. Unfortunately due to the number of applications we receive, only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.
Data Protection In accordance with the 1998 Data Protection Act Merlin will hold and use personal information that you have given for the purposes of recruitment and employment should an offer of employment be made. This information will be stored in manual and/or computer form. This information may also be disclosed to third parties in accordance with the Data Protection Act. In cases where a job offer is conditional on ensuring that potential employees' names do not appear on counter terrorism lists generated by the United Nations, European Union or the United States due to donor funding requirements, Merlin will use the information that you have given for checking that your name does not appear on these lists.