TEMPORARY RESEARCH OFFICER

The African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC) is a premier research-to-policy institution, generating evidence, strengthening research and related capacity in the African research and development ecosystem, and engaging policy to inform action on health and development. APHRC seeks to drive change by developing strong African research leadership and promoting evidence-informed decision-making (EIDM) across sub-Saharan Africa.

Climate change is projected to further increase the number and severity of heatwaves, floods and droughts, causing a disproportionate increase in injury, illness and death in resource-poor settings already burdened with wide-ranging health conditions. This is a big threat to global health, especially for vulnerable groups like children, the elderly, people with chronic illnesses, and those in disadvantaged communities.

The goal of WEMA project is to highlight the direct impact of extreme weather events (EWEs) on the development of common mental problems (CMDs) amongst vulnerable populations in Kenya, Burkina Faso, Mozambique, and South Africa with the aim of understanding the underlying mechanisms and identifying opportunities for action.

APHRC is seeking to recruit a Temporary Research Officer to support community engagement and participatory research. The position holder will utilize participatory approaches, with digital storytelling as the primary data collection method. He/she will partner with affected communities, civil society, and the media to generate and disseminate research evidence.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Engaging with community members to raise awareness about the WEMA project, its objectives and the importance of their participation.
• Identify and recruit participants for the study, ensuring a diverse and representative sample from the community.
• Conducting interviews, focus group discussions, and surveys with community members to gather qualitative and quantitative data related to the project’s objectives.
• Ensure data is collected accurately and ethically, adhering to the project's protocols and guidelines.
• Organize and facilitate community meetings, workshops, and other engagement activities to discuss the project's findings, gather feedback, and encourage ongoing community involvement.
• Act as a liaison between the research team and the community, ensuring clear and effective communication.
• Monitoring the progress of community engagement activities and report any challenges, successes, or observations to the project leadership team.
• Assist in the documentation of community feedback and its integration into the project's ongoing development.
• Participate in the preliminary analysis of data collected from the community, offering insights and interpretations that consider the local context.
• Collaborate with the research team in the preparation of reports, presentations, and publications based on community engagement findings.
• Support capacity-building efforts within the community, helping to empower local members to actively participate in the research process and understand the implications of the study's findings.
• Work alongside local leaders, NGOs, and other stakeholders to foster a supportive environment for the project's objectives.
• Help to maintain positive relationships with all project stakeholders, ensuring that community needs and perspectives are adequately represented.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in social sciences, Public Policy, Political Science and Community Development.
• A master’s degree in a relevant field such as Social Sciences, Public Policy, Political Science, Community Development, or a related discipline would be an added advantage.
• Proven experience in community engagement, particularly within participatory research settings. The officer should have a background in working directly with community members, ideally in the design, implementation, or facilitation of participatory methodologies.
• Strong understanding of qualitative research methodologies, with particular emphasis on participatory approaches. Familiarity with qualitative data collection and analysis techniques, especially within community-based research, is highly advantageous.
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written. The ability to facilitate workshops effectively and engage with community members, stakeholders, and researchers is essential. Proficiency in presenting qualitative findings in an accessible way would further support community understanding and involvement.

Special Notice

APHRC and Flexi Personnel are equal opportunity employers committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. All employment decisions are made based on qualifications and organizational needs. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request to support their participation in the recruitment process.

All applicants are advised to adhere to the application guidelines for consideration. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

NB: Flexi Personnel does not charge candidates for job placement.