Data Collector

Purpose of the Assignment

• The purpose of this engagement is to recruit experienced research personnel to support the implementation of quantitative and qualitative surveys under the SMC + VAS project in Bauchi and Niger States, including the Post MNCHW round 1, LQAS end-of-cycle 1 and 2, and Post MNCHW round 2 surveys. The surveys will assess the coverage, quality, effectiveness, feasibility, and acceptability of co-implementing Vitamin A Supplementation (VAS) with Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC), as well as the effect of the integration on the uptake of other key MNCHW interventions across all the LGAs in both states.
• The study will be conducted across 45 LGAs in the two implementation states (20 LGAs in Bauchi State and 25 LGAs in Niger State), excluding security-compromised LGAs where applicable. A multistage sampling approach will be used to select respondents from sampled communities and households across the LGAs.
• For the quantitative component, a minimum sample size of 900 children per survey round will be targeted, amounting to approximately 1,800 children across both round 1 and 2 in the two states. A minimum of 45 clusters/communities will be sampled per survey, with approximately 20–25 households selected per cluster depending on the survey type. Overall, the surveys are expected to cover about 1,791 sampled settlements/communities across both states (Bauchi = 323 wards; Niger = 274 wards), with eligible households selected from each sampled settlement. For the qualitative component of the Post MNCHW 1 and Post MNCHW 2 surveys, a National Consultant, State Consultants, who are also the interviewers will be engaged to coordinate and implement the qualitative activities, including training, field testing of tools, data collection oversight, transcription and translation, analysis, and report writing. A total of 13 Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) will be conducted, comprising 6 FGDs with Health Workers (HWs), 3 FGDs with Maternal and Chile Health (MCH) Focal Persons, and 4 FGDs with caregivers. In addition, 11 Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) will be conducted, including 6 KIIs with state stakeholders and 5 KIIs with national stakeholders.
• For the quantitative component of the Post MNCHW 1 and Post MNCHW 2 surveys, State Consultants and Data Collectors will be engaged to support household data collection activities using electronic data collection platforms such as SurveyCTO or KoboCollect. In Niger State, dedicated data collectors will be recruited and trained specifically for the surveys, while in Bauchi State, the survey will leverage the existing LQAS data collectors engaged by the PF-SMC project to support implementation and if need be extending the number of days worked.
• The LQAS surveys 1 &2 will align with the existing planned SMC LQAS (cycle 1 &2/3) activities in the states and will assess SMC coverage, adherence to treatment protocols, and implementation immediately after each SMC cycle to support timely corrective actions where required.
• The VAS project Senior M&E Officers (SMEOs) for Niger and Bauchi States will work closely with the engaged national and state consultants, as well as data collectors, and will also coordinate with the respective State M&E officers and SMC M&E Managers to ensure effective implementation of the assignment and integration.
• The engaged State Consultants will support data analysis and interpretation in line with the LQAS methodology, while the National will be responsible for reviewing state-level analyses and consolidating final reports across both states.
• The consultants and supervisors will train data collectors and provide oversight for the data collection process, while data collectors will be responsible for conducting field data collection using an electronic data collection platform.

 

Survey Components

Survey

Type

Methodology

Timing

Post MNCHW Survey 1

LQAs

Quantitative

Post MNCHW Round 1

End of Cycle 1 (LQAS)

Monitoring Survey

Quantitative

End of SMC+VAS Cycle 1

End of Cycle 2/3 (LQAS)

Monitoring Survey

Quantitative

End of SMC Cycle 2 or 3

Post MNCHW Survey 2

LQAs

KII &FGD

Quantitative

Qualitative

Post MNCHW Round 2

Post MNCHW Round 2

Scope of work

• The surveys will be conducted across all 45 LGAs in Bauchi (20 LGAs) and Niger (25 LGAs) States, covering 323 and 274 in Bauchi and Niger respectively, 1,791 settlements/communities, and 20-25 households selected per cluster during each survey round sampled through a multistage sampling approach. The quantitative surveys will target eligible children aged 6–59 months and women of child-bearing age (15–49 years), while the qualitative component will involve purposively selected state stakeholders, LGA officials, health facility workers, community drug distributors (CDDs), MNCH focal persons, malaria focal persons, and caregivers.
• 1 National and 6 State Consultants/ qualitative interviewers, 10-13 supervisors, 67-84 quantitative data collectors, will be engaged in each state to support the implementation of the Post-MNCHW and LQAS surveys under the supervision of the SMC-VAS Senior M&E Officers and the state MC/VAS teams. Quantitative data collectors will administer structured electronic questionnaires using SurveyCTO-enabled handheld devices, while state consultants/qualitative interviewers will serve as moderators, note takers, transcribers, and translators for the Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) using semi-structured interview guides.
• Pre-data collection activities will include stakeholder engagement and community entry, recruitment and selection of qualified field personnel, adaptation and translation of data collection tools into relevant local languages, household identification and respondent selection procedures, training of field teams, field testing/pre-testing of tools, and orientation on research ethics and informed consent procedures. For the qualitative component, State Consultants will conduct interviews and FGDs, take field notes, audio record sessions, transcribe recordings verbatim, and translate transcripts into English where applicable.
• The qualitative component will also include daily uploading of audio files and transcripts to password-protected folders and real-time review of transcripts to ensure completeness and quality. Data quality assurance processes will include field supervision, spot checks, household revisits, validation of submitted forms, daily review meetings with field teams, use of in-built validation checks within electronic tools, and routine data cleaning and consistency checks by supervisors and consultants before final submission.
• All data collection activities will be conducted in line with the approved research protocol, ethical standards, and Malaria Consortium quality assurance procedures to ensure the generation of high-quality and reliable evidence on the integration of SMC and VAS, and its effect on the uptake of MNCHW interventions.

Type of Personnel Required for the Surveys

• The following personnel will be engaged to support the implementation of the Post MNCHW 1 and 2 surveys, and LQAS Cycle 1 and 2 surveys under the SMC + VAS project in Bauchi and Niger States.

Survey Component

Type of Survey

Personnel Required

Key Roles

Post MNCHW Survey 1 – Quantitative Component

Quantitative

State Lead Consultants and Data Collectors

Coordinate household survey implementation, train and supervise data collectors, oversee data quality assurance, conduct data collection and upload

SMC + VAS End of Cycle 1 (LQAs) Survey

Quantitative

State Consultants/Supervisors and Data Collectors

Conduct LQAS household data collection, supervise field activities, ensure adherence to LQAS methodology, data quality checks, and reporting

SMC Standalone End of Cycle 2/3 (LQAs) Survey

Quantitative

State Consultants/Supervisors and Data Collectors

Conduct end-of-cycle household assessments, supervise data collection activities, support data validation and reporting

Post MNCHW Survey 2 – Qualitative Component

Qualitative

National Lead Consultant and State Consultants

Coordinate and implement KIIs and FGDs, supervise qualitative data collection, transcription, analysis, and report writing

Post MNCHW Survey 2 – Quantitative Component

Quantitative

State Lead Consultants and Data Collectors

Support household data collection, field supervision, data quality assurance, preliminary analysis, and reporting

 

• The assignment will be conducted in phases corresponding to the different survey rounds. Specific dates and deployment schedules will be communicated prior to each survey activity.
• Also, field activities will be conducted across all LGAs in Niger and Bauchi States.
• Personnel may be deployed to any assigned LGA based on project needs. All personnel that will serve as data collectors must be indigene of/ resident in the states (Niger and Bauchi)

Specific Tasks for the Data Collectors (Post MNCHW -Quantitative and LQAs Cycle 1&2 surveys)

• Attend and actively participate in the training on data collection conducted by the Malaria Consortium M&E team.
• Conduct data collection in sampled households based on the LQAS methodology, including: obtaining written consents from respondents, administering interviews to the right participants and ensuring confidentiality of respondents' personal data during and after interviews.
• Report any issues to the State Consultant and assist in solving problems.
• Conduct interviews in approximately 20–25 households selected per cluster households using the Survey-CTO data collection application and upload daily data onto the server.
• Meet daily targets of household visits based on the protocol and survey methodology.
• Collect high-quality data, ensuring accuracy and completeness.
• Ensure accuracy, completeness, and consistency of data collected.
• Meet daily targets and upload data onto the server in a timely manner.
• Maintain confidentiality of respondents' personal data during and after interviews.

Deliverables

• Complete data set based on daily targets uploaded into the SurveyCTO platform.
• Process reports submitted and approved by the Senior M&E Officer.

Qualifications and Experience

• A minimum of National Diploma in Social Sciences, Health-related or National Certificate of Education (NCE).
• Atleast 5-7 years’ experience in conducting public health research, particularly data collection.
• Knowledge of sampling techniques in conducting quantitative surveys.
• Experience in the use of modern technology in research, including the use of phones for data collection.
• Previous experience conducting LQAS surveys is an added advantage.
• Ability to speak local languages (Hausa/Fulani).
• Must be a resident of Bauchi State.
• Familiarity with the terrain, tradition, and culture of the locality.
• Ability to pay attention to details.
• Ability to write reports.
• Must not be a current government staff at any level.
• Must not be part of SMC implementation in any of the following capacities (national, state, LGA, HFW, CHW, FA, TA, or LM).
• Must not be blacklisted during previous LQAS activities.

Additional Requirements:

• The Data Collector will be required to work independently and as part of a team and travel to approximately 20–25 households selected per cluster households within Bauchi State.
• The Data Collector will be required to use their own phone for data collection, and must adhere to the study protocol, including all data collection and management procedures.
• All personnel that will serve as data collectors must be indigene of/ resident in the states (Niger and Bauchi).

How to apply: apply