Research Team Lead (Quantitative), Senior National Consultant at Malaria Consortium

Objectives
The specific research objectives are as follows:

• To assess the feasibility and acceptability of the hybrid model
• To evaluate the impact of the hybrid model on malaria vaccination coverage, timeliness of vaccination, vaccine-preventable malaria parasitological outcomes, caregiver outcomes (vaccine awareness, knowledge and perceptions) and utilization of non-vaccine malaria prevention interventions
• To assess the costs associated with implementing the interventions.

Purpose of the Assignment

• The purpose of the assignment is to engage research consultants who will conduct quantitative surveys of a hybrid vaccination schedule with different delivery approaches.

Scope of Assignment

• The overall objective of this consultancy is to support MC in generating evidence for an effective hybrid model of malaria vaccine delivery in highly seasonal malaria transmission settings.
• This involves conducting a quantitative survey to evaluate the impact of implementing the hybrid malaria vaccine immunization with different delivery approaches on malaria vaccination coverage, timeliness of vaccination, vaccine-preventable malaria parasitological outcomes, caregiver outcomes (vaccine awareness, knowledge and perceptions) and utilization of non-vaccine malaria prevention interventions.

Methodology

• This will involve a three-arm non-randomized controlled study based on repeated cluster-random sampling of households and eligible children before and after the introduction of the interventions. Study arm units will be three (3) local government areas (LGAs) in Kebbi state, while cluster sampling units will be defined at an administrative unit below the LGA level, such as health facility catchment areas, villages or census enumeration areas. The primary and secondary outcomes to be measured are listed below:
• Primary outcomes:
  • Vaccination coverage
  • Incidence of parasitologically-confirmed clinical malaria episodes among vaccine-eligible children using enhanced passive case surveillance.
• Secondary outcomes:
  • Proportion of age-eligible children receiving 1/2/3 doses in the priming series
  • Timeliness of vaccination dosing among children who received at least one malaria vaccine dose
  • Occurrence of malaria severity and hospitalization, among vaccine-eligible children
  • Caregivers’ awareness, knowledge and perception of the malaria vaccine
  • Coverage and utilization of non-vaccine malaria prevention services (e.g. SMC, ITNs)
• Data for the two primary outcomes (vaccination coverage and parasitologically-confirmed malaria episodes) as well as secondary outcomes of interest under Objective 2 will be collected through two waves of household surveys. The first survey wave will be conducted at baseline (shortly before the start of the interventions), while the second (endline) wave will be carried out six months after the start of the interventions. The survey questionnaire will be developed in line with Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) standards, which will also allow for the collection of data pertaining to child, caregiver and household-level sociodemographic characteristics in each survey wave.

Specific Tasks
Specific Tasks for Research Team Lead:

• Provide technical oversight for the implementation of the quantitative aspect in tandem with the project research protocol.
• Provide an inception report detailing the identification and recruitment methodology of the survey participants, data analysis plan and timelines for accomplishing the tasks
• Liaise with the Project manager to obtain the necessary research tools.
• Participate in the pre-test and finalization process for the survey questionnaires
• Develop and review the supervision checklist that will guide supervisors during data collection
• Develop an agenda for the training of the field supervisors and research assistants
• Facilitate the training activity of the research assistants and supervisors on the use of the research tools.
• Ensure that the surveys are accurately conducted according to standard international best practices.
• Ensure anonymity of respondents and develop a relationship of trust and a safe space during the survey exercises with participants.
• Follow confidentiality and security procedures to ensure participants’ privacy is protected.
• Ensure the integrity of data from collection to storage.
• Download, compile, analyze all data sets into a single dataset
• Interpret the analyzed data and submit a technical report highlighting key findings and recommendations

Deliverables for Research Team Lead:

• Inception report detailing the identification and recruitment methodology of the survey participants, data analysis plan and timelines for accomplishing the tasks
• Training agenda
• Training delivery guide, stating quality parameters for the delivery
• Supervisory checklist
• Raw dataset
• Cleaned dataset
• STATA dofile
• Data analysis plan (Dummy tables)
• Preliminary analysis outputs
• Final survey report (narrative format & PowerPoint format)
• Consultancy report

Personnel Specification 
Research Team Lead:

• MSc in Public Health, Demography, Statistics, or other related disciplines with at least 8 years’ post-qualification experience
• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in public health research methodology while working on donor-funded public health projects.
• Excellent statistical analysis skills, including familiarity with software such as SurveyCTO, STATA and other statistical software.
• Demonstrable report writing skills
• Excellent skills in in MS Office software package.
• Availability for the whole period of the assignment.
• Ability to demonstrate good facilitation skills
• Must not be a staff member of the Government
• Results-oriented attitude to work and ability to give attention to details.
• Self-motivated, team player, but also able to work independently.
• Meets tight deadlines and is able to work under pressure.