Field Research Officer

Assignment description
An experienced researcher is required to collect data and contribute to analyses for both quantitative and qualitative research projects.

Data collection will be conducted across Fata Administrated Tribal Areas (FATA) 5 Agencies as well as from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) 10 districts but the likely expansion of operations into nearby districts of KPK will lead to a need for data collection in further rural areas as well.

In each quarter comprising of 3 months, the field officer is expected to conduct field work for around one and a half months and the remaining time will be spend collating and liaising with Project management units in Peshawar and DI Khan.

Assignment scope

Position specific

Field researchers will be responsible for data collection using a variety of research methods and tools.

They will be encouraged to contribute to the analyses of the data they collect and reflect on the appropriateness of methodologies and methods being used to collect data.

Their specific roles will include but not be limited to the following:

• Collecting quantitative and/or qualitative data using a variety of tools including: structured questionnaires; interview guides; informal conversations and focus group discussions(FGDs)
• Ensuring informed consent is given by research respondents
• Take detailed notes from interviews and focus group discussions or complete questionnaire forms accurately and with necessary detail
• Keep field-notes where needed
• Type up full transcripts from interviews and focus group discussions
• Contribute to the analyses of data through team discussions
• Ensure research quality and rigour
• Leading the team of Enumerators and Research Mobilizers
• Form teams and distribute tasks amongst them
• Contribute to knowledge management. Plan and implement activities that capture and distribute critical knowledge in a documented form (soft/hard copy) from initiatives across your project area.

General

• Adhere to SES Pvt Ltd Policies and Procedures as outlined in the Company Operations Manual.
• Ensuring delivery of project outputs and outcomes in line with the FATA Secretariat project documents log-frame. This will involve routine whole-of-project meetings (each week) to undertake detailed review of progress against the log-frame, adjusting work plans and resourcing on an ongoing basis to remain on track.
• Adhere to company’s behaviours with Safety at the core: Integrity; Collaboration; Delivery; Ingenuity; Respect; Intelligent Risk

Person specification

Essential

• Undergraduate/Bachelor’s degree in social sciences or related field and at least two years field-work experience OR a minimum of two years field-work experience
• Willing to stay and travel extensively in FATA and KP districts
• Outstanding project management skills, experience in developing work plans using Microsoft Project or Primavera
• Strong Urdu and Pashto
• English language skills as appropriate to the study
• Very strong interpersonal skills and ability to mix well with people of all backgrounds
• Ability to listen and observe carefully, remember well and write detailed notes
• Inquisitive and questioning nature and interest in people (including ability to challenge own assumptions)
• Adaptable, committed and flexible attitude
• Experience working with communities on development programmes or similar
• Computer skills, including word-processing and e-mail (preferably MS Office: word/Outlook)

Desirable

• Hindko language skills
• Experience of conducting or participating in social science research
• Experience of working in FATA, KPK and familiarity with the context and customs. Experience of working with people from different backgrounds, including poor communities; urban and rural communities including community based organizations(CBOs), government officials and civil servants
• Knowledge of the security and justice sector

Special conditions

Individuals are ineligible to be engaged for positions where they have been:

• Engaged, in service or in any manner whatsoever connected with any intelligence agency or regular professional armed forces;
• Refused entry in Pakistan at a port of entry, or
• Deported from or asked to leave Pakistan by any Pakistan governmental authority.

Background information
Poor governance and lack of access to security and justice in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) are undermining political stability in Pakistan and hindering progress towards the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Since the Government of Pakistan (GOP) completed its Post-Crisis Needs Assessment – Khyber Pakhtunkhwa & Federally Administered Tribal Areas (PCNA) in 2010, Pakistan has remained in a state of crisis.

In this regards World Bank-administered MDTF initiated sector and investment projects and programmes for Government of Pakistan, supporting reconstruction and rehabilitation in the conflict-affected areas of KPK, FATA and Baluchistan.

The World Bank administers MDTF in accordance with its own guidelines and procurement procedures. To better monitor the implementation of these projects, the World Bank has hired the services of the TPMA. The overall purpose of this assignment is to strengthen the World Bank’s technical supervision of the MDTF investment portfolio.

This involves ensuring year-round access to project sites across KPK and FATA and providing timely, relevant and verifiable information on the progress of various activities under the selected projects to the World Bank and other stakeholders, including the government and other donors. Five MDTF-funded projects in KPK and FATA that are monitored are as follow:

I. ERKF;

II. RLCIP;

III. FUCP;

IV. SADP; and

V. ERRP.

Candidates from FATA agencies are encouraged to apply.