JOB ANNOUNCEMENT TO RECRUIT ADDITIONAL CANDIDATES IN NEW
NETS RESEARCH PROJECT
The University of Rwanda (UR) in collaboration with Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC) and PATH is conducting an observational analysis to evaluate evidence generated during piloted new net distributions in Rwanda. Findings will help to introduce and support high-impact health interventions with the ultimate goal of ending preventable child and maternal deaths within a generation. The Program is focused on ensuring that all population most in need have equitable access to quality health care services to save lives. New Nets Project initiative to catalyze the market of next generation of Long Lasting Insecticide Treated Nets (LLINs), Rwanda will be piloting the deployment of Interceptor G2 LLINs in select districts where enhanced surveillance activities will be used to support observational impact analyses. In these districts, epidemiological, entomological, and anthropological data will be collected with the overarching goal of evaluating the public health impact of deploying next generation LLINs in terms of cost-effectiveness and other relevant outcomes.
The project will include different components including epidemiology and anthropology components.
1.EPIDEMIOLOGY COMPONENT
Activities for this component will include a cross sectional survey conducted in selected households in Karongi, Nyamagabe and Ruhango districts. In total three rounds of cross-sectional surveys will be conducted and recruited nurses will serve as field data collectors. Each round will last approximately three successive weeks and there will be one round per year (2020, 2021 and 2022).
POSITION: Research Nurse (13 Posts)
STUDY SITES: Karongi, Nyamagabe and Ruhango Districts
Responsibilities: The successful candidate will work under close supervision of the study coordinator and supported by national laboratory as well as MOPDD technical staff members to fulfill the following:
- Liaise with the local community health worker to identify the selected household within targeted villages.
- Prepare study instruments before a working day, review and handover
filled questionnaires to the team leader at the end of every working day. - Guided by the study protocol and standard operational procedures, conduct the screening for participants eligibility, obtain informed consent and lead data collection interviews.
- Provide malaria rapid testing, treatment and referral as needed. Ensure correct waste disposal after malaria testing procedures.
- Collect information related to bed-net use characteristics, attrition and repair,
- Ensure the confidentiality of data collected and privacy of participants.
- Conduct data entry after completion of field data collection.
- Fulfill any other study task assigned by the immediate supervisor. Qualifications:
- Willingness and availability to start immediately,
- Be Rwandan by nationality,
- Diploma (Al) or Bachelor’s degree in Nursing with training skills in IMCI
- Prior experience in research will be desirable such as HFS, DHS, MIS etc, Candidates justifying their research experience by a certificate of completion will be given priority.
- Having a valid license to practice issued by the National Nurses and Midwives Council is required.
- Experience in a pediatric department in a multidisciplinary team will be
- Ability to work under the study leadership and build a good relationship between different stakeholders
- Ready to work and be based in any of the 3 districts during the period of study implementation.
- Have a professionally irreproachable conduct and treat with dignity all study participants and partners.
2.ANTHROPOLOGY COMPONENT
2.1. Team leader under the New Nets Project (1)
The Team Leader to be recruited will be part of the Anthropological study component and will be responsible for overseeing a team of district research assistants; conducting structured and participant observations; key informant interviews and organize and participate in focus group discussions. They will also participate in transcription of interviews and discussions. Team leaders will provide a daily and weekly plan and reports of activities. The Team leaders will collaborate with Field Coordinators and directly report to the Project coordinator.
Main duties and responsibilities
- Participate in study induction meetings organized at community level
- Participate in identification of households in which structured observations and interviews will be held at each village level
- Coordinate the team of Research Assistants with regard to daily research activities
- Being available and willing to spend time living in respective communities observing and learning about their knowledge, attitudes and practices (structured observations) related to malaria prevention and control
- Organize and conduct household in-depth interviews using study tools (and informed by the outcomes of structured observations)
- Participate in the organization and conduct of focus group discussions with a particular emphasis on themes that will emerge from in-depth interviews
- Do a verbatim transcription of interviews and discussions
- Elaborate a weekly plan and report of activities for the team in his/her respective district
- Be involved in brainstorming meetings on data synthesis, analysis and reporting
- Participate in regular study meetings with research assistants, project coordinators and the Senior Researcher to discuss challenges encountered in the work the team leader is expected to do and possible solutions.
- Work with local partners and communities to foster a culture of knowledge sharing and learning among the team and partners of the program.
Required qualification and skills
- A Bachelor’s degree in General Nursing, Social Sciences, Anthropology, Public Health, Psychology. A master’s degree is an advantage;
- Previous work experience with research, preferably studies using qualitative methods (structured and participant observations, in-depth semi structured interviews, focus group discussions). Candidates presenting a certificate of completion to justify their experience in qualitative research will be given advantage.
- Previous experience with verbatim transcription and translation;
- Familiar with state of art computer programs for data capture and storage;
- Experience in doing summary of qualitative research data findings;
- Both strong Kinyarwanda and English language proficiency;
- Ability to manage heavy workloads and to meet deadlines;
- Be an independent team player; excellent interpersonal and communication skills;
- Prior experience as a team leader in similar research projects
- Being available throughout study periods
Terms of employment
This is part-time position lasting four non-consecutive months per year over three years. Team Leaders will be based in one of the three study districts (Karongi, Ruhango and Nyamagabe). Team Leaders are expected to start in March 2020.
2.2. Research Assistants under the New Nets Project (6)
The Research Assistants to be recruited will be part of the Anthropological study component and will be responsible for conducting structured and participant observations, key informant interviews and organize and participate in focus group discussions. They will also participate in transcription of interviews and discussions. The research assistants will work closely with the Team Leader regarding their daily activities, collaborate with Field Coordinators and directly report to the Project coordinator.
Main duties and responsibilities
- Be involved in a training on qualitative data collection prior the start of activities
- Participate in study induction meetings organized at community level
- Participate in identification of households in which structured observations and interviews will be held at each village level
- Being available and willing to spend time living in respective communities observing and learning about their knowledge, attitudes and practices (structured observations) related to malaria prevention and control
- Organize and conduct household in-depth interviews using study tools (and informed by the outcomes of structured observations)
- Participate in the organization and conduct of focus group discussions with a particular emphasis on themes that will emerge from in-depth interviews
- Do a verbatim transcription of interviews and discussions
- Be involved in brainstorming meetings on data synthesis, analysis and reporting
- Participate in regular study meetings with team leaders, project coordinators and the Senior Anthropological Researcher to discuss challenges encountered in the work the Research Assistant is expected to do and possible solutions.
Required qualification and skills
- At least a Diploma in General Nursing, Social Sciences, Anthropology, Demography, Public Health, Psychology;
- Previous work experience with research, preferably studies using qualitative methods (structured and participant observations, in-depth semi structured interviews, focus group discussions). Candidates presenting a certificate of completion to justify their experience in qualitative research will be given advantage.
- Previous experience with verbatim transcription and translation;
- Familiar with state of art computer programs for data capture and storage;
- Experience in doing summaries of qualitative research data findings;
- Both strong Kinyarwanda and English language proficiency;
- Ability to manage heavy workloads and to meet deadlines
- Be an independent team player; excellent interpersonal and communication skills;
- Being available throughout study periods. Terms of employment
This is a part-time position lasting four non-consecutive months per year over three years. Research assistants will be based in one of the three study districts (Karongi, Ruhango and Nyamagabe). Research assistants are expected to start in March 2020.
2.3. Transcriptionist and Translator (2)
The Transcriptionist and translator to be recruited will be part of the Anthropological study component and will be responsible for transcription and translation from Kinyarwanda into English for the interviews and group discussions that will be conducted as part of the study. The Transcriptionist and Translator will directly report to the Project coordinator.
Main duties and responsibilities
- Do a verbatim transcription of interviews and discussions and translate them into English.
- Be involved in brainstorming meetings on data synthesis, analysis and reporting as may be needed.
Required qualification and skills
- A Bachelor’s degree in Public Health;
- Previous experience with research studies using qualitative methods (in-depth semi structured interviews and focus group discussions); Candidates providing prior work certificate in similar duties will be given
- A strong experience with verbatim transcription and translation;
- Familiar with state of art computer programs for data capture and storage;
- Experience in doing summary of qualitative research data findings;
- Both strong Kinyarwanda and_ English language proficiency;
- Ability to manage heavy work.oads and to meet deadlines;
Terms of employment
This is a part-time position and given the nature of responsibilities, the successful candidate will commit to availability when intermittently needed throughout the duration of study (2020-2022).
Application Procedure
Interested candidates should send their applications electronically to
infospiu@ur.ac.rw and with a copy to urspiucoor@gmail.com with a copy to: Project coordinators at jsinayobye@path.org and jsingirankabo@path.org
The application should contain (1) Cover letter detailing your motivation for applying, (2) Curriculum vitae, (3) Supporting documents providing educational background and professional experience and (4) three references. All application documents should be in one single PDF document, and the email submitting the applications should clearly mention the position applied for in the subject matter of the email.
The deadline for submission of application files is fixed on 30th January 2020, at 5:00pm. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted to proceed with written and oral tests.
N.B. Successful candidates on the Research nurse position will immediately start the assignment.
For more details,please download https://ur.ac.rw/IMG/pdf/advert_new_nets_project.pdf
