Social Impact, Inc Jobs 2018

The USAID/Ghana Partnership for Education: Evaluating Systems(implemented by Social Impact Inc.) is conducting a teacher rationalization study in public primary schools. The purpose of the study is to produce evidence-based recommendations to inform the Ministry of Education (MOE) and the Ghana Education Service (GES) in its implementation of effective policies related to teacher recruitment, deployment, and retention in line with Ghana’s language of instruction policy to improve language match conditions in public primary schools. As part of the study, Evaluating Systems is conducting a regional/local-level study consisting of 10 district-level case studies—will commence in mid-September of this year over a period of four weeks.

Job Description

Job Title: Research Associate, Ghana Evaluating Systems

The objectives of the regional study are threefold:

• Provide in-depth examinations of how national teacher rationalization, deployment, and retention policies and language match conditions are experienced and understood by district-, circuit-, school-, and community-level stakeholders;
• Investigate the range of regional and local issues that contribute to outcomes in teacher deployment and retention, and
• Obtain district, circuit, school, and community-level perspectives on challenges and solutions to effective, efficient, and equitable teacher rationalization, deployment, and retention policy and practice.

In line with the above study, Social Impact/Evaluating Systems is seeking to recruit consultants for the following position:

• Research Associate

The Research Associate will support this work with Evaluating Systems by conducting interviews with district education officials and teachers in selected districts and schools in Ghana. The data collection will require participation in a one-week qualitative data collection training and two to three (2-3) weeks of data collection traveling to each of the selected districts across the country.

Specific Duties and Responsibilities:

• Conduct a semi-structured interview with district education officials and teachers in selected schools across the country
• Conduct focus group discussion with district education official and school management committees
• Take down notes and prepare a daily summary of each interview notes and submit to Evaluating Systems.

• Conduct any other duties that may be assigned by Evaluating Systems

Minimum Qualifications:

• A minimum of a good first degree in Social Science with at least three years post qualification work experience in qualitative research and data collection or a master’s degree in social science with at least one-year post qualification experience in qualitative data collection.
• Excellent organizational skills with meticulous attention to details
• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in written English (strong note-taking and summary skills in English is required)
• Ability to work effectively in a team environment and communicate effectively with colleagues, Evaluating Systems team, government officials and local community members is required
• Strong interpersonal and organizational skills are desired
• Excellent interviewing skills is required
• Demonstrated experience in report writing
• Sensitivity to cultural differences and understanding of the ethical issues in research
• Excellent computer skills including use of Microsoft Word and ability to type at a reasonable speed is desired