Data Transcriber at Mercy Corps

Location: Maiduguri, Borno
Employment Type: Contract
Reports to: Senior Shelter Officer

Background

• Mercy Corps has been implementing its comprehensive shelter program in Borno state since 2017 to date that includes shelter repairs for IDPs, returnees staying with host communities, construction of permanent shelters for returnees, construction of transitional shelters in camps, construction of emergency shelters in camps and transit sites and distribution of basic emergency shelter materials for new arrivals at reception centers.
• Mercy Corps carries out series of housing typology surveys in North-East Nigeria those shows that mud blocks are among the abundantly used, self-produced and economical construction material and most of the permanent houses are built with mud or mud blocks in rural areas.
• In recent past, humanitarian agencies especially busy delivering shelter & WASH assistance has shown interest and are busy in transforming their structure designs to adopt the mud blocks as walling materials considering the availability, skills and the cost effectiveness.
• Based on these surveys and the developments; Mercy Corps has introduced some reaserach and training related to mud blocks production under its humanitarian programming.

Humanitarian Program Description

• The USAID/BHA funded program title as Addressing Diverse and Acute Primary Threats (ADAPT) to Human Security in North Eastern Nigeria, is to save lives and prevent human suffering among displaced, returnee and host households in Borno State.
• The Goal aligns with BHA’s overarching mission statement to “save lives, alleviate human suffering, and reduce the physical, social, and economic impact of rapid and slow-onset disasters”.
• The scope of the program is also in alignment with the three strategic objectives of the 2019 - 2021 Humanitarian Response strategy for Nigeria, which are:
  • Save lives by providing timely and integrated multi-sector assistance and protection interventions to the most vulnerable.
  • Enhanced timely, unhindered, and equitable access to multi-sector assistance and protection interventions through principled humanitarian action.
  • Strengthen the resilience of the affected population, promote early recovery and voluntary and safe durable solutions to displacement and support social cohesion.
• Under the ADAPT Shelter program, Mercy Corps has an applied research component as a sub-purpose titled as Improving local technologies and practices for the sustainability of the ongoing shelter assistance in North East Nigeria.
• The research project is currently ongoing and is being implemented in collaboration with the University of Maiduguri and Ramat Polytechnic.

Technical Approach - Applied Research and Studies Project
The proposed research approach looks at structural alternatives to already in use framing, walling and roofing materials for the core shelter & WASH structures. Key themes for the research are:

• Improving the resistance of available types of timber to termite attacks
• Designing a collapsible/transportable shelter model to help people facing repeated displacements, and
• Looking at the local resilient materials that replace tarpaulin sheets
• Using low-cost stabilization techniques to improve the quality of locally produced mud blocks.

Data Transcriber Objectives

• To facilitate the applied research, Mercy Corps is looking for an individual data transcriber who will transcribe audio files from local languages (Kanuri, Shuwa and Hausa) to English language.
• The audio files are from Questionnaires and Key Informants Interview conducted in Bama, Gwoza, Damboa, Ngala and Maiduguri specifically on shelter applied research and studies.

Deliverables and Timeframe
Deliverables:

• Data transcription of 19 audio files of 24 minutes average length from local languages to English language.

Deadline:

• 23rd December, 2021.

Total Level of Effort:

• 14 days (Including weekends)

Success Factors
The successful data transcriber must satisfy the following conditions.

• Must have a background in Language and Linguistics (BSc. / Masters in Linguistics)
• Must have experience in similar activities.
• Familiarity of local context, culture, and the language
• Understanding of the context of Lake Chad Basin Crises in Borno state
• Familiarity with humanitarian response in Northeast Nigeria
• Must be based in Maiduguri as Mercy Corps will not be responsible for providing accommodation.