Water Sanitation and Hygiene - Enumerator

SWASH +

School Water Sanitation and Hygiene plus Community Action

Job Description:  Enumerator

February 2014

Introduction

The SWASH + Phase II project is a program to test if innovative governance and information management systems can improve the sustainability of water, sanitation and health services in Kenyan schools. This project aims to enhance the sustainability of SWASH investments through improved school governance and operational systems to ensure that the full benefits of better sanitation and hygiene are realized.

This research project will focus on two different, but related, issues: the design and implementation of an enhanced Education Management Information System (EMIS), and identifying key reforms and organization of school governance structures to improve incentives and performance of school managers with respect to WASH.

The first component of the research, the enhance EMIS platform, will decentralize electronic data capture and the utilization of the data, while using communication features to eliminate many of the delays that undermine the power of the EMIS. We will implement a mobile-based data capture strategy at the school level that transmits data directly to a database over the cellular data network. We will test collection of the EMIS survey with a cell-phone based data entry platform, Mobenzi Researcher. 

The second component of the research will examine alternative strategies to improve the sustainable provision of SWASH services.  In practice this means ensuring that facilities are cleaned on a regular basis, are supplied with necessary inputs (such as tissue, clean water, and soap), and are used appropriately by students and teachers alike. 

We categorize a number of possible WASH interventions according to three underlying sources of market and/or administrative failure:

(i)                 low prioritization of SWASH services by school decision makers and parents;

(ii)               lack of administrative capacity at the school level; and

(iii)             weak incentives of decision makers to provide sustainable SWASH services, or of parents and others to monitor and encourage such provision.

This categorization underlies the interventions that will be piloted and tested as part of the research.

In order to test the effectiveness of various incentives, we require enumerators to initially collect extensive data on the situation of sanitation and hygiene at the schools and then continuously monitor the sanitation facilities throughout the year. In addition to monitoring the facilities, enumerators will also be responsible for ensuring that the interventions are implemented successfully and timely in each school.

Scope of Work for Field Enumerators

Field researchers will: 

·         Set appointments with and conduct all interviews with Head or Deputy Head Teachers at designated primary schools, recording all data on mobile phones;

·         Monitor the situation of school sanitation facilities, using a template and recording the data on a mobile phone, twice a month for each designated school;

·         Assist Head and Deputy Head Teachers with the mobile EMIS survey if complications arise;

·         Ensure successful implementation of a series of interventions to improve sanitation services, including delivering materials and information to parents, schools and teachers;

·         Report back on progress and findings to field supervisor and research manager;

·         Participate in daily progress-tracking and analysis phone calls with the research team;

·         Provide feedback to the research manager and project manager on data analysis by providing their input and impressions based on fieldwork; and

·         Maintain the interest, trust, and participation of participating communities and schools. 

Requirements

·         Post High School degree, certification or diploma

·         Experience working with low-income communities, preferably in a research role;

·         Demonstrated commitment to quality research;

·         Ability to communicate fluently in English, Swahili, and other local languages applicable to the region hired;

·         Good computer skills, particularly in Microsoft Word, with email, and the internet;

·         Strong work ethic and proactive attitude in pointing out challenges and asking questions; and

·         Ability to collaborate with a team and also work independently. 

·         Located and familiar with Kisumu, Kilifi or Nyeri County.

·         Must be available for the full duration of the program.

Duration:  Full time from March 2014 through December 2014, with possibility of continuing through March 2015. Must also be available the last week of February 2014.

More information

Questions can be directed to Emily Kayser (emily.kayser@digitaldividedata.com). CVs and cover letters should be directed to Digital Divide Data- Kenya (kenya_jobs@digitaldividedata.com). Indicate in your CV if you are applying for a position in Kisumu, Kilifi or Nyeri county. Applications that do not indicate location preference will not be considered.