Research Coordinator (1 Post)
Research Coordinator at TAHEA February 2024
TANZANIA HOME ECONOMICS ORGANIZATION (TAHEA MWANZA)

Job Description

Research Coordinator (1 Post) – Engaging and Supporting Fathers: A Parenting Intervention to Improve Early Child Development in Tanzania.
Duty Station: Mwanza, Tanzania Reports to: Principal Investigator
Start Date: 11th March, 2024
End Date: 31st December, 2024

Background

Tanzania Home Economics Association is a Professional National Non-Government Organization (NGO) founded in March, 1980. The Organization was registered in October, 14th 1980 under the Tanzania Societies Ordinance 1954 with registration number SO.6179. And later attained a certificate of NGO Compliance No. 1732 on 4th December, 2006 under NGO Act of 2002.

In order to comply with NGOs regulations 2019, the Mwanza Branch was registered separately on 22nd April, 2022 as TANZANIA HOME ECONOMICS ORGANIZATION (TAHEA MWANZA) with registration number 00NGO/R/3129. TAHEA MWANZA is implementing Early Childhood Development (ECD) programs in Ilemela, Misungwi and Ukerewe districts of Mwanza region.

Despite the growing body of evidence on fathers in various settings across Tanzania, relatively little is previously known specifically with respect to early childhood development and particularly in Mwanza. Not just in Mwanza but more generally across Tanzania and East Africa, fathers are largely ignored and overlooked when it comes to community-based interventions for caregivers of young children during the first few years of life (that instead target mothers).

Therefore, there is a great need to develop and implement father-inclusive parenting interventions that support fathers’ direct and indirect roles with their children and partners while also comprehensively addressing other underlying psychosocial and cultural determinants. New programs that holistically consider the needs of fathers and from a family-based perspective are likely to have the greatest potential for improving outcomes for men, their partners, and in turn ECD outcomes.

Through collaboration, the Tanzania Home Economics Organization (TAHEA MWANZA) and Emory University are working together to address this evidence gap through a research study titled “Engaging and Supporting Fathers: A Parenting Intervention to Improve Early Child Development in Tanzania”. This study will be conducted in Ilemela District, of Mwanza region.

After conducting formative research last year with specifically fathers of children <2 years of age, our team has since been developing a parenting intervention curriculum that aims to address fathers’ positive parenting behaviors, healthy couples’ relationships, and support fathers’ mental health. Having now drafted the sessions for our parenting intervention, we intend to pilot the curriculum in the community with both fathers and mothers to ensure its cultural appropriateness and gender-responsiveness especially with fathers.

Main Purpose of the Role

The Research Coordinator will play a lead role in delivering the intervention to groups of parents across different communities. The Research Coordinator will first be trained on each session of the curriculum as well as facilitation skills. In addition to leading the implementation of the pilot intervention, the Research Coordinator will support program monitoring and evaluation activities, through conducting focus group discussions with participants before and after the completion of the intervention.

Following the initial findings of this pilot intervention and after making the necessary adaptations, we will then conduct a randomized controlled trial in 2025 to determine the effectiveness of this intervention. We expect the research coordination position will be extended throughout 2025 to continue supporting the implementation of this research.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Facilitate intervention sessions with groups of fathers and mothers in several communities in Ilemela district in Mwanza.
• Conduct focus group discussions and other interviews as needed to obtain feedback from participants about the draft intervention sessions.
• Coordinate with community focal personal to ensure proper community activities.
• Create project implementation work plans, oversee day-to-day logistics of research activities and ensure adherence to ethical guidelines and research protocols.
• Maintain documentation during field work and keeping records of all the gathered information and uploading to google drive for storage and analysis
• Maintain project budgets.
• Attend and participate in regular briefing meetings/check ins of both the local and international research teams during and after field work to share feedback and reflections.
• Contribute to data analysis and reporting, as required
• Read, sign and adhere to the TAHEA MWANZA Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy and conform to follow it all the time while working with TAHEA MWANZA as Research Coordinator.
• Perform any other duties assigned by the Principal Investigator (PI) and the TAHEA MWANZA Executive Director.

Qualifications

• Prior experience working on a social and behavior change intervention project relating to child and family health, development, and wellbeing
• Direct experience facilitating and counseling groups of caregivers/community members using a structured curriculum guide is desirable
• Direct experience contributing to curriculum development and adaptation is desirable
• Previous experience working on early childhood development, parenting, male engagement, and gender-related projects is desirable
• Proven experiences with research studies, such as qualitative research methodologies, especially facilitating focus group discussions, and collecting program monitoring data
• Experience working on an international donor-funded implementation research study is desirable
• Dynamic and engaging interpersonal skills
• Experience working independently and proactively
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in Swahili and English Languages
• Basic computer knowledge in particular word, power point and excel
• A highly self motivated individual who can work under minimal supervision, with ability to meet deadlines
• Degree in Public Health, Social Sciences, or related field.

How to Apply:

• Applicants should submit their applications including; Application letter and Curriculum Vitae with two referees through this email taheamwanzarecruitment23@gmail.com
• The deadline for submission of completed application is on Friday 1st March, 2024
• Only Qualified applicants will be shortlisted and contacted for oral interview. You are encouraged to include your reliable mobile phone number (s) in the application letter to easy communication.

Important Notes:

• TAHEA MWANZA is committed to Safeguarding and Child Protection, and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Background checks on this aspect will be conducted as part of recruitment process.
• TAHEA MWANZA is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity. You do not have to pay for you to be employed, If you are asked for any payments consider it a scam, and kindly contact TAHEA MWANZA office through +255 754 443 226 or taheamwanza@gmail.com