Costing Research Assistant x (3)

Location: Harare
Reporting to: Costing Consultant
Duration: 2 months contract
Deadline: 23 July 2024

Pangaea Zimbabwe is an independent Zimbabwean entity registered as a local PVO in 2020. Pangaea Zimbabwe strives to transform the lives of underserved populations by working to increase access to quality, responsive, evidence based, client-centered comprehensive health services through facility and community engagement and policy advocacy.

The CATALYST Study (Catalyzing access to new prevention products to stop HIV) is a multi-year (5 year ending in 2025), multi-country study seeking to understand the feasibility and acceptability of providing new options for HIV prevention. The study involves both quantitative and qualitative methods. A key component of the CATALYST study is to determine the average and incremental unit costs of providing oral PrEP, the PrEP ring, and CAB PrEP for women seeking health services (e.g., HIV prevention and family planning) across selected study sites. This will be done through a Costing sub-study. This posting is for a data collector who will collect time-motion data from observations of client movement through study sites, work with site staff to abstract site-level data on resources used that directly and indirectly support PrEP service delivery.

Job Summary
Working under the supervision of CATALYST Costing Consultant, the Research Assistant will be responsible for collecting quantitative and qualitative data over a period of three to four weeks for the CATALYST Study. In addition, they will also be responsible for recruitment and consenting of eligible CATALYST Study participants for the Costing sub-study, abstracting data from source documents, and following all study procedures to ensure accurate data and ethical treatment of study participants. This position will be based in Harare at the PZ Head Offices with travel to study sites for the duration of the data collection for the study.

Key Duties & Responsibilities
The incumbent will:
Participate in study training; testing and review of interview guides; work with the site-based study team and healthcare providers to identify and recruit study participants; conduct and document informed consent processes; securely store all informed consent documents per study procedures. Follow participants making observations of and documenting client movement through study sites, and abstract site-level data from source documents; accurately complete and maintain all field logs to track study progress and other files, whether computerized or manual. Securely handle and store data collection forms per study procedures; consult and communicate in a timely manner any challenges encountered during data collection with the Site
Study Coordinator. Flawlessly maintain study participant confidentiality; adhere to the study protocol and all study procedures and implement quality control process throughout the conduct of the study. Share written debrief notes, as agreed with the Study Coordinator and the Consultant. Participate in regular team debriefing meetings. Perform any other related duties.

Requirements
• At least 2 years of experience conducting both quantitative and qualitative interviews (indepth interviews, focus group discussions and observations) in research settings
• At least 2 years prior research experience in HIV prevention
• Experience with quantitative data collection using tablets.
• Experience working with electronic data collection forms in ODK, RedCAP, KoboCollect, SurveyCTO or similar.
• Experience conducting research with adolescent girls, young women, and/or transpopulations is preferred.
• Experience in taking notes during in-depth interviews and focus group discussions.
• Good knowledge of spoken and written English, Shona and Ndebele
• A good command of Kalanga or Venda in addition to Shona and/or Ndebele is an added advantage.

Skills knowledge and abilities
• Excellent communication skills
• Ability to quickly establish rapport with wide range of study participants, including AGYW, Key Populations and Ministry of Health officials.
• Ability to effectively work as part of a team.
• Nonjudgmental attitude, humanitarian values and ethics are absolute requirements.
• Energetic, independent and self-motivated
• Highly proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

Qualifications, experience and competencies required
• Bachelor’s degree or International Equivalent in Health Economics, Health Sciences, Social Sciences, Nursing or Related Field
• Valid GCP certificate

To apply
Interested candidates should submit their application letter and detailed CV, clearly stating the position being applied for in the subject section of the email to: recruitment@pangaeazw.org by COB on 23 July 2024. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. NB: Young women are encouraged to apply