Field Researcher (10 Posts)

Savannas Forever Tanzania Employment Opportunities

Savannas Forever Tanzania (SFTZ) is a Tanzanian charitable non-governmental organization (NGO) founded in 2006. SFTZ is a research and development organization that uses research to measure the impact of development projects and to use information to build learning networks that connect rural communities and their stakeholders in the private, public and charitable organizations at local, national and international levels. SFTZ integrates quantitative and qualitative methods that measure outcomes related to socio-economics, public health, nutrition and diet, anthropometric measures, institutional analyses, HIV/AIDS, natural resource use, gender differences, education, livestock and agricultural production, conservation and food security to help alleviate poverty and sustain natural resources, villages and wildlife in rural Tanzania.
This time SFTZ works with Gatsby Foundation in collaboration with Tanzania Cotton board (TCB) to collect baseline survey on cotton production in Shinyanga, Musoma, Mwanza, Kigoma and Tabora regions.

Gatsby Foundation initiated a major long-term Programme to support the transformation of the Tanzanian cotton sector. The Programme aims to transform the performance of Tanzania’s cotton sector, doubling yields for 400,000 cotton farmers.
After three years of pilot activities, the Programme and TCB are now driving a major restructuring of the industry. The Programme will assist TCB to implement its recently approved regulatory framework for introducing contract farming. The transformation includes major policy work on pricing and quality, in addition to input finance. In parallel to this transformation, the Programme has three other pillars: facilitating universal access to improved cotton seed; encouraging cotton farmers to adopt conservation agriculture; and offering capacity building to key sector institutions, including the TCB, to support the sustainable management of the sector.

Job Title: Field Researcher (10 Posts)

Reports to: Field Team Leader

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

A. Overview: Under indirect supervision, undertakes extended travel to geographically remote for field work to perform data collection and rural village communication and education in order to meet the objectives of SFTZ.

B. Major Duties

1. Collect specified information from regional, district, and village government offices in Tanzania.

2. Represent SFTZ professionally at all times by being well-prepared, neat in appearance, timely, well-spoken and organized. Always treat respondents with the highest respect and courtesy regardless of age, cultural or religious heritage, gender or economic circumstances

3. Introduce field research and field team members to appropriate local, district and regional authorities when requested by field team leader. Introduce field research purpose and benefits to respondent at the beginning of each group session or interview and summarize interview with next steps and gratitude for the respondent’s time. Read permission statements to all respondents so they understand that their participation in the research activities is optional.

4. Complete all records and forms required for daily monitoring each day in the field and return to the Field Team Leader at the end of the day.

5. Administer household questionnaires, facilitate focus group discussions and Participative rural assessments (PRA); conduct key informant interviews in a manner that result in complete, timely, accurate, legible information for use by other SFTZ staff members and clients.

6. Farm measuring using GPS (Global Position System) or any other desirable method to determine the farm size of the farmer.

7. Enter data into appropriate database for non-electronic data

8. Analyze and interpret data, using specified statistical and scientific computer programs

9. Write reports and proposals for SFTZ donor and agencies.

10. Plan and organize day-to-day research activities in the field and helps resolve procedural and logistical problems

11. Participate in presentation of research findings to stakeholder groups.

12. Set-up, calibrate, operate and maintain a variety of research equipment specified by the requirements of the study

13. Proactively identify, communicate and implement recommendations that will continually improve quality, productivity and cost effectiveness of data collection, data entry, analysis and communication of data.

14. Write stories and summaries of research activities for internal and external communication.

15. Help translate materials from English to Kiswahili

16. Perform other miscellaneous related duties as requested.

QUALIFICATIONS:

A. Experience requirements:

1. College or University degree major Agriculture general, Agronomy, Horticulture, Agribusiness or any other related field

2. Experience in interviewing and group facilitation

3. Experience in community social development/working with rural communities is an advantage

4. Experience that demonstrates strong leadership skills and ability to work independently

5. Experience that demonstrates excellent organization skills and ability to complete tasks and assignments on time and at a high-level of quality.

6. Experience in using GPS will be an added advantage

B. Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Other Characteristics:

1. Understand and agree on SFTZ Vision, Mission Statement and Values

2. Excellent interpersonal skills including active listening and spoken communication with people of different cultural backgrounds, economic status, age and gender.

3. Strong attention to details and accuracy of information

4. Highly reliable and trustworthy

5. Strong organizational skills and the ability to multi-task

6. Strong problem solving skills with the ability to make good decisions independently

7. Highly motivated, hardworking and conscientious.

8. Willingness to contribute to a dynamic team that works together to continuously improve performance

9. Willing to work at the field for several months.

10. Excellent written and spoken communication skills in English and Kiswahili;

11. Ability to fluent speak sukuma language will be an added advantage.

All applications should include Curriculum Vitae (CV), cover letter, Education certificates and testimonials All the applications should be addressed to
Field Team Supervisor,
Savannas Forever Tanzania
P.O.Box 878
Arusha

Application sent by email To (applications@sftz.org)

Closing date for application is 11/12/2011