Enumerators at Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps has been present in Nigeria since 2012, focusing its interventions on adolescent girls’ empowerment, economic development, and conflict mitigation. Mercy Corps started its humanitarian response in 2014 to address the rising humanitarian needs and build on the significant humanitarian investments and move towards an integrated market systems development approach that will drive inclusive economic recovery and ensure peace gains are maintained and improved upon in its intervention contexts.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Enumerator

Locations: Jemaa, Jaba, Kachia, Sanga - Kaduna
Employment Type: Contract

Rationale

• Mercy Corps is implementing a three-year Ekaterra Tazo tea-funded Empowering Resilient Ginger Farmers Program in Kaduna state. The goal of the program is to support ginger farmers, especially females and their families in Kaduna State to have increased ginger productivity, increased incomes, and build longer-term financial stability and resilience.
• Conducting constant research and analysis to understand the dynamics created because of our interventions shape our programming and assist Mercy Corps and its partners in making evidence-based decisions. Making course corrections is at the core of our programmatic approach to improving an adaptive learning process. Mercy Corps Nigeria, though the ERGF will commission a series of quantitative and qualitative data collection on program activities across the ginger value chain which will range from the following:
  • Household or Individual surveys (baseline, midterm and or end line)
  • Market Price Monitoring
  • Post Distribution Monitoring for grants for business start-up and or expansions
  • Participants’ registrations, mapping, and profiling exercises
  • Market Analysis or assessments including small, medium and large trader business performances.
  • Ad-hoc assessments of key interventions (e.g pilots)
  • Transcription
  • Data Entry
  • Scooping studies
• These will employ numerous techniques including structured survey questionnaires for individuals and businesses or institutions, focus group discussions, Key informant interviews and any other methodologies that are relevant for the specific program scope.

Objective of the Enumerators Assignment

• The field enumerators will be primarily responsible for collecting qualitative and quantitative field data and data entry using paper or digital platforms (e.g. CommCare). They have direct contact with households and ginger market actors and have a great bearing on the quality of data collected and ultimately on the quality of data output.
• Note: Enumerators would undergo training on the specific tools to be used for each assignment before deploying to the field. Different criteria, which range from skills, experience in research and data collection, availability, knowledge of program technical areas, contextual understanding, and familiarity with the local language of defined data collection area would be the criteria for selection of enumerators for an assignment.

Role

• The Enumerator will be responsible for collecting data, entering data and any other responsibilities for which he/she may be called upon to carry out. The data collection process may be carried out through one-on-one interviews, focus group discussions (FDGs) using an electronic data collection tool designed by Mercy Corps.
• Enumerators will always be expected to follow sampling methods as directed by Mercy Corps.
• Compile, record, and code information derived from specified forms into a predefined form or database.
• Comply with quality and research ethics during and field works (this includes data protection and information confidentiality of respondents or target project participants).
• Participate in debriefing sessions to share field experiences about the community and the entire data collection.
• Enumerators are expected to always be respectful of the community and community leadership and membership.
• Provide end-of-assessment and/or field reports
• Undertake audio transcriptions of interviews.
• Ensure that the supervisor is kept abreast of completed assignments and progress.
• Identify and report any issues that may arise while attempting to obtain valid data.
• Analyze the authenticity of the information provided by ensuring direct contact with each targeted study population (population of interest).
• Interpret interview questions to assist respondents in understanding them and providing eloquent answers.
• Double check information on survey forms or information pads to ensure the accuracy of information.
• Engage in data entry in cases where paper base options are used.

Organizational Support

• The Enumerators will be managed by the Mercy Corps staff.
• Technical support for the enumerators will be provided by Mercy Corps.
• Devices will be provided by Mercy Corps to the enumerators when engaged for data collection. Enumerators will be expected to take good care of the equipment and will be required to return them in the same state as they are received.

Competencies:

• Honesty: Shows a high level of integrity and will not fabricate responses or misrepresent the program
• Cultural Awareness: Must be aware of and sensitive to the cultural expectations of communities in Middle belt Nigeria.
• Accuracy: Must be able to interpret and record responses appropriately without distorting the respondent’s meaning or confusing the reader.
• Endurance: Must be able to work for a full day working hours in the field across several days.
• Communication: Confidently expresses self, able to ask questions, and help the respondent understand what is needed from her/him.
• Relationship Builder: Able to build trust with people at the rural level and maintain confidentiality.

Eligibility Criteria

• Recruited enumerators will be responsible for the digital registration, must be willing to work in Kaduna state and will be available to start on short notice- Those based in these locations will be prioritized.
• Readiness to be Trained and apply knowledge thereafter in the field.
• Applicant should be data-driven curious, observant and with the ability to conduct door-stepping interviews
• To be eligible you must be from the local government of assignment or at least must be resident in the state indicated for the assignment.
• All applicants must have a minimum of Diploma education in accounting, statistics, business Admin and Management or equivalent (B.Sc. or HND is an Added Advantage)
• All applicants should have some experience conducting interviews, facilitating focus group discussions, note-taking proficiency, and reporting.
• The applicant should be Tech-savvy with ability to operate tablets or experience using mobile data collection platforms.
• Applicant must be at least 18 years old.

Selection Criteria:

• Written Test: A written test will be conducted for all applicants who were shortlisted from the pool of applications. Selection from the pool will be dependent on requisite experience in related data collection. From the test the best performers will be selected for training.
• Performance: This will be based on the results of two evaluations to be completed while on training. Applicants will be ranked based on performance; those attaining higher scores will be given first preference for the position of an enumerator.
• Demeanor: good conduct, behavior, and deportment will be considered.
• Prior Survey Experience: Previous survey experience with donor-funded program will be a relevant consideration, all things being equal.

Security:

• Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by program leadership.
• Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and not jeopardize its mission.

Accountability To Participants:

• Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring, and evaluation of our field projects.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion:

• Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives. We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening, and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.

Equal Employment Opportunity:

• Mercy Corps is an equal-opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have a sustained global impact. We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination based on race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.

Safeguarding & Ethics:

• Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we meet through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding the prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary-General and IASC. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and always adhere to the Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values. Team

Contract Duration

• The contract with the enumerator will be for 12 (twelve) months. Mercy Corps will only pay for the actual days of enumerators' work. While on the field the enumerators will be required to work from 8am-5pm Mondays to Saturday, 10am-5pm on Sundays.

Please Note:

• Enumerators will be hired on a 1-year contract basis however they only be paid based on days worked, meaning that enumerators are only paid when they are engaged by the ERGF team within the period of the contract.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should send their CV and Cover Letter in one document addressing the position requirements including copies of valid means of identification (passport, driver’s license, national identity card or voters card), LGA certificate or indigene certificates, and school certificates emailed to: [email protected] using the position title as the subject of the email.

Note: Female candidates who are qualified are strongly encouraged to apply

Application Deadline  22nd December, 2023.