Youth Program Researchers (8 Positions) NGO Careers at Catholic Relief Services (CRS)

About Catholic Relief Services:

Catholic Relief Services carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. Our Catholic identity is at the heart of our mission and operations. We welcome as a part of our staff and as partners people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need.

CRS has worked in Uganda since 1965, initially providing emergency assistance to Sudanese refugees living in the north. Over the years, CRS has expanded its programming to also address development needs in western, central, and eastern Uganda. CRS’ projects in Uganda currently include agriculture, health, microfinance, peacebuilding, and youth. CRS Uganda implements its programs through partnerships with local organizations, including the Catholic Church, other faith-based organizations and community entities for maximum impact and sustainability.

Background:

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is leading a consortium of five partners to implement a six-year, USAID/FFP funded activity to build resilience to shocks, enhance livelihoods and improve food and nutrition security for vulnerable rural families in the Karamoja sub-region. The activity is named Nuyok (which means “it is ours” in the local language), covers Abim, Nakapiripirit, Nabilatuk, and Napak districts.

On youth programming, Catholic Relief Services (CRS) worked in partnership with YouthBuild International (YBI) to empower youth to improve their economic conditions and increase their resilience through provision of leadership training, civic engagement, and entrepreneurship skills building. YBI provided technical assistance and guidance to CRS and its local implementing partner, Caritas Kotido, to ensure appropriate adaptation and high-quality implementation, monitoring, mentorship, and support for the entrepreneurship project using the YouthBuild approach in Abim district. The approach supports rural youth to access business training and strengthens their capacity to establish small/micro enterprises to increase earnings and subsequently improve food consumption at household level.

CRS seeks to recruit eight experienced researchers to support the Nuyok youth business project close-out activities. The researchers’ position will primarily involve work on three areas: conducting interviews with participants, producing transcripts, and analysis of qualitative data. The researchers will be assisted by the Learning Manager and the youth project team while reporting directly to the MEAL specialist as the overall supervisor who will oversee approval of documents/deliverables at each stage of the exercise. The researchers will be required to work as a team to ensure tasks are accomplished as planned. Researchers will also be required to distribute roles among themselves to ensure the expected deliverables are met.

Job summary:

• The researchers will be primarily responsible for collecting data for the Nuyok youth program learning event through Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) accurately and comprehensibly.

• The researchers will be responsible for the initial data analysis, analysis matrices by theme, and tables of results.

• Produce an assessment report detailing the lessons learned, best practices and recommendations of the process.

Key Responsibilities:

Pre-data collection duties:

• Review Nuyok youth business project background information

• Review the detailed scope of work and methodology for qualitative interviews

• Review draft data collection instruments developed by CRS Nuyok and provide comments that will lead to improvement of instruments

• Participate in the training to understand the key requirements for the exercise

• Participate in tool pre-test to finalize the interview guides

Data Collection duties:

• Conduct 12 Focused Group Discussions (FGDs), four with females only groups, four with male, and four with mixed group (with both males and females)

• Conduct ten interviews with Key informants

• Take notes and record interview responses during interviews

• Report key issues of concern during data collection and hand over to the team lead at end of each day.

• Exercise high level of security measures to avoid data loss and theft of devices.

Post-Data Collection duties:

• Follow appropriate data management procedures as recommended by CRS

• Organize and safely store interview audios and notes taken during FGDs and Key Informant Interviews

• Transcribe, translate, and store audio recordings of FGDs and key informant interviews (KIIs)

• Securely transmit all qualitative data to a secured cloud server according to instructions provided by CRS

• Code qualitative data using the identified themes

• Complete analysis of qualitative data

• Submit analysis matrix, tables of results, transcripts, audio recordings, notes, and all equipment to CRS

• Participate in validation and after-action review workshop for youth project organized by CRS

• Return all data collection gadgets and materials to survey supervisor

Essential Traits:

• Honesty: Researchers should be able to show a high level of integrity and will not fabricate responses or misrepresent Nuyok.

• Ability to Communicate: Confidently expresses self, able to clearly ask questions and help the respondent understand what is needed from her/him.

• Relationship Building: Able to build trust with people at the rural level and maintain confidentiality.

• Cultural Awareness: Must be aware and sensitive to the cultural expectations of communities in Karamoja.

• Accuracy: Must be able to interpret and record responses appropriately without distorting the respondent’s meaning.

• Endurance: Must be able to work for full day working hours in the field for several days.

Typical Background, Experience & Requirements:

Education and Experience:

• Master’s degree or equivalent in Social Sciences, community development, public health, or relevant field of Development Studies with at least five years’ experience in qualitative research including a strong record of following research ethics procedures. A Bachelor’s degree with relevant experience will be considered.

• Experience with development programming highly desirable, preferably in gender and youth interventions

• Highly organized individual, capable of handling multiple priorities, meeting deadlines, and managing time effectively.

• Previous experience conducting qualitative data collection using FGDs and KIIs, qualitative data analysis and report writing.

• Must be available for the entire period

• Ability to work independently as well as an effective team player.

• Willingness to work long hours to achieve set goals.

• MUST be fluent in the local language, Leb Thur

• Good English language proficiency.

• Experience with development programming is an added advantage, preferably in one or more of the following sectors: Agro-business enterprise, entrepreneurship, and agriculture.

Timeframe:

The researchers’ positions are short-term (15 working days) in July 2022. In addition to the daily rate, researchers will be provided with all travel arrangements for field data collection and piloting of the tools. Travel to the training location will not be compensated. Meals and refreshment may not be provided during the data collection period. Successful candidates will cater for their own accommodation in the areas of their assignment (Abim district).

Agency-Wide Competencies (for all CRS staff)

These are rooted in the mission, values, and principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and to achieve the desired results.

• Serves with Integrity

• Models Stewardship

• Cultivates Constructive Relationships

• Promotes Learning

DISCLAIMER CLAUSE:

This job description is not an exhaustive list of skills, effort, duties and responsibilities associated with the position.

Our Catholic identity is at the heart of our mission and operations. Catholic Relief Services carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. We welcome as a

part of our staff people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need. CRS’ processes and policies reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation

By applying to this job, I understand and acknowledge that CRS requires its staff to treat all people with dignity and respect and to actively prevent harassment, abuse, exploitation, and human trafficking. Further, I understand that if I am a successful candidate, I will be subject to a comprehensive background check, and my personal/professional references will be asked to evaluate my behaviors related to the above safeguarding-related topics.

CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer

NOTE: To apply, please follow these instructions exactly otherwise your application will NOT be considered:

• Email a cover letter and CV only to ug_recruitment@crs.org by June 29th, 2022 at 5:00pm.

• Large files and/or scans of documents will lead to rejection of your application, in the subject line of the email, copy and paste – YOUTHPROGRAMRESEARCHER only

• All applications that do not contain this exact subject line will be rejected and not read

ONLY SELECTED CANDIDATES THAT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS WILL BE NOTIFIED. EOE/M/F/D/V