Description

Background:

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within.

The Research and Learning team enhances Mercy Corps’ ability to deliver high impact programming, learn from that programming, and influence major debates and decisions affecting our work by supporting the generation and use of high quality evidence. Mercy Corps employs rigorous, quantitative methods as part of its research and impact evaluations to generate accurate estimates of program impacts, to test key theories of change, and answer other priority questions in our evidence and learning agendas. Mercy Corps requires a consultant that is highly skilled in statistics, specifically econometrics, to support these efforts.

Purpose / Project Description:

The purpose of this consultancy will be to provide support on quantitative research and impact evaluation design and quantitative data analysis. This support will contribute to the production of accurate and credible findings around key research and evaluation questions across multiple research portfolios, including food security, economic opportunities, peace and governance, resilience, and climate change.

Consultant Activities:

Activities to be undertaken by the consultant will include, but not be limited to, the forms listed below. Specific assignments will be agreed and reviewed on a regular basis with the Directors on the Research and Learning team.

• Input to quantitative research and impact evaluation designs, including advising on or developing causal identification strategies, survey instruments, conducting power calculations to inform sampling strategies, and developing or advising on pre-analysis plans
• Support (remote) management and quality assurance of data collection, including developing and, where needed, delivering enumerator training materials, field manual, data quality assurance process and mechanisms.
• Prepare data for analysis, including cleaning, organizing, merging, and/or recoding data into consistent formats.
• Conduct statistical analyses to test relationships, program effects, and answer other research questions.
• Produce narrative summaries as well as tables, charts and other graphics to communicate results
• Provide other support to quantitative research projects as needed

Deliverables:

The deliverables will vary by assignment. A work plan will be developed for each major support need that is identified specifying the level of effort required, and the deliverables expected. Typical deliverables will include:

• Quantitative research designs
• Data collection instruments and plans
• Power calculations
• Cleaned and (re)coded data sets
• Outputs for the statistical tests run
• Accessible narrative, and where possible graphic representations of key findings
• Explanations of the statistical tests and procedures used

Specific studies to support:

• Design and analysis of the extent to which investments in development and resilience have contributing to averting humanitarian needs in shock-prone contexts
• Design and analysis of factors contributing to the resilience (or lack thereof) of key components of food and market systems
• Cost analyses, including estimating cost efficiency and effectiveness of select programs and their outcomes, as well as cost implications of lack of (adequate) responses
• Leveraging secondary/existing data to understand patterns, predict trends, and inform responses, including retrospective cash expenditures data analysis

Required Experience & Skills

• 5-10 years of experience in relevant technical field (required)
• Degree in international development or other relevant social science
• Demonstrated skills in applied research and statistical analysis
• Proficiency using STATA or other statistical analysis package
• Demonstrated ability to explain research findings, both visually and in writing
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills
• Good organizational skills and ability to work under time constraints
• Self-motivated and able to work without close supervision

Timeframe / Level of Effort:

Up to 60 days between Dec 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024

The consultant will be managed by:

• Senior Director – Resilience & Learning

The consultant will work closely with:

• Director, Research & Learning – Food Security
• Director, Research & Learning – Resilience
• Director, Research & Learning – Economic Opportunities
• Director, Research & Learning – Peace and Governance
• Director, Research & Learning – Climate Change
• Other Research and Learning team members, Technical Support Unit staff, and others as needed

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
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 on the basis of 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 team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our stakeholders and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC’s policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues